Optimal mud pressure design using nonlinear failure criteria for wellbores in shaley sedimentary reservoir

Abstract

Wellbore drilling disturbs the equilibrium stress state in the rock mass, resulting in stress redistribution around the opening. Wellbore stability in the altered stress state is vital for engineering applications, as the wellbore instability results in cost overrun. Accurate estimation of rock mechanical properties, in-situ stresses, and required mud pressure is crucial for safe drilling. If the mud pressure is lower than required, the shear failure of the rock takes place, and conversely, if the mud pressure is higher than the upper limit, tensile failure occurs. A strength criterion that can accurately predict the mud pressure may help significantly reduce non-productive time and cost in well drilling. The commonly used Mogi-Coulomb (MGC) failure criterion for estimating critical mud pressure neglects the few fundamental aspects of rock failure characteristics observed in the laboratory, such as nonlinear strength response in major-minor principal stress space and prediction of multiple failure stress values near the triaxial axial extension boundary. The present study uses the Modified Mohr-Coulomb true-triaxial failure criterion (MMC_TT), which predicts the strength of rock better than the MGC in laboratory true-triaxial tests to overcome the limitations. Moreover, based on the data from previously published five vertical wells in the Krishna-Godavari basin (K-G basin), an empirical relationship is proposed to obtain the strength parameters for the MMC_TT criterion for shaley sedimentary rocks as the existing correlations do not cater for the parameters required for MMC_TT criterion. The comparative study of the MMC_TT with MGC, Modified Mohr-Coulomb triaxial, and Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria, showed that for most of the K-G basin wells, the MMC_TT criterion predicted close to the MGC. However, for well-13, the MMC_TT criterion results are closer to the mud pressure used in actual drilling than the MGC.

Keywords

critical mud pressure / Krishna-Godavari basin / Modified Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion / Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion / Wellbore stability analysis

References

[1] Aadnoy BS, Ong S. Introduction to special issue on borehole stability. J Pet Sci Eng. 2003; 38(3): 79-82.

[2] Abbas AK, Flori RE, Alsaba M. Estimating rock mechanical properties of the Zubair shale formation using a sonic wireline log and core analysis. J Nat Gas Sci Eng. 2018; 53: 359-369.

[3] Abbasi S, Kumar Singh R, Singh KH, Singh T. Selection of failure criteria for estimation of safe mud weights in a tight gas sand reservoir. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 2018; 107: 261-270.

[4] Aghighi MA, Asgari R. Determination of low and high mud weight shear failures at borehole walls using the modified 3-D Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. Arabian J Geosci. 2020; 13(17): 884.

[5] Al-Ajmi A. Wellbore Stability Analysis Based on a New True-Triaxial Failure Criterion. Doctoral dissertation. KTH; 2006.

[6] Al-Ajmi AM, Zimmerman RW. Relation between the Mogi and the Coulomb failure criteria. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 2005; 42(3): 431-439.

[7] Al-Ajmi AM, Zimmerman RW. Stability analysis of vertical boreholes using the Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 2006; 43(8): 1200-1211.

[8] Al-Ajmi AM, Zimmerman RW. A new well path optimization model for increased mechanical borehole stability. J Petrol Sci Eng. 2009; 69(1/2): 53-62.

[9] Allawi RH, Al-Jawad MS. Wellbore instability management using geomechanical modeling and wellbore stability analysis for Zubair shale formation in Southern Iraq. J Pet Explor Product Technol. 2021; 11: 4047-4062.

[10] Almalikee HS. Predicting rock mechanical properties from wireline logs in Rumaila oilfield, Southern Iraq. Am J Geophys Geochem Geosyst. 2019; 5(2): 69-77.

[11] Anitha G, Ramana MV, Ramprasad T, Dewangan P, Anuradha M. Shallow geological environment of Krishna-Godavari offshore, eastern continental margin of India as inferred from the interpretation of high resolution sparker data. J Earth Syst Sci. 2014; 123: 329-342.

[12] Bahrami B, Sadatshojaie A, Wood DA. Assessing wellbore stability with a modified lade failure criterion. J Energy Resour Technol. 2020; 142(8): 083004.

[13] Barton N. The shear strength of rock and rock joints. In Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech. 1976; 13: 255-279.

[14] Barton N. Shear strength criteria for rock, rock joints, rockfill and rock masses: problems and some solutions. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng. 2013; 5(4): 249-261.

[15] Bastia R. Depositional model and reservoir architecture of Tertiary deep water sedimentation, Krishna-Godavari offshore basin, India. J Geol Soc India. 2004; 64(1): 11-20.

[16] Bastia R, Nayak PK. Tectonostratigraphy and depositional patterns in Krishna offshore basin, Bay of Bengal. Leading Edge. 2006; 25(7): 839-845.

[17] Bradley WB. Mathematical concept-Stress Cloud-can predict borehole failure. Oil Gas J. 1979; 77(8): 92-102.

[18] Chabook M, Al-Ajmi A, Isaev V. The role of rock strength criteria in wellbore stability and trajectory optimization. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 2015; 80: 373-378.

[19] Chang C, Zoback MD, Khaksar A. Empirical relations between rock strength and physical properties in sedimentary rocks. J Petrol Sci Eng. 2006; 51(3/4): 223-237.

[20] Chatterjee R, Paul S, Singha DK, Mukhopadhyay M. Overpressure zones in relation to in situ stress for the Krishna-Godavari Basin, eastern continental margin of India: implications for hydrocarbon prospectivity. In: Mukherjee S, ed. Pet Geosci: Indian Contexts. Springer Geology. Springer, Cham. 2015: 127-142.

[21] Collett TS, Boswell R, Cochran JR, et al. Geologic implications of gas hydrates in the offshore of India: results of The National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01. Marine Petrol Geol. 2014; 58: 3-28.

[22] Collett TS, Boswell R, Waite WF, et al. India national gas hydrate program expedition 02 summary of scientific results: gas hydrate systems along the eastern continental margin of India. Mar Pet Geol. 2019; 108: 39-142.

[23] Das B, Chatterjee R. Wellbore stability analysis and prediction of minimum mud weight for few wells in Krishna-Godavari Basin, India. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 2017; 93: 30-37.

[24] Drucker DC, Prager W. Soil mechanics and plastic analysis or limit design. Q Appl Math. 1952; 10(2): 157-165.

[25] Elyasi A, Goshtasbi K. Using different rock failure criteria in wellbore stability analysis. Geomech Energy Environ. 2015; 2: 15-21.

[26] Ewy RT. Wellbore-stability predictions by use of a modified Lade criterion. SPE Dril Compl. 1999; 14(2): 85-91.

[27] Fjaer E, Holt RM, Horsrud P, et al. Petroleum related rock mechanics 2nd edition. Dev Petrol Sci. 2008; 53: 1-491.

[28] Fokker PA, Singh A, Wassing BBT. A semianalytic time-resolved poro-elasto-plastic model for wellbore stability and stimulation. Int J Num Anal Methods Geomech. 2020; 44(7): 1032-1052.

[29] Gholami R, Moradzadeh A, Rasouli V, Hanachi J. Practical application of failure criteria in determining safe mud weight Windows in drilling operations. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng. 2014; 6(1): 13-25.

[30] Hoek E. Strength of jointed rock masses. Géotechnique. 1983; 33(3): 187-223.

[31] Hoek E, Wood D, Shah S. A modified Hoek-Brown failure criterion for jointed rock masses. Rock Characterisation: ISRM Symposium, Eurock'92. Thomas Telford Publishing; 1992: 209-214.

[32] Horsrud P. Estimating mechanical properties of shale from empirical correlations. SPE Drill Compl. 2001; 16(2): 68-73.

[33] Jain G, Singh A. An elastoplastic semi-analytical solution for enhanced geothermal wellbore stability considering temperature-sensitive failure criterion. Geothermics. 2024; 121: 103046.

[34] Khatibi S, Aghajanpour A, Ostadhassan M, Farzay O. Evaluating single-parameter parabolic failure criterion in wellbore stability analysis. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 2018; 50: 166-180.

[35] Kirsch EG. Die Theorie der Elastizit t und die Bed rfnisse der Festigkeitslehre. Zeitshrift des Vereines deutscher Ingenieure. 1898; 42: 797-807.

[36] Kumar P, Collett TS, Boswell R, et al. Geologic implications of gas hydrates in the offshore of India: Krishna-Godavari basin, Mahanadi basin, Andaman Sea, Kerala-Konkan basin. Mar Pet Geol. 2014; 58: 29-98.

[37] Kumar P, Collett TS, Shukla KM, Yadav US, Lall MV, Vishwanath K. India national gas hydrate program expedition-02: operational and technical summary. Mar Pet Geol. 2019; 108: 3-38.

[38] Lal M. Shale stability: drilling fluid interaction and shale strength. In SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (SPE-54356). SPE; 1999.

[39] Ma T, Chen P, Yang C, Zhao J. Wellbore stability analysis and well path optimization based on the breakout width model and Mogi-Coulomb criterion. J Pet Sci Eng. 2015; 135: 678-701.

[40] Maleki S, Gholami R, Rasouli V, Moradzadeh A, Riabi RG, Sadaghzadeh F. Comparison of different failure criteria in prediction of safe mud weigh window in drilling practice. Earth Sci Rev. 2014; 136: 36-58.

[41] Mansourizadeh M, Jamshidian M, Bazargan P, Mohammadzadeh O. Wellbore stability analysis and breakout pressure prediction in vertical and deviated boreholes using failure criteria-a case study. J Pet Sci Eng. 2016; 145: 482-492.

[42] Maury VM, Sauzay J. Borehole instability: case histories, rock mechanics approach, and results. In SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition (SPE-16051). SPE; 1987.

[43] McLean MR, Addis MA. Wellbore stability analysis: a review of current methods of analysis and their field application. In SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition (SPE-19941). SPE; 1990a.

[44] McLean MR, Addis MA. Wellbore stability: the effect of strength criteria on mud weight recommendations. In SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (SPE-20405). SPE; 1990b.

[45] Mitchell RF, Goodman MA, Wood ET. Borehole stresses: plasticity and the drilled hole effect. In SPE/IADC drilling conference. OnePetro; 1987.

[46] Mogi K. Experimental Rock Mechanics. CRC Press; 2006.

[47] Ouyang Z, Elsworth D. A phenomenological failure criterion for brittle rock. Rock Mech Rock Eng. 1991; 24(3): 133-153.

[48] Prabhakar KN, Zutshi PL. Evolution of Southern part of Indian east coast basins. J Geol Soc India. 1993; 41(3): 215-230.

[49] Rao GN. Sedimentation, stratigraphy, and petroleum potential of Krishna-Godavari basin, East Coast of India. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull. 2001; 85(9): 1623-1643.

[50] Rao GN, Mani KS. A study on generation of abnormal formation pressures in Krishna-Godavari Basin, India; 1993.

[51] Sahu JN. Deep water Krishna-Godavari basin and its potential. Petromin (Asia's Exploration and Production Business magazine); 2005: 26-34.

[52] Singh A. Closed-form solutions for circular cavity in brittle and ductile rocks using true triaxial strength criteria under plane strain (Doctoral dissertation, IIT Delhi); 2018.

[53] Singh A, Ayothiraman R, Rao KS. Failure criteria for isotropic rocks using a smooth approximation of modified Mohr-Coulomb failure function. Geotech Geol Eng. 2020; 38: 4385-4404.

[54] Singh A, Fokker PA. Time-resolved model for geothermal engineering in high porosity Slochteren sandstone. Int J Numer and Anal Methods Geomech. 2021; 45(7): 893-911.

[55] Singh A, Kumar C, Gopi Kannan L, Seshagiri Rao K, Ayothiraman R. Engineering properties of rock salt and simplified closed-form deformation solution for circular opening in rock salt under the true triaxial stress state. Eng Geol. 2018; 243: 218-230.

[56] Singh A, Rao KS, Ayothiraman R. Study on Mohr-Coulomb-based three-dimensional strength criteria and its application in the stability analysis of vertical borehole. Arabian J Geosci. 2019a; 12: 578.

[57] Singh A, Rao KS, Ayothiraman R. A closed-form analytical solution for circular opening in rocks using drucker-prager criterion. Indian Geotech J. 2019b; 49: 437-454.

[58] Singh A, Rao KS, Ayothiraman R. An analytical solution to wellbore stability using Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng. 2019c; 11(6): 1211-1230.

[59] Singh M, Raj A, Singh B. Modified Mohr-Coulomb criterion for non-linear triaxial and polyaxial strength of intact rocks. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 2011; 48(4): 546-555.

[60] Singha DK, Chatterjee R. Geomechanical modeling using finite element method for prediction of in-situ stress in Krishna-Godavari basin, India. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 2015; 73: 15-27.

[61] Song I, Haimson BC. Polyaxial strength criteria and their use in estimating in situ stress magnitudes from borehole breakout dimensions. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 1997; 34(3/4): 116.e1-116.e16.

[62] Vernik L, Zoback MD. Estimation of maximum horizontal principal stress magnitude from stress-induced well bore breakouts in the Cajon Pass scientific research borehole. J Geophys Res Solid Earth. 1992; 97(B4): 5109-5119.

[63] Waite WF, Ruppel CD, Collett TS, et al. Multi-measurement approach for establishing the base of gas hydrate occurrence in the Krishna-Godavari Basin for sites cored during expedition NGHP-02 in the offshore of India. Mar Pet Geol. 2019; 108: 296-320.

[64] You M. True-triaxial strength criteria for rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 2009; 46(1): 115-127.

[65] Zeng F, Li Y, Labuz JF. Paul-Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion for geomaterials. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng. 2018; 144(2): 06017018.

[66] Zhang L, Cao P, Radha KC. Evaluation of rock strength criteria for wellbore stability analysis. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. 2010; 47(8): 1304-1316.

[67] Zhou S. A program to model the initial shape and extent of borehole breakout. Comput Geosci. 1994; 20(7/8): 1143-1160.

[68] Zoback MD. Reservoir Geomechanics. Cambridge University Press; 2010.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 The Author(s). Deep Underground Science and Engineering published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of China University of Mining and Technology.