ABSTRACT: Performing geomechanical analysis before spudding a well to establish the safe mud-weight window is a quite common practice in the industry. However, updating the predrill model with new data acquired after the well is drilled is still less common, especially if no major difficulties were encountered while drilling. The presented case study shows that differences between predrill expectations and postdrill observation could be in some cases significant. The objective of this study was to improve the geomechanical knowledge of the field, predict and evaluate geomechanical-related drilling risks, and propose counter measures to aid in near future and long-term drilling activity. After field operations were completed, newly obtained data were used to improve the model, to avoid or mitigate wellbore stability problems in future wells.

Keywords:
wellbore integrity, pore pressure, reservoir geomechanics, upstream oil & gas, wellbore design, mud-weight window, reservoir characterization, structural geology, predrill model, shear failure
Subjects:
Wellbore Design, Reservoir Characterization, Wellbore integrity, Exploration, development, structural geology, Reservoir geomechanics
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