Numerical modelling of wellbore behaviour in fractured rock masses

• Published in: Journal of petroleum science & engineering Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 95 - 115
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xing, Last, Nigel, Powrie, William, Harkness, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Drilling; Drilling methods and equipments. Rocks mechanics. Directional and horizontal drilling; Drilling. Casing. Preparing wells for production; Earth stress; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fractures; Fuels; Hydraulic pressure; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; Wellbore; Drilling; Wellbore; Fractures; Earth stress; Hydraulic pressure; Gas well; Fractured reservoir; Rock mechanics; Stress distribution; Distinct element method; Theoretical study; Borehole stability; Modeling; Oil well

Wellbore instability problems have been encountered in many gas and oil fields. Fractures and a high differential stress (i.e., a large difference between the principal effective stresses in the horizontal plane) are considered to be major causes of wellbore instabilities, including hole enlargement...