Integrated workflow for feasibility study of cuttings reinjection based on 3-D geomechanics analysis

• Main Authors: William Bradley Standifird, Xinpu Shen, Guoyang Shen
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.06.2018
• Subjects: EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

Methods and systems are presented in this disclosure for feasibility study of cuttings reinjection (CRI) process based on three-dimensional (3-D) geomechanical analysis. A location of an injection well for CRI can be first determined along with a true vertical depth (TVD) interval of an injection section along a trajectory of the injection well. Then, a window of values for an injection pressure for hydraulic fracturing performed in association with the injection well can be calculated. Analysis of fault reactivation due to the hydraulic fracturing can be performed, and a volume of a fracture generated by the hydraulic fracturing can be calculated. CRI for the volume of the fracture can be performed at the determined location of the injection well for the TVD interval, by taking into account the injection pressure window and the analysis of fault reactivation.