Analysis of the Mechanical Stability of Boreholes Drilled in Sedimentary Rocks

Abstract

This article presents the method and results of wellbore stability analysis for three common reservoir lithologies consisting of a consolidated sandstone, a shaly sandstone, and a limestone formation. The effect of stress anisotropy on the mechanical stability of wellbores is evaluated while varying the inclination angle from 0 to 90°, for both the Mohr–Coulomb and the Drucker–Prager failure criteria. The selected failure criterion, and the in-situ rock stress regime are found to have significant effects on the safe drilling fluid density required to maintain wellbore integrity. According to some field examples, the Drucker–Prager failure criterion appears to systematically mimic rock conditions more realistically than the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion. The simulated consolidated sandstone formation is found more stable with lesser drilling fluid density, at any inclination angle, than the simulated shaly sandstone formation. The simulated limestone formation is even more stable than the consolidated sandstone at all inclination angles since it requires lighter fluid density to prevent wellbore collapse. For all these rock types, the higher the deviation angle (from vertical), the higher the drilling fluid density needed for maintaining wellbore integrity. For the depth and rock conditions simulated, both consolidated and shaly sands are unstable in a strike-slip stress regime, but stable in an extensional stress regime. The simulated limestone formation was found stable in both stress regimes. However, in an extensional stress regime, the limestone formation required lighter fluid density to maintain wellbore integrity than in a strike-slip stress regime. This article introduces the theory of using a practically-oriented model to assess the mechanical stability of a wellbore in a linearly-elastic stress field. The model can be used to determine the range of mechanically stable well inclinations for a given formation, and to suggest drilling-fluid density programs tailored to efficient and safe drilling.     

基于井壁稳定分析的井眼轨迹优化方法

井壁稳定问题是钻井工程关注的焦点之一,但目前基于井壁稳定分析优化井眼轨迹方面开展的工作还很少。为此,基于斜井井壁应力分布模型和井壁失稳破坏模式,分别采用Mohr-Coulomb准则、Drucker Prager准则和拉张破坏准则导出了维持井壁稳定的钻井液安全窗口上下限计算模型,利用数值计算方法建立了安全密度窗口、安全和危险井眼轨迹的求解方法,计算和分析了6种典型地应力状态下的井壁稳定性,并分析了相应地应力状态下安全和危险的井眼轨迹。结果表明:①Mohr-Coulomb准则计算结果高于Drucker-Prager准则,主要由于Mohr-Coulomb准则忽略了中间主应力的影响,低估了地层岩石的强度;②在σ_v≥σ_Hσ_h情况下沿最小水平地应力钻进稳定性最好,σ_Hσ_vσ_h情况下钻进稳定性最好的方向为偏离最大水平地应力30°~45°的方向上,σ_(11)σ_h≥σ_v情况下沿最大水平地应力钻进稳定性最好,σ_H=σ_vσ_h情况下直井稳定性最好;③数值计算方法得出的安全井眼轨迹与AZ模型吻合较好,验证了该方法的正确性和准确性。数值计算方法可以直观给出不同轨迹下的安全密度窗口,对于窄安全密度窗口地层,可采用该方法优化井眼轨迹改善井眼稳定性。     

井壁稳定性评价准则分析

井壁坍塌失稳大多由于井周岩石的剪切破坏造成,而剪切破坏准则的选择是井壁稳定性预测的关键因素。通常使用的Mohr-Coulomb准则和Drucker-Prager准则都存在明显的缺点,致使井壁稳定性预测结果不准确。于是,引进了一种新的破坏准则——Mogi-Coulomb准则。该准则较为合理地考虑了中间主应力对岩石强度的影响,使强度预测结果更加准确。为验证其优势,利用岩石真三轴试验数据对3种准则的强度预测结果进行了对比分析。结果表明:在真三轴应力状态下,Mogi-Coulomb准则预测岩石强度的精度要高于Mohr-Coulomb准则和Drucker-Prager准则,且具有表达简单、使用方便、预测结果准确等优点。因此,建议推广使用Mogi-Coulomb准则预测井壁稳定性。     

基于弹性应变能强度准则评价井壁稳定性

岩石强度准则是石油工程的重要基础理论,对于井壁稳定性研究更是不可或缺。然而,以经典弹塑性理论的岩石强度准则作为井壁失稳判断依据时所得结果,往往与现场实际情况存在较大误差。开展三轴力学试验,测试岩石不同围压条件下的极限储能,从能量角度建立岩石能量强度准则,并与其他强度准则对比分析了井壁的稳定性。计算结果表明:使用不同强度准则所得坍塌压力相差较大,其中Hoek-Brown准则的坍塌压力过低且存在井壁坍塌风险,Mohr-Coulomb和Drucker-Prager准则的结果过于保守且存在压破地层风险,而根据能量强度准则所得坍塌压力则能保证井壁不塌不漏。该准则是井壁稳定评价的一种新方法,为钻井液密度设计提供了可靠的理论依据。     

考虑有效膜压力的坍塌压力计算模型

川渝气区风险探井欠平衡井段的井眼扩径率普遍较高,井眼扩径率介于20%~30%,最高可达140%,增加了风险探井的钻探风险,而且欠平衡钻井井壁稳定的问题也尚未得到有效解决。为此,针对欠平衡井段井壁失稳机理开展了研究,提出了计算欠平衡钻井井壁坍塌压力的方法:通过引入有效膜压力系数,结合达西定律、地层流体状态方程、连续性方程,求解出井周压力分布解析解;依据叠加原理得到了井周应力分布模型,并采用Mohr-Coulomb准则推导出维持井壁稳定的最低钻井液密度计算模型;研究了欠平衡、过平衡、欠平衡转过平衡3种典型工况下的井周压力演化规律,并总结了欠平衡钻井井壁失稳的规律。结论认为:该模型反映了泥饼对井壁稳定的影响,由其计算得到的坍塌压力比常规模型计算所得的结果要高,说明有效膜压力系数对井壁坍塌的影响显著,而岩石强度(内聚力、内摩擦角)、地应力、岩石孔隙度等参数对井壁坍塌的影响则相对较小,采用该模型计算的结果更加符合现场实际。     

川西低渗透气藏气体钻井井壁稳定性评价方法

川西低渗透气藏采用气体钻井技术钻进时,致密砂岩井段井下垮塌频繁,为给制定防塌技术措施提供依据,在分析非达西渗流、储层敏感性对孔隙压力影响,计算气层产气时径向拖曳力的基础上,分析了径向拖曳力影响下井周的有效应力场,利用川西X3井实钻数据分析了气体钻井井壁垮塌的机理,并与摩尔库伦准则和拉伸破坏模型相结合,提出了适用于川西低渗透气藏气体钻井的井壁稳定性评价方法。川西低渗透气藏气体钻井井壁垮塌机理为:低渗透储层中高速非达西渗流和气体产出时产生的径向拖曳力使坍塌压力升高,井壁稳定性变差,同时在径向拖曳力作用下先发生拉伸破坏,随后地层压力降低进而发生剪切破坏,出现垮塌。利用低渗透气藏气体钻井井壁稳定性评价方法评价了X3井低渗透储层的井壁稳定性,评价结果与实钻情况相符,说明采用该评价方法可以评价川西低渗透气藏气体钻井时的井壁稳定性,能够为川西低渗透气藏气体钻井制定防塌技术措施提供指导。      

马鞍塘组裂缝性灰岩地层井壁稳定性研究

马鞍塘组裂缝性灰岩地层的岩石力学特性是影响该地层井壁稳定性问题的重要因素.通过室内三轴力学实验,研究了马鞍塘组灰岩的岩石力学特性,分析了井壁渗流能力及井筒与地层间不同渗流情况的应力场变化规律.研究结果表明,马鞍塘组灰岩的岩石力学特性随取心角度的增加呈先上升后下降再上升的趋势,而钻井液浸泡效应对其影响不明显;裂缝走向与井...     

A Mud Weight Window Investigation Based on the Mogi-Coulomb Failure Criterion and Elasto-Plastic Constitutive Model

Abstract

A successful stable borehole scheme results in saving time and money. To reach this aim many parameters such as bottom hole pressure, and stress distribution around the borehole must be considered in the design of a well. During drilling there are two main wellbore stability problems, namely, borehole collapse and fracture. These stability problems can lead to the need for fishing, stuck pipes, sidetracking, and lost circulation. These drilling problems can be mitigated or often eliminated by proper determination of the critical mud pressure.

The most common approach for these studies is a linear elastic and isotropic constitutive model in conjunction with linear failure criteria like Mohr-Coulomb. Numerous researchers have found situations in which the Mohr-Coulomb criterion was deficient because mid-principle geotechnical stress is not incorporated. In addition, the conventional mechanical model is based on the linear elasticity condition, while in reality, it is believed that the fluid barrier and a part of the bore hole wall behave plastically, which provides higher fracturing pressure than Kirsch's equation.

In this article, the mud window is estimated using Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion and the elasto-plastic model. This is based on a hypothesis that wellbore behavior indeed is not strictly elastic and intermediate principle stress plays an important role in rock strength. Therefore, an elasto-plastic model and the Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion should be incorporated. This hypothesis is verified and used in this article for the South Pars gas field (phases 6, 7, and 8) in the Persian Gulf. The results indicate that the newly developed model is more accurate than the conventional approach.     

水平井安全和危险钻井方位

在理论推导水平井井壁应力公式基础上,根据Mohr-Coulomb准则,建立了水平井井壁稳定控制方程,提出了水平井井壁安全和危险方位的确定方法。利用该方法,能够确定任意应力条件下水平井的安全和危险方位。算例研究表明,应力模式决定着水平井的安全和危险方位,研究结果能够为井眼轨迹优化设计提供理论依据。     

超深井井壁稳定性分析

超深井钻井过程中存在多套地层压力体系，井壁稳定性条件复杂，高温、高压、深部地层岩石可钻性差等难点。随着井深的增加，地层压力梯度急剧增加，需要较高密度的钻井液来平衡地层压力。超深井的裸眼井段较长，钻井液浸泡时间长，容易导致岩石抗压强度软化，尤其一些泥岩层段，一旦被钻井液浸泡过后，井壁极易发生失稳。在超深井钻井过程中，不同的温度差异必然导致近井壁岩石应力分布发生改变，影响井壁稳定性。为此，提出分别利用地震、测井数据得到的坍塌破裂密度曲线来预测超深井井壁稳定性，所建立的计算模型应用于莫深1井的井壁稳定性分析，结果表明：预测情况与工程实际吻合。     

顺北油气田深部破碎性地层井壁失稳机理及对策研究

顺北油气田多口探井在奥陶系碳酸盐岩地层钻遇破碎带,井壁失稳严重,已成为制约顺北油气田安全建井的突出问题。文章在综合分析顺北奥陶系破碎性碳酸盐岩地层井壁失稳类型及理化特性、裂缝面物理—力学特性和岩石力学实验的基础上,提出了井壁稳定钻井液技术对策。研究发现,区域断裂带附近地应力方向复杂,地应力差大;地层天然多尺度裂缝发育、破碎程度大、岩体等效强度较低;钻井液易沿天然裂缝侵入地层,钻井液-裂缝面水岩作用造成缝面粗糙度减小、摩擦系数降低,易诱发地层沿裂缝面失稳,是深部破碎性地层井壁失稳的主要机理。明确“合理密度支撑+钻井液刚柔并济多级配封堵”,配合使用“耐高温随钻/段塞固壁剂”是顺北油气田深部破碎性地层稳定的井壁钻井液技术对策。研究成果对促进深部破碎性地层安全高效钻井具有重要借鉴意义。     

滨里海盆地巨厚盐膏层钻井液密度设计新方法

传统的盐膏层钻井液密度的设计方法是,根据井筒的液柱压力和盐岩的非线性粘弹性变形特点,分析不同液柱压力条件下井筒的缩径速率,然后根据现场安全钻井所允许的井眼缩径速率,确定合适的钻井液密度。在分析哈萨克斯坦滨里海盆地实钻井盐膏层钻井液密度的基础上,认为在钻进巨厚盐膏层时,只要控制井壁围岩的八面体剪应力,使盐岩不产生损伤扩容,即可保证盐层井段安全钻井。亦即给定盐岩井壁八面体剪应力处于扩容损伤边界值,就可以计算得到保持井壁稳定的钻井液密度安全窗口。3口井盐膏层钻井液密度的设计结果表明,利用该方法设计的钻井液密度完全可以满足现场安全钻井的要求。     

深水钻井浅水流地层井眼坍塌影响因素分析

为了定量评价和防治浅水流对深水钻井的危害,进行了浅水流地层井眼坍塌影响因素分析。基于流固耦合理论建立了浅水流地层井眼稳定理论模型,并分别根据Mohr-Coulomb 准则和最大拉应力准则判断砂体的剪切和拉伸破坏,分析了各因素对井周最大破坏半径及砂体临界超压的影响。计算分析发现:超压将导致浅水流地层发生破坏,随着超压增大,其最大破坏半径随之快速增至大;水平有效地应力与垂直有效地应力的比值（K₀）越大,砂体埋深越大,浅水流地层越不容易发生破坏;砂体内摩擦角越大,砂体越稳定;井周最大破坏半径随着钻井液密度升高呈线性递减;浅水流地层存在临界超压,砂体埋深、强度和K₀越大,临界超压越大。研究结果表明,浅水流地层井眼坍塌的风险较大,井周破坏程度与超压、地应力、砂体埋深、钻井液密度和内摩擦角等因素有关,当砂体中的超压超过临界值时,整个砂体都将处于不稳定状态,而提高钻井液密度有利于浅水流地层的稳定。      

压力衰竭储层井壁稳定性变化规律研究

油气田在开发中后期会发生储层压力衰竭,压力衰竭将导致储层地应力发生变化,进而影响钻井中的井壁稳定性。从压力衰竭对储层地应力的影响入手,结合压力衰竭地层的井周应力分布规律对安全钻井液密度窗口随压力衰竭程度的变化规律进行了研究。结果表明,在压力衰竭储层钻定向井时存在一个中性角,当井斜角小于中性角时,压力衰竭使安全钻井液密度窗口变宽;当井斜角大于中性角时,压力衰竭使安全钻井液密度窗口变窄;中性角的大小与地层压力衰竭程度无关,与钻井方位有关,保持井斜角小于中性角并远离水平最大地应力方向有利于压力衰竭地层的钻井安全。研究结果可以为油气田在不同压力衰竭时期的钻井设计提供参考。     

Identification of lift-off mechanism failure for salt drill-in drilling fluid containing polymer filter cake through adsorption/desorption studies

Drilling fluid's contact with the productive zone of horizontal or complex wells can reduce well productivity by fluid invasion in the borehole wall. Salted drilling drill-in fluid containing polymers has often been applied in horizontal or complex petroleum wells in the poorly consolidated sandstone reservoirs of the Campos basin, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This fluid usually consists of natural polymers such as starch and xanthan gum, which are deposited as a filter cake on the wellbore wall during the drilling. Therefore, the identification of a lift-off mechanism failure, which can be detachment or blistering and pinholing, will enable formulation improvements, increasing the chances of success during filter cake removal in open hole operations. Likewise, knowledge of drill-in drilling fluid adsorption/desorption onto sand can help understand the filter cake–rock adhesion mechanism and consequently filter cake lift-off mechanism failures. The present study aimed to identify the lift-off failure mechanism for this type of fluid filter cake studying adsorption/desorption onto SiO₂ using solutions of natural polymers, lubricants, besides the fluid itself. Ellipsometry was employed to measure this process. The adsorption/desorption studies showed that the adsorbed layer of drilling fluid onto the walls of the rock pores is made up of clusters of polymers, linked by hydrogen bonds, which results in a force of lower cohesion compared to the electrostatic interaction between silica and polymers. Consequently, it was found that the most probable filter cake failure mechanism is rupture (blistering and pinholing), which results in the formation of ducts within the filter cake.     

滤饼质量对井壁周围应力和井壁稳定性的影响

无论是过平衡钻井,还是欠平衡钻井过程,都可能导致井周围地层孔隙压力改变,这样就使通过假定地层孔隙压力恒定而得到的井壁周围应力分布和地层的安全钻井液密度范围与实际偏离。滤饼质量直接影响到井壁附近地层的孔隙压力,定量地分析了滤饼质量对井周地层径向应力、切向应力、轴向应力和剪应力的影响。结果表明:一方面随着滤饼质量的提高,井筒内钻井液液柱压力对井壁地层的支撑作用逐渐增强,井壁地层抗剪切垮塌的能力相应提高,井壁稳定性变好;另一方面,地层颗粒间的接触应力逐渐增大,岩石抵抗张性破裂的能力增强,地层的破裂压力提高,井壁稳定性变好。滤饼质量好坏对低渗透地层的影响尤其显著。     

龙马溪页岩井壁失稳机理及高性能水基钻井液技术

目前长水平井段井壁失稳问题仍是制约国内外页岩气资源钻探开发的重大工程技术难题。为解决龙马溪组页岩长水平井段的井壁失稳问题,采用X射线衍射分析、氦气孔隙体积测试、高压压汞测试、高分辨率场发射扫描电镜、CT扫描、岩石连续刻划强度等实验,分析了龙马溪组页岩微观组构特征及理化特性,探讨了微观组构特征、理化特性对龙马溪组页岩井壁稳定的影响。研究表明:龙马溪页岩富含脆性矿物,黏土矿物以伊蒙混层为主,微纳米孔隙发育,微裂隙呈缝状、近平行分布,敏感性矿物的存在及其层理、微裂缝发育是导致页岩井壁失稳的主要内在因素。为此,针对性地提出了多元协同稳定井壁水基钻井液防塌技术对策,即"强化封堵-适度抑制-合理密度-高效润滑"。应用该技术对策构建了高性能水基钻井液优化配方,评价表明,该体系有较好的封堵性和抑制裂缝扩展的能力。该体系在黄金坝区块2口井三开进行了现场试验。现场试验结果表明,该体系较好地解决了页岩长水平井段的井壁失稳和水平段摩阻较大的问题,为中国采用水基钻井液技术高效钻探开发页岩气资源提供了新的思路及经验。      

氮气钻井井底岩爆机理及动态过程演化

氮气钻井钻遇致密砂岩裂缝圈闭高压导致井底岩爆是QL1井恶性井喷事故的根本原因,针对岩爆机理进行系统分析并形成正确的认识是恢复气体钻井技术良性发展的紧迫需要。为此,通过分析井底岩石性质、计算井底岩石裂缝面应力,利用常规井壁失稳分析方法研究井底岩爆机理;在此基础上,借助Visual Basic语言和Matlab软件编程,进行了岩爆的动态演化模拟,分析判断QL1井录井监测参数的异常变化。研究结果表明:当井底逐渐接近裂缝圈闭高压的过程中,裂缝面周向应力和径向应力差值逐渐增大,主应力之间的差值所引起的剪应力的增长使裂缝面产生压剪破坏以及压剪和拉伸复合破坏模式,直至破坏区连通井筒,高压气体携带大量碎屑喷入井内,释放大量能量,产生井底岩爆,上顶压缩钻具。结论认为,该研究成果系统地解释了QL1井录井监测参数的异常变化,其分析方法可以为井底岩爆的防治提供理论基础。     

一种基于页岩损伤规律的井壁坍塌压力确定方法

页岩的破坏有劈裂式、单剪切式、双剪切式等3种模式,而目前常用于预测井壁坍塌压力的Mohr-Coulomb准则仅适用于发生单剪切式破坏的井壁。针对该问题,首先基于最小耗散能原理和损伤力学,建立了包括页岩损伤演化方程、损伤阈值应变计算式、极限损伤变量计算式的页岩损伤力学模型;然后,以具有代表性的塔里木盆地群库恰克地区页岩地层标准岩心为研究对象,进行了常三轴抗压室内试验,并将试验得到的应力-应变曲线与理论曲线进行了对比分析,发现吻合较好;最后,将理论模型与室内试验结果相结合,研究了应变能密度与岩石破坏时应变、损伤阈值应变之间的关系曲线,并确定出维持井壁稳定的最低钻井液密度。分析认为,利用该种维持井壁稳定最低钻井液密度的确定方法,可以确定页岩地层的井壁坍塌压力。      

3D finite element modelling of multilateral junction wellbore stability

Wellbore failure can occur at different stages of operations. For example, wellbore collapse might happen during drilling and/or during production. The drilling process results in the removal of an already stressed rock material. If the induced stresses near the wellbore exceed the strength of rock, wellbore failure occurs. The production process also changes the effective stresses around the wellbore. Such changes in stresses can be significant for high drawdown pressures and can trigger wellbore failure. In this paper, the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion with a hyperbolic hardening is used. The model parameters are identified from triaxial compression tests. The numerical simulations of laboratory tests showed that the model can reproduce the mechanical behaviour of sandstone. In addition, the simulations of multilateral junction stability experiments showed that the model was able to reproduce yielding and failure at the multilateral junction for different levels of applied stresses. Finally, a numerical example examining multilateral junction stability in an open borehole during drilling and production is presented. The results illustrate the development of a localized failure zone proximate to the area where two wellbore tracks join, particularly on the side with a sharp approaching angle, which would significantly increase the risk of wellbore collapse at the junction.