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Evolution Law of Wellbore Instability Risk under Fluctuating Pressure

Authors :
Kai Zhao
Wenjie Song
Jingen Deng
Qiang Tan
Xiaoyun Wang
Source :
Energies, Vol 16, Iss 7, p 2948 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

The bottom hole fluctuating pressure has a large influence on the wellbore instability. To address this problem, firstly, according to the principle of seepage mechanics, we established a calculation model of the change in pore pressure around the wellbore radius under fluctuating pressure; then, through laboratory rock mechanics test and rock damage mechanics theory analysis, the change law of formation strength under the action of static hydration and dynamic damage are determined; finally, based on the theory of rock mechanics in porous media, a quantitative evaluation method for the risk of wellbore instability under fluctuating pressure is established and the changing pattern of wellbore instability risk is analyzed. The results show that the pore pressure around the well shows a trend of fluctuation increase under fluctuating pressure, and there is a certain lag in the fluctuation of pore pressure inside the formation; the longer the muddy shale is immersed in drilling fluid, the greater the reduction in strength; the reduction is greater in the early stage of immersion, and the reduction in strength in water-based drilling fluid is greater than that in oil-based drilling fluid. At the beginning of the pressure cycle, the formation damage variable and compressive strength gradually increase and decrease with the increase of the pressure cycle number; after several cycles, the magnitude of change gradually decreases with the increase of the cycle number. When the bottom hole pressure fluctuates at a certain period, the greater the fluctuation, the shorter the period of wellbore stability; when the bottom hole pressure fluctuates at a certain range, the smaller the fluctuation period, the faster the borehole enters the high-risk period, while the shortest period of wellbore stability occurs when the fluctuation period is smallest; and when the wave cycle is in the middle, the wellbore stability period is the longest.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19961073
Volume :
16
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Energies
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.59381a8711ec444c970fa61886cdc884
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/en16072948