Geomechanical modeling of the wellbore stability is an effective tool for reducing technological risks during well drilling and operation. At the well design stage, geomechanical modeling of the wellbore stability allows to predict the drill problems due mechanical reasons, to optimize the well trajectory and construction, to determine the safe drilling mud density window. Geomechanical modeling of wellbore stability during drilling process allows refining the model on-line and promptly making the necessary corrective engineering and management decisions. At the stage of well operation, geomechanical modeling of the wellbore stability allows solving the problems of hydraulic fracturing planning and predicting the risk of sand production in cases of weakly cemented reservoirs.
In the absence of complex formation conditions, faults, salt tectonics in the area of the target wells, the wellbore stability analysis is successfully performed using 1D modeling. The availability of software for geomechanical modeling is a critical aspect for development of the engineering culture of geomechanical modeling and the growth of the number of specialists in the field of drilling, geology and reservoir development that can perform the necessary geomechanical calculations. The development of in-house software allows the company's engineers to significantly expand the application of geomechanical modeling, reduce possible risks in well operating and improve the economic and production efficiency of oil and gas production.
The fundamental mathematical models and empirical correlations for 1D geomechanical modeling, as well as the experience of corporate geomechanical simulator development are discussed in this article.
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