3-D Geomechanical Modeling and Wellbore Stability Analysis in Abu Butabul Field

Abstract

Abstract Abu Butabul Field is located within onshore Oman Block 60 in the Western region of the Central Oman Desert (Figure 1). Gas-condensate was discovered in the field in 1998. The main reservoir is the Cambro-Ordovician clastic Bank formation, which is buried over 4200 m below sea level with very low porosity and permeability. Wellbore instability related drilling problems were encountered while drilling most of the appraisal wells in the field. The problems were mainly in the shallower Natih and Nahr Umr formations, Gharif formation and deeper Safiq, Ghudun and Mabrouk formations. A geomechanical modeling study was conducted in the field to understand the causes of the wellbore instability problems and to provide recommendations for drilling new wells. Data from nine wells were analyzed and used for the construction of 1-D mechanical earth models. Rock mechanical testing data on core samples and pressure and stress memasurement were integrated in the models. Wellbore stability analysis of those wells provided insight into the causes of the wellbore instability problems. To predict wellbore stability at any location in the field more efficiently and capturing the lateral formation property variation as indicated by the seismic data, a 3-D geomechanical model was constructed and subsequently used for predicting wellbore stability for new wells to be drilled in the field and hydraulic fracturing pressures for fracturing stimulation of horizontal wells. This paper describes the process of constructing the 1-D mechanical earth models, performing wellbore stability analysis for the appraisal wells, Integeration of 3D seismic Inversion, constructing the 3-D geomechanical model, predicting wellbore stability for new wells using data contained in the 3-D model and post-drill wellbore stability analysis of the planned wells.