Analysis of Wellbore Stability considering the Interaction between Fluid and Shale

Abstract

Reservoir shale has the characteristics of bedding planes, strong anisotropy, and strong imbibition ability under ultralow water saturation, which has an important impact on wellbore stability of horizontal wells. Therefore, the physical and chemical properties of reservoir shale were analyzed, and a mechanics model of wellbore stability was established considering the elasticity and strength anisotropy. The wellbore stability was analyzed considering the anisotropy parameters of formation elasticity and strength and imbibition conditions. The results show that the anisotropy of elasticity and strength under the condition of imbibition are important parameters for evaluating the stability of reservoir shale borehole. Considering the interaction between fluid and reservoir shale, the weakening of the strength of the bedding structure is the reason for wellbore instability of reservoir shale. Bedding planes and microfractures provide rapid imbibition channel, and the imbibition volume increases, which further causes fracture expansion and strength weakening, and then leads to wellbore instability. Multistage effective plugging of bedding, microcracks and macroholes during drilling is the key to maintain the stability of shale wellbore.