Borehole-stability analysis for the design of the first horizontal well drilled in the U. K. Southern V fields

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Drilling Engineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/20408-PA· OSTI ID:5679235

Fuh, G F ^[1]; Dew, E G; Ramsey, C A ^[2]; Collins, K ^[3]

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1. Conoco Inc. (US)
2. Conoco U.K. Ltd. (GB)
3. Texaco North Sea U.K. Co. (GB)

This paper presents the method and result of a borehole-stability analysis conducted on the first horizontal well successfully drilled the North Valiant oil field in the Southern North Sea. Previous drilling data obtained from the same area were analyzed by numerical simulations of potential mechanical behavior of the wellbore. The magnitude of the in-situ horizontal stresses was determined by the analysis of fracture-stimulation data from wells in the fields. The directions of the stresses were derived from anelastic-strain-relaxation (ASR) measurements of fresh core. Effects of hole azimuth on well bore stability were evaluated. The analysis resulted in a design of optimum mud weights for maintaining borehole stability during drilling. This paper also discussed field results and well completions.

• OSTI ID: 5679235
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Drilling Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Drilling Engineering; (United States) Vol. 6:3; ISSN 0885-9744; ISSN SDENE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
FAILURES
FLUIDS
FRACTURES
OIL WELLS
SIMULATION
STABILITY
STRESSES
WEIGHT
WELL COMPLETION
WELL DRILLING
WELLS