Sand stresses around a wellbore
The authors have studied theoretically the stresses in a poorly consolidated sand around a cylindrical well, assuming axial symmetry. Applying theories of elasticity and plasticity on this three-dimensional (3D) model, analytical solutions for all three stress components have been worked out. The existence of a plastic zone around an uncased wellbore is confirmed, and the size of the zone is determined. When allowing an incompressible fluid to flow radially into the wellbore, a stability criterion describing the failure of the sand is found to exist. This criterion relates fluid flow forces to rock strength properties. Consideration also has been given to the stress distribution around a cased hole. It is shown that a decrease in the size of the plastic zone relative to an uncased hole occurs.
- Research Organization:
- Norsk Agip A/S
- OSTI ID:
- 5884584
- Journal Information:
- SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Journal Name: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States) Vol. 22:6; ISSN SSPJD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
AXIAL SYMMETRY
ELASTICITY
FLUID FLOW
FORMATION DAMAGE
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PLASTICITY
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
ROCK MECHANICS
SAND
STRESS ANALYSIS
SYMMETRY
TENSILE PROPERTIES
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WELL PRESSURE
WELLS