Pre-Drilled ECD Design by Using Fracture Pressure Model in Satun-Funan Fields, Pattani Basin, Gulf of Thailand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nardthida Kananithikorn ◽  
Teenarat Songsaeng

Abstract Lost circulation is the most common drilling issue for infill drilling projects in Satun-Funan Fields, South Pattani Basin, Gulf of Thailand (GOT). The depleted sand is possible to be a root cause in many wells based on observation from resistivity time-lapse separation in depleted sands or shale nearby. Therefore, the objective of this study is to estimate fracture pressure related to the depleted sand and design an appropriate Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) threshold for each well to avoid or minimize lost circulation and well control complication during drilling a new well. This study model is using Eaton (1969) equation. There are 3 input parameters which are Poisson's Ratio and pre-drilled estimated depletion pressure and depth. With limitations of no actual fracturing data and limited sonic log, the maximum ECD while lost circulation reading from Pressure While Drilling (PWD) tool and formation pressure test data were used to back-calculate for Poisson's Ratio and identified a relationship with depth. From the total of 68 wells in the Satun and Funan areas, the interpreted Poisson's Ratio ranges from 0.36 to 0.44 and its linear trend is apparently increasing with depth. To minimize the variation of back calculated Poisson's Ratio the local data become an important key for model validation and maintain the similarity of subsurface factors. This interpreted Poisson's ratio trend will be used to calculate for fracture pressure by incorporating with estimated depletion pressure and depth that expect to encounter in each planned well. The lowest fracture pressure in a planned well is used to prepare pre-drilled ECD management plan and a real-time well monitoring plan. Additionally, the model can be adjusted during the operational phase based on the new drilled well result. This alternative model was applied in 4 trial drilling projects in 2019 and fully implement in 6 drilling projects in 2020. The lost circulation can be prevented with value creation from expected gain reserves section is $57M and cost avoidance from non-productive time due to lost circulation is $3.4M. With an effort, good communication and great collaboration among cross-functional teams, the model success rate increases by 12%. However, there are some unexpected lost events occurred even though the maximum ECD lower than expected fracture pressure. This suspect as a combination of limitations and uncertainties on key input parameters and drilling parameters. In the future, the model is planned to expand to other gas fields in the Pattani Basin which will move to more infill phase and have higher chance of getting lost circulation to maximize benefits as the success case in Satun and Funan fields.

Author(s):  
Mojtaba P. Shahri ◽  
Stefan Z. Miska

There has been an increasing consciousness regarding stress changes associated with reservoir depletion as the industry moves towards more challenging jobs in deep-water or depleted reservoirs. These stress changes play a significant role in the design of wells in this condition. Therefore, accurate prediction of reservoir stress path, i.e., change in horizontal stresses with pore pressure, is of vital importance. In this study, the current stress path formulation is investigated using a Tri-axial Rock Mechanics Testing Facility. The reservoir depletion scenario is simulated through experiments and provides a better perspective on the currently used formulation and how it’s applicable during production and injection periods. The effect of fluid re-injection into reservoirs on the horizontal stress is also analyzed using core samples. According to the results, formation fracture pressure would not be equal to its initial value if pressure builds up using re-injection. The irrecoverable formation fracture pressure has a power law relation with pore pressure drawdown range. In order to avoid higher permanent fracture pressure reduction, it’s recommended to start the injection process as soon as possible during the production life of reservoirs. According to the experimental results, rocks behave differently during production and injection periods. Poisson’s ratio is greater during pressure build-up as compared to the depletion period. According to the current industry standards, Poisson’s ratio is usually obtained using fracturing data; i.e., leak-off test or mini-fracture test, or well logging methods. However, we are not able to use the same Poisson’s ratio for both pressure drawdown and build-up scenarios according to the experimental data. Corresponding to Poisson’s ratio values, the change in horizontal stress with pore pressure during drawdown (production) is higher than during build-up (injection) period. The outcomes of this study can significantly contribute to well planning and design of challenging wells over the life of reservoirs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neaam F. Hussain ◽  
Faleh H. M. Al Mahdawi

   Fracture pressure gradient prediction is complementary in well design and it is must be considered in selecting the safe mud weight, cement design, and determine the optimal casing seat to minimize the common drilling problems. The exact fracture pressure gradient value obtained from tests on the well while drilling such as leak-off test, formation integrity test, cement squeeze ... etc.; however, to minimize the total cost of drilling, there are several methods could be used to calculate fracture pressure gradient classified into two groups: the first one depend on Poisson’s ratio of the rocks and the second is fully empirical methods. In this research, the methods selected are Huubert and willis, Cesaroni I, Cesaroni II, Cesaroni III, Eaton, and Daines where Poisson’s ratio is considered essential here and the empirical methods selected are Matthews and Kelly and Christman. The results of these methods give an approximately match with the previous field study which has been relied upon in drilling the previous wells in the field and Cesaroni I is selected to be the equation that represents the field under study in general. In the shallower formations, Cesaroni I is the best method; while in deepest formations, Eaton, Christman, and Cesaroni I are given a good and approximately matching. The fracture pressure gradient of Halfaya oilfield range is (0.98 to 1.03) psi/ft.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ai Chi ◽  
Li Yuwei

Coal body is a type of fractured rock mass in which lots of cleat fractures developed. Its mechanical properties vary with the parametric variation of coal rock block, face cleat and butt cleat. Based on the linear elastic theory and displacement equivalent principle and simplifying the face cleat and butt cleat as multi-bank penetrating and intermittent cracks, the model was established to calculate the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of coal body combined with cleat. By analyzing the model, it also obtained the influence of the parameter variation of coal rock block, face cleat and butt cleat on the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of the coal body. Study results showed that the connectivity rate of butt cleat and the distance between face cleats had a weak influence on elastic modulus of coal body. When the inclination of face cleat was 90°, the elastic modulus of coal body reached the maximal value and it equaled to the elastic modulus of coal rock block. When the inclination of face cleat was 0°, the elastic modulus of coal body was exclusively dependent on the elastic modulus of coal rock block, the normal stiffness of face cleat and the distance between them. When the distance between butt cleats or the connectivity rate of butt cleat was fixed, the Poisson's ratio of the coal body initially increased and then decreased with increasing of the face cleat inclination.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gowida ◽  
Moussa ◽  
Elkatatny ◽  
Ali

Rock mechanical properties play a key role in the optimization process of engineering practices in the oil and gas industry so that better field development decisions can be made. Estimation of these properties is central in well placement, drilling programs, and well completion design. The elastic behavior of rocks can be studied by determining two main parameters: Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. Accurate determination of the Poisson’s ratio helps to estimate the in-situ horizontal stresses and in turn, avoid many critical problems which interrupt drilling operations, such as pipe sticking and wellbore instability issues. Accurate Poisson’s ratio values can be experimentally determined using retrieved core samples under simulated in-situ downhole conditions. However, this technique is time-consuming and economically ineffective, requiring the development of a more effective technique. This study has developed a new generalized model to estimate static Poisson’s ratio values of sandstone rocks using a supervised artificial neural network (ANN). The developed ANN model uses well log data such as bulk density and sonic log as the input parameters to target static Poisson’s ratio values as outputs. Subsequently, the developed ANN model was transformed into a more practical and easier to use white-box mode using an ANN-based empirical equation. Core data (692 data points) and their corresponding petrophysical data were used to train and test the ANN model. The self-adaptive differential evolution (SADE) algorithm was used to fine-tune the parameters of the ANN model to obtain the most accurate results in terms of the highest correlation coefficient (R) and the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The results obtained from the optimized ANN model show an excellent agreement with the laboratory measured static Poisson’s ratio, confirming the high accuracy of the developed model. A comparison of the developed ANN-based empirical correlation with the previously developed approaches demonstrates the superiority of the developed correlation in predicting static Poisson’s ratio values with the highest R and the lowest MAPE. The developed correlation performs in a manner far superior to other approaches when validated against unseen field data. The developed ANN-based mathematical model can be used as a robust tool to estimate static Poisson’s ratio without the need to run the ANN model.


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