Geomechanics of horizontally-drilled, stress-sensitive, naturally-fractured reservoirs [electronic resource].

Published:: Washington, D.C. : United States. Dept. of Energy, 1994.
Oak Ridge, Tenn. : Distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Physical Description:: 51 pages : digital, PDF file
Additional Creators:: Sandia National Laboratories, United States. Department of Energy, and United States. Department of Energy. Office of Scientific and Technical Information

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Summary:

Horizontal drilling is a viable approach for accessing hydrocarbons in many types of naturally-fractured reservoirs. Cost-effective improvements in the technology to drill, complete, and produce horizontal wells in difficult geologic environments require a better understanding of the mechanical and fluid-flow behavior of these reservoirs with changes ineffective stress during their development and production history. In particular, improved understanding is needed for predicting borehole stability and reservoir response during pore pressure drawdown. To address these problems, a cooperative project between Oryx Energy Company and Sandia National Laboratories was undertaken to study the effects of rock properties, in situ stress, and changes in effective stress on the deformation and permeability of stress sensitive, naturally-fractured reservoirs. A low value for the proelastic parameter was found, implying that the reservoir should have a low sensitivity to declining pore pressure. A surprisingly diverse suite of fractures was identified from core. From the coring-induced fractures, it was plausible to conclude that the maximum principal stress was in the horizontal plane. Measurements on permeability of naturally fractured rock in a newly-developed experimental arrangement showed that slip on fractures is much more effective inchangingpcrtncability than is normal stress. The intermediate principal stress was found to have a strong effect, on the strength and ductility of the chalk, implying the need for a more sophisticated calculation of borehole stability.

Report Numbers:

E 1.99:sand--94-1743
sand--94-1743

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Note:

Published through SciTech Connect.
09/01/1994.
"sand--94-1743"
"DE95001795"
"GB0103012"
Brown, S.R.; Lorenz, J.C.; Warpinski, N.R.; Holcomb, D.J.; Teufel, L.W.; Olsson, W.A.

Type of Report and Period Covered Note:

Topical; 09/01/1994 - 09/01/1994

Funding Information:

AC04-94AL85000

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