Although a large volume of mudcake filtration test data is available in the literature, effects of mudcake on wellbore strengthening cannot be quantified without incorporating the data into a stress-analysis model. Tr...Although a large volume of mudcake filtration test data is available in the literature, effects of mudcake on wellbore strengthening cannot be quantified without incorporating the data into a stress-analysis model. Traditional models for determining fracture initiation pressure （FIP） either consider a wellbore with an impermeable mudcake or with no mudcake at all. An analytical model considering permeable mudcake is proposed in this paper. The model can predict pore pressure and stress profiles around the wellbore, and consequently the FIP, for different mudcake thickness, permeability, and strength. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effects of these mudcake parameters. The results show that a low-permeability mudcake enhances FIP, mainly through restricting fluid seepage and pore pressure increase in the near- wellbore region, rather than by mudcake strength. Fluid loss pressure （FLP） should be distinguished from FIP when a mudcake is present on the wellbore wall. Fracture may occur behind the mudcake at FIP without mudcake rupture. The small effect of mudcake strength on FIP does not mean its effect on FLP is small too. Mudcake strength may play an important role in maintaining integrity of the wellbore once a fracture has initiated behind the mudcake.展开更多
Determining the width of an induced hydraulic fracture is the first step for applying wellbore strengthening and hydraulic fracturing techniques. However, current 2-D analytical solutions obtained from the plane strai...Determining the width of an induced hydraulic fracture is the first step for applying wellbore strengthening and hydraulic fracturing techniques. However, current 2-D analytical solutions obtained from the plane strain assumption may have large uncertainties when the fracture height is small. To solve this problem, a 3-D finite element method(FEM) is used to model wellbore strengthening and calculate the fracture width. Comparisons show that the 2-D plane strain solution is the asymptote of the 3-D FEM solution. Therefore, the 2-D solution may overestimate the fracture width. This indicates that the2-D solution may not be applicable in 3-D conditions. Based on the FEM modeling, a new 3-D semi-analytical solution for determining the fracture width is proposed, which accounts for the e ects of 3-D fracture dimensions, stress anisotropy and borehole inclination. Compared to the 2-D solution, this new 3-D semi-analytical solution predicts a smaller fracture width.This implies that the 2-D-based old design for wellbore strengthening may overestimate the fracture width, which can be reduced using the proposed 3-D solution. It also allows an easy way to calculate the fracture width in complex geometrical and geological conditions. This solution has been verified against 3-D finite element calculations for field applications.展开更多
基金the Wider Windows Industrial Affiliate Program,the University of Texas at Austin,for financial and logistical support of this workProgram support from BHP Billiton,British Petroleum,Chevron,Conoco Phillips,Halliburton,Marathon,National Oilwell Varco,Occidental Oil and Gas
文摘Although a large volume of mudcake filtration test data is available in the literature, effects of mudcake on wellbore strengthening cannot be quantified without incorporating the data into a stress-analysis model. Traditional models for determining fracture initiation pressure （FIP） either consider a wellbore with an impermeable mudcake or with no mudcake at all. An analytical model considering permeable mudcake is proposed in this paper. The model can predict pore pressure and stress profiles around the wellbore, and consequently the FIP, for different mudcake thickness, permeability, and strength. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effects of these mudcake parameters. The results show that a low-permeability mudcake enhances FIP, mainly through restricting fluid seepage and pore pressure increase in the near- wellbore region, rather than by mudcake strength. Fluid loss pressure （FLP） should be distinguished from FIP when a mudcake is present on the wellbore wall. Fracture may occur behind the mudcake at FIP without mudcake rupture. The small effect of mudcake strength on FIP does not mean its effect on FLP is small too. Mudcake strength may play an important role in maintaining integrity of the wellbore once a fracture has initiated behind the mudcake.
基金partially supported by National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC0804108) during the 13th Five-Year Plan PeriodNational Science Foundation of China (51774136)+1 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province of China (D2017508099)the Program for Innovative Research Team in the University sponsored by Ministry of Education of China (IRT-17R37)
文摘Determining the width of an induced hydraulic fracture is the first step for applying wellbore strengthening and hydraulic fracturing techniques. However, current 2-D analytical solutions obtained from the plane strain assumption may have large uncertainties when the fracture height is small. To solve this problem, a 3-D finite element method(FEM) is used to model wellbore strengthening and calculate the fracture width. Comparisons show that the 2-D plane strain solution is the asymptote of the 3-D FEM solution. Therefore, the 2-D solution may overestimate the fracture width. This indicates that the2-D solution may not be applicable in 3-D conditions. Based on the FEM modeling, a new 3-D semi-analytical solution for determining the fracture width is proposed, which accounts for the e ects of 3-D fracture dimensions, stress anisotropy and borehole inclination. Compared to the 2-D solution, this new 3-D semi-analytical solution predicts a smaller fracture width.This implies that the 2-D-based old design for wellbore strengthening may overestimate the fracture width, which can be reduced using the proposed 3-D solution. It also allows an easy way to calculate the fracture width in complex geometrical and geological conditions. This solution has been verified against 3-D finite element calculations for field applications.
