LAPSE:2023.36194
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.36194
Study on Wellbore Stability of Multilateral Wells under Seepage-Stress Coupling Condition Based on Finite Element Simulation
Hao Xu, Jifei Cao, Leifeng Dong, Chuanliang Yan
July 4, 2023
The use of multilateral wells is an important method to effectively develop complex oil reservoirs, and wellbore stability research of multilateral wells is of great importance. In the present study, the effects of formation fluids and rock damage were not taken into account by the wellbore stability model. Therefore, finite element analysis (FEA) software was used to establish a three-dimensional (3D) seepage-stress FEA model for the multilateral junctions. The model was used to analyze the wellbore stability of multilateral wells and study influences of wellbore parameters and drilling fluid density on wellbore stability at multilateral junctions. Simulation results show that the wellbore diameter insignificantly affects wellbore stability. When the angle between the main wellbore and branches enlarges to 45°, the equivalent plastic strain decreases by 0.0726, and the wellbores become more stable; when the angle is larger than or equal to 45°, the region prone to wellbore instability transfers from the multilateral junctions to the inner of multilateral wellbores. When the azimuth of wellbores is along the direction of the minimum horizontal principal stress, the equivalent plastic strain decreases by 78.2% and the wellbores are most stable. Moreover, appropriately increasing the drilling fluid density can effectively reduce the risk of wellbore instability at the multilateral junctions. A model has been developed that allows analysis of multilateral wellbore stability under seepage-stress coupling condition.
Keywords
drilling fluid, multilateral well, pore pressure, rock mechanics, seepage field, wellbore stability
Subject
Suggested Citation
Xu H, Cao J, Dong L, Yan C. Study on Wellbore Stability of Multilateral Wells under Seepage-Stress Coupling Condition Based on Finite Element Simulation. (2023). LAPSE:2023.36194
Author Affiliations
Xu H: Drilling Technology Research Institute, SINOPEC Shengli Petroleum Engineering Co., Ltd., Dongying 257000, China
Cao J: Drilling Technology Research Institute, SINOPEC Shengli Petroleum Engineering Co., Ltd., Dongying 257000, China
Dong L: Petroleum Engineering College, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Yan C: Petroleum Engineering College, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
11
Issue
6
First Page
1651
Year
2023
Publication Date
2023-05-29
Published Version
ISSN
2227-9717
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Original Submission
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PII: pr11061651, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.36194
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doi:10.3390/pr11061651
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Jul 4, 2023
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Jul 4, 2023
 
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Calvin Tsay
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