Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Committee Chair

H. Ilkin Bilgesu.

Abstract

This thesis work looks into Horizontal wellbore integrity or stability in the Mars Ursa Basin of the Gulf of Mexico using different geo-mechanical properties of this highly producing formation in analyzing stress build up both around the producing wells as well as the producing formations. Different cases were analyzed using the CMG simulator where consideration was given to cases of single as well as multiple producing horizontal wells. The model built considered both the basic reservoir model as well as geo-mechanical models. The individual cases considered included different geomechanical properties of the producing formation these properties however include frictional angle, cohesion factor, Young Modulus as well as Poison ratio. Models analyzed involved the effect of these different geo-mechanical properties on the maximum stress in the producing formations as well as salty formations. However for the stress analysis, Mohr Coulomb model was used.;Factors that majorly affected maximum stress mostly were found to be frictional angle and the cohesion factors, formation with higher porosity and permeability having higher production developed higher maximum stress compared to low producing zones also high frictional angle at producing formation resulted averagely into lower maximum stress build up while low frictional angle resulted into higher maximum stress build up. Also formation with high cohesion factor shows higher maximum stress build up while those with low cohesion factor shows lower maximum stress build up.;A general trend however observed in all the cases indicated that whatever geomechanical factor or combination of these factors satisfy high production rate will generate higher stress build up both around the wellbore and the producing formation.

Share

COinS