Mudcake effects on wellbore stress and fracture initiation pressure and implications for wellbore strengthening

作     者：Yongcun Feng Xiaorong Li K.E.Gray 

作者机构：The University of Texas at AustinAustinTXUSA 

出 版 物：《Petroleum Science》 (石油科学（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2018年第15卷第2期

页      面：319-334页

核心收录：

学科分类：0709[理学-地质学] 0819[工学-矿业工程] 0808[工学-电气工程] 08[工学] 0820[工学-石油与天然气工程] 082001[工学-油气井工程] 0707[理学-海洋科学] 0817[工学-化学工程与技术] 0818[工学-地质资源与地质工程] 0708[理学-地球物理学] 0807[工学-动力工程及工程热物理] 0815[工学-水利工程] 0816[工学-测绘科学与技术] 0827[工学-核科学与技术] 0813[工学-建筑学] 0703[理学-化学] 0814[工学-土木工程] 0825[工学-航空宇航科学与技术] 0704[理学-天文学] 

基　　金：the Wider Windows Industrial Affiliate Program,the University of Texas at Austin,for financial and logistical support of this work Program support from BHP Billiton,British Petroleum,Chevron,Conoco Phillips,Halliburton,Marathon,National Oilwell Varco,Occidental Oil and Gas 

主　　题：Mudcake Hoop stress Fracture initiation pressure Fluid loss pressure Wellbore strengthening 

摘      要：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.