petroleum rock mechanics drilling operations and well design

Responding to heightened global energy needs, the oil and gas industry is looking to explore previously untapped sources, including tight oil and shale gas. Found in deeper subterranean wells, extracting these resources causes difficulties in terms of drilling and well design.

Analyzing the responses of rocks to extreme temperatures and pressures that exist in the depths of the Earth, Petroleum Rock Mechanics endeavors to determine the behavior of rock formations related to Petroleum Reservoirs; in turn, this knowledge can be employed to construct efficient strategies for borehole drilling and completion activities.

To ensure optimal results in drilling hard rocks, rock mechanics must be closely studied so as to reduce any potential costs and ensure efficient operation. The planning of the well must reflect the stress and characteristics of the earth formation.

Traditional vertical wells are still commonplace, yet in many cases there is a need to drill deeper in order to reach certain reservoirs. To do so horizontally and directionally, sometimes with wells that span several kilometers, is a far more intricate and precarious endeavor. Therefore, special consideration must be taken to prevent any destabilization or collapse.

Achieving optimal performance from a well involves meticulously constructing completion operations so that the reservoir is energized and the well is enabled to generate at its highest potential.

Petroleum rock mechanics provides an invaluable platform for catering to the global requirement for energy resources in a secure and cost-effective manner. By introducing greater insight into how rocks react amidst heavy pressure, the oil and gas sector can reliably meet the needs of a steadily growing population.

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