Wellbore instability problems cause nonproductive time, especially during drilling operations in the shale formations. These problems include stuck pipe, caving, lost circulation, and the tight hole, requiring more time to treat and therefore additional costs. The extensive hole collapse problem is considered one of the main challenges experienced when drilling in the Zubair shale formation. In turn, it is caused by nonproductive time and increasing well drilling expenditure. In this study, geomechanical modeling was used to determine a suitable mud weight window to overpass these problems and improve drilling performance for well development. Three failure criteria, including Mohr–Coulomb, modified Lade, and Mogi–Coulomb, were used to predict a safe mud weight window. The geomechanical model was constructed using offset well log data, including formation micro-imager (FMI) logs, acoustic compressional wave, shear wave, gamma ray, bulk density, sonic porosity, and drilling events. The model was calibrated using image data interpretation, modular formation dynamics tester (MDT), leak-off test (LOT), and formation integrity test (FIT). Furthermore, a comparison between the predicted wellbore instability and the actual wellbore failure was performed to examine the model's accuracy. The results showed that the Mogi–Coulomb failure and modified Lade criterion were the most suitable for the Zubair formation. These criteria were given a good match with field observations. In contrast, the Mohr–Coulomb criterion was improper because it does not match shear failure from the caliper log. In addition, the obtained results showed that the inappropriate mud weight (10.6 ppg) was the main cause behind wellbore instability problems in this formation. The optimum mud weight window should apply in Zubair shale formation ranges from 11.5 to 14 ppg. Moreover, the inclination angle should be less than 25 degrees, and azimuth ranges from 115 to 120 degrees northwest-southeast (NE–SW) can be presented a less risk. The well azimuth of NE–SW direction, parallel to minimum horizontal stress (Shmin), will provide the best stability for drilling the Zubair shale formation. This study's findings can help understand the root causes of wellbore instability in the Zubair shale formation. Thus, the results of this research can be applied as expenditure effectiveness tools when designing for future neighboring directional wells to get high drilling performance by reducing the nonproductive time and well expenses.
The present work is conducted on the Paleozoic (Ordovician) Khabour and the (Silurian) Akkas shales in the Akkas-1 well of western Iraq. The study is aiming to determine the implications of clay mineral transformation, organic mineral distribution and maturity of hydrocarbon generation, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in addition to organic matter concentrations. In the shale of the Khabour Formation, amorphous organic matter is common and includes various Tasmanite-type organic matter, vitrinite, inertinite, and bituminite. The main clay minerals observed include illite, chlorite, kaolinite, in addition to mixed-layer illite-smectite and rare smectite. In Silurian shale, high content of organic matter i
... Show MoreA surface section of the Gercus Formation (Middle-Late Eocene) was studied in Berafat area, Dohuk Governorate, Northern Iraq. The Gercus Formation consists of a mixed siliciclastic sediments, evaporates and carbonate sequences in the studied region, predominantly in the upper and middle parts. Nevertheless, it usually consists of upward-fining carbonate-rich sandstone cyclothems, marl, conglomerate and siltstone along with a gypsum lens and thin micrite carbonate beds. The Gercus Formation was deposited in delta and delta front of occasionally depositional environment which is represented by red-brown claystone and reddish-brown mudstone lithofacies. Cross bedded pebbly sandstone, trough cross-bedded sandstone and lamin
... Show MoreA geochemical and environmental study was carried out for the sediments of the Southern Neo-Tethys Ocean, represented by the Yamama Formation (Berriasian-Valaganian) in southern Iraq. The formation has a particular reservoir importance. The typical WQ-220 and WQ-280 wells were selected from the West Qurna field. Data of Gamma-ray logs were used for 30 depths of the typical well. Ten core samples were analyzed by X-Ray Fluoresces and total organic matter from both wells. The results showed that shaliness was relatively low, with an average of 16.5%, leading to a decrease in the presence of clay minerals and trace elements because the environment of the Yamama Formation is relatively far away from the coast. Qualitative evaluation of clay
... Show MoreLongitudinal data is becoming increasingly common, especially in the medical and economic fields, and various methods have been analyzed and developed to analyze this type of data.
In this research, the focus was on compiling and analyzing this data, as cluster analysis plays an important role in identifying and grouping co-expressed subfiles over time and employing them on the nonparametric smoothing cubic B-spline model, which is characterized by providing continuous first and second derivatives, resulting in a smoother curve with fewer abrupt changes in slope. It is also more flexible and can pick up on more complex patterns and fluctuations in the data.
The longitudinal balanced data profile was compiled into subgroup
... Show MoreRPT is a method used for classifying various lithologies and fluids from data of well logging or seismic inversion. Three Formations (Nahr Umr, Shuaiba, and Zubair Formations) were selected in the East Baghdad Oil field within well EB-4 to test the possibility of using this method. First, the interpretations of the well log and Density – Neutron cross plot were used for lithology identification, which showed that Nahr Umr and Zubair formations consist mainly of sandstone and shale, while the Shuaiba Formation consists of carbonate (dolomite and limestone). The study was also able to distinguish between the locations of hydrocarbon reservoirs using RPT. Finally, a polynomial equation was generated from the cross plot domain (AI versus V
... Show MorePurification of fifteen NaCl samples from natural and different area in the middle and south of Iraq are prepared and studied the structural characteristics of samples by powder X-ray diffraction analysis at ð›Œ=1.542Ã…. The present work considered the specific activities of naturally occurring radioactive materials in salt samples, which are measured and analyzed using high resolution HPGe system. Also, the radiological parameters have been considered in this work. The average specific concentration (in Bq.kg-1) of the salt samples is found 16.864.92 for 226Ra, 5.972.05 for 232Th and 9.852.8 for 40K, respectively, which are below the national levels, 40Bq.kg-1, 30Bq.k
... Show MoreThe major objective of this paper is to recognize the flow units of Yamama Formation in the west Qurna oil field, south of Iraq. To attain this objective, four wells namely, WQ-23, WQ-148, WQ-60, and WQ-203 are selected and analyzed. The two techniques hat proposed by some scientists to identify flow units are tested and verified. Results are also enhanced using well logs interpretation and the flow areas are proposed through the studying of the behavior of different well logs. Results of applying the two proposed techniques identify six flow reservoir units for the wells WQ-23, WQ-148, WQ-60, and WQ-203, respectively. This study also shows that the flow reservoir properties in the Yamama Formation improved towards the northeast of the W
... Show MoreReservoir rock typing integrates geological, petrophysical, seismic, and reservoir data to identify zones with similar storage and flow capacities. Therefore, three different methods to determine the type of reservoir rocks in the Mushrif Formation of the Amara oil field. The first method represents cluster analysis, a statistical method that classifies data points based on effective porosity, clay volume, and sonic transient time from well logs or core samples. The second method is the electrical rock type, which classifies reservoir rocks based on electrical resistivity. The permeability of rock types varies due to differences in pore geometry, mineral composition, and fluid saturation. Resistivity data are usually obtained from w
... Show MoreThis study is concerned with making comparison in using different geostatistical methods for porosity distribution of upper shale member - Zubair formation in Luhais oil field which was chosen to study.
Kriging, Gaussian random function simulation and sequential Gaussian simulation geostatistical methods were adopted in this study. After preparing all needed data which are contour map, well heads of 12 wells, well tops and porosity from CPI log. Petrel software 2009 was used for porosity distribution of mentioned formation in methods that are showed above. Comparisons were made among these three methods in order to choose the best one, the comparing cri