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.
Many problems were encountered during the drilling operations in Zubair oilfield. Stuckpipe, wellbore instability, breakouts and washouts, which increased the critical limits problems, were observed in many wells in this field, therefore an extra non-productive time added to the total drilling time, which will lead to an extra cost spent. A 1D Mechanical Earth Model (1D MEM) was built to suggest many solutions to such types of problems. An overpressured zone is noticed and an alternative mud weigh window is predicted depending on the results of the 1D MEM. Results of this study are diagnosed and wellbore instability problems are predicted in an efficient way using the 1D MEM. Suitable alternative solutions are presented
... Show MoreSurvival analysis is widely applied to data that described by the length of time until the occurrence of an event under interest such as death or other important events. The purpose of this paper is to use the dynamic methodology which provides a flexible method, especially in the analysis of discrete survival time, to estimate the effect of covariate variables through time in the survival analysis on dialysis patients with kidney failure until death occurs. Where the estimations process is completely based on the Bayes approach by using two estimation methods: the maximum A Posterior (MAP) involved with Iteratively Weighted Kalman Filter Smoothing (IWKFS) and in combination with the Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm. While the other
... Show MoreThe Yamama Formation is characterized by a wide geographic extension of southern Iraq. Microfacies analysis of this formation was studied in six wells distributed in six fields: Fayhaa, Sindbad, Siba, Zubair, Ratawi and West Qurna. This research aims to determine paleoenvironments by diagnosing biofacies and lithofacies. Miscellaneous marine fauna of foraminifera and calcareous algae, mainly green algae (dasycladacean.) and skeletal bioclasts from gastropods, pelecypods, bryozoans, sponge spicules, and echinoderms were found. Petrographic studies and well logs interpretations led to the identification of five main Microfacies ( Mudstone, Wackestone, Packestone, Grainestone and Rudstone and twelve submicrofacies (Foraminiferal-
... Show MoreThe Kumait Oil field was interpreted using 3-D seismic data from Oil Exploration company. The Shuaiba Formation (Cretaceous Age) reflector is detected.Structural map of formation is prepared to obtain the location and direction of the sedimentary basin and shoreline. Depth maps was drawn depending on the structural interpretation of the picked reflector and show several structural feature as closures.The seismic interpretation of the area approves the presence of some stratigraphic features in the studied formation. Some distributary mound and flatspot were observed within the study area, but they are not continuous due to the tectonic effects. These activity elements give reasonable explanation for the hydrocarbon distributi
... Show MoreSeventeen core samples were taken from Luhais and Tuba oil wells according to the presence of oil bearing formations. These wells were located in the province of Basra/southern Iraq. The formation that the samples are collected from Zubair and Mishrif formations. The core samples were taken from the wells at different depths. In the current study the ultrasonic technique was conducted to measure (Vp and Vs) as well as to determine some petrophysical properties for core samples and some elastic moduli such as (Young's modulus, Bulk modulus, Shear modulus, Poisson's ratio and Lame's constant) depending on the values of Vp and Vs as well as density. The relationships between seismic wave velocities with elastic moduli and petrophysical prop
... Show MoreThe Hartha Formation has been investigated from a biostratigraphic view in three subsurface sections in the Nasiriyah Oil field, wells Ns1, Ns3, and Ns4, South of Iraq. Hartha Formation is composed of limestone and has various areas of intense dolomitization alternating with marly limestone. The formation ranges in thickness from 126 to 182 meters. Thirteen large and small benthic foraminifer species and genera are identified from Hartha Formation. Based on the large benthic foraminifer's assemblage, one distinct biozone was recognized after an examination of the paleontological datum in the investigated area showed that the studied wells contained a diversity of foraminiferal species, the larger foraminifers biozone was propose
... Show MoreThe study intends to interpretation of well logs to determine the petrophysical parameters for Khasib, Tanuma, and Sa'di formations in Halfaya Oil Field. Where this field is located 30 kilometers south-east of the Amara city and it is considered as one of the important fields in Iraq because of the high production of oil, because Khasib, Tanuma, and Sa'di are f carbonates reservoirs formations and important after the Mishrif Formation because of the lack of thickness of the formations compared to the amount of oil production. The Matrix Identification (MID) and the M-N crossplot were used to determine the lithology and mineralogy of the formations; through the diagrm it was found the three formations consisted mainly of calcite with some
... Show MoreThe identification of a bed’s lithology is fundamental to all reservoir characterization because the physical and chemical properties of the rock that holds hydrocarbons and/or water affect the response of every tool used to measure formation properties. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate reservoir properties and lithological identification of Nahr Umr Formation in Luhais well -12 southern Iraq. The available well logs such as (sonic, density, neutron, gamma ray, SP, and resistivity logs) are digitized using the Didger software. The petrophysical parameters such as porosity, water saturation, hydrocarbon saturation, bulk water volume, etc. were computed and interpreted using Techlog software. The lithology prediction of Nahr
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