Principles of Borehole Stability

Introduction and Objectives

Technical/Scientific Aspects
Fundamentals of Stress
Theory
Mohrs Stress Circle
Stress State around Boreholes

- isotropic stress field

- anisotropic stress field

Rock Mechanical Properties

- Compressive Strength
- Failure Criteria
- Role of Pore Pressure

Influence of Drilling Process

Effect of Mud Weight
Surge/Swab- Pressures
Equivalent Circulation
Density
Thermomechanical Effects

Physico-Chemical
Interaction between Rock
and Drilling Fluid
Borehole Failure Modes
Stress Induced Breakouts
Convergence
Slippage on Weak
Planes
(Faults, Foliation)
Conclusions

Borehole Stability - Why do we deal with?

Subject of Technical and

Scientific Importance
Requires Multidisciplinary
Solution Strategy

Open Hole Section

! Borehole Stability is of great

Typical Well Design
significance for successful and
economical Drilling, Testing/Logging
and Completion of any borehole
! Wellbore Failures bear information
on natural Stress Orientation and
Magnitude

Key Factors for Borehole Stability

In Situ
Stress
State

Borehole Stability/
Wellbore Failure
Drilling
Technique/
Parameters

Rock
Properties/
Strength

Fundamentals of Stress Theory

Stress is a point property: S(x,y,z)
Arbitrary cut

External
Forces

Internal
Forces
Rock
Sample

Scalar: Magnitude (Pressure)

Vector: Magnitude and Direction (Force)

Stress is a Tensor Quantity dependent on:

-Magnitude
-Direction
-Plane under consideration

Stress-Tensor
9 Components
6 independent

Fundamentals of Stress Theory

Principle Stresses
Arbitrary Planes
Normal Stress
Shear Stress

Principle Stress Planes

only Normal Stress

1>2>3
1:major principal stress
2:intermediate principal stress
3:minor principal stress

Fundamentals of Stress Theory

Transformation of Stress Tensor
Task:
Rotation of Plane by Angle

Graphical Solution

Mohrs Circle

Fundamentals of Stress Theory

Mohrs Circle:
max

Radius: (1 - 2)
Center: (1 + 2)

Fundamentals of Stress Theory

Mohr`s Circle in 3 Dimensions

max

Minor Principal Stress Intermediate Principal Stress

xy= (13) = max

Major Principal Stress

Natural In Situ Stress

3 Principal Stresses
!Vertical Stress: v (overburden)
v = g*z ( 2300 3000 kg/m3)

!Horizontal Stresses
-Major Horizontal Stress :H
-Minor Horizontal Stress: h
Assumption:
Isotropic Horizontal Stress (H=h)
No Horizontal Strain (H=0)

H = H/E-H/E-v/E = 0
H = /(1) v k
0

0.33
1.0
k: horizontal Stress H /vertical Stress v

Stress Concentration around Boreholes

Borehole in Isotropic Horizontal Stress Field
Lams Problem:

Infinite Hollow Cylinder

Loading Conditions:
External Boundary: H=h
Internal Boundary: Fluid Pressure pw
(Borehole Wall): (Mud Column)
Elastic Solution

: Radial Stress
: Tangential Stress

Stress Concentration around Boreholes

Borehole in Isotropic Horizontal Stress Field
2,0

Tangential Stress (Compressive)

Stress Concentration Factor

1,8
1,6

Mud Density (% of h)
0 Tangential
25 Tangential
50 Tangential
75 Tangential
0 Radial
25 Radial
50 Radial
75 Radial

1,4
1,2
1,0
0,8
0,6
0,4
0,2

Radial Stress (Compressive)

0,0
1

Distance (Borehole Radii)

Stress Concentration around Boreholes

Borehole in Anisotropic Horizontal Stress Field

Kirschs Problem:

Plate with Central Hole

Biaxial Stress State: H > h
Internal Boundary: Fluid Pressure pw
(Borehole Wall):
Solution at Borehole Wall (=R)
= (H+h) - 2(H-h)*cos2 - pw
Kirschs-Equations

:Direction Angle relative to H

General Solution

x-Direction (H): = 3h - H - pw
y-Direction (h): = 3H - h - pw

= pw

Borehole in Anisotropic Horizontal Stress Field

Tangential Stress at Borehole Wall
5,5

Horizontal Stress Anisotropy H/h = 2

Tangential Stress Ratio ( /h )

5,0
4,5

Mud Density
% of (H+h)/2
0
25
50
75

4,0
3,5
3,0
2,5
2,0
1,5
1,0
0,5

Compressive Stress

0,0

Tensile Stress

-0,5
-1,0
0

30

60

90

120

150 180

210 240

Direction Angle with H

270 300

330 360

Thermal Stresses while Mud Circulation

therm = T*E*T/(1- )

Cooling: Tangential Stress reduced

Heating: Tangential Stress increased
Temperature Profile

400

600

800

Temperature Profile
while Mud Circulation

Induced Stresses by Dynamic Pressure Loads

! Equivalent Circulation Density (ECD)

ECD = eqv = mud + Pann/(g*z)

Pann :Annular Pressure Losses
while mud circulation

! Surge/Swab Pressures

Running In Pulling Out

mud:

Caused by Mud Displacement

Effects while Running In or
Pulling Out Drilling Equipment
Drillstring/Core Barrel/Casing

Surge: Running In
eff = mud + Psurge
Swab: Pulling Out
eff = mud - Pswab

Mud
Density

P
Annulus
Psurge

Pstat
Pswab

Drilling Technique and Annular Pressure Losses

Annular Geometry
Mining Drilling
Rotary Drilling
Hole Diameter: 6
Drillstring OD: 5

Hole Diameter: 6
Drillstring OD: 3

Breakdown of Pressure Losses

Core Barrel/
Bit (7%)
Drillstring (3%)

Annulus
(90%)

Bit
(65%)
Annulus (5%)

Drillstring (30%)

Pressure Surges during Trip-In of Teststring in KTB Pilot Hole

Pressure (bar)

P:~ 35 bar

Making Connections
Depth: 2378 m

Teststring:
5 1/2 KTB-WLDP
Trip-In Velocity: 0.2 m/s
Test Valve closed
Depth: 2840 m

Date/Time

Sedimentary

Classification of Rocks
Metamorphic

Igneous

Textural Classification
Non-Foliated
Foliated
Strength depends mainly on: Foliation/Discontinuities/Fissures

Non-foliated
Metagabbro

Foliated
Biotite Gneiss

Cataclastic Fault Graphite Bearing

Plane in Amphibolite
Cataclasite

Laboratory Tests for Characterizing Rock Strength

Uniaxial Compressive Test

Strength Behaviour of Rocks

Uniaxial Compression

Stress - Strain Curve

Peak Strength = Uniaxial Compressive Strength

Gradient = Youngs Modulus

Nonlinear
Closing of Microcracks

Laboratory Tests for Characterizing Rock Strength

Triaxial Compressive Test

Strength Behaviour of Rocks

Effect of Confining Pressures

Stress

Triaxial Experiments
Increasing Mantle Pressures

Uniaxial
Strain

Confining Pressures needed

for Ductility

Strength Behaviour of Rocks

A Failure Criterion means a Relation:

Strength = f(1,2,3)
Common Failure Criteria
Elastic Behaviour
Mohr-Coulomb
Hoek-Brown
Drucker and Prager
Tauber
Plane Griffith
Fracture Mechanics

Elasto-Plastic Behaviour
-Yield Criteria
Tresca
v. Mises

Strength Behaviour of Rocks

Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion

Coulomb Straight Line Equation

Rock fails at a Critical

Combination of
Normal stress and Shear stress

Str
b
lom
u
o
C

i ne
L
t
aigh
Mohrs
Circles

Triaxial Compression

Strength Behaviour of Rocks

Mohrs Failure Envelope
Determination by Triaxial Experiments

The Effect of Pore Pressure on the Strength of Rocks

Stress tensor with
Pore Pressure p
p
p
p

Criterion for Slip on Weak Planes:

| | = 0 + ( - p)
Shear Stress

Effective Stress Concept

Mo

o
C
hr

b
m
o
ul

ine
L
ht
g
i
a
r
t
S

Normal Stress

p
Pore Pressure shifts Mohrs Circle to the left
p

Pore Pressure on faults/weak planes

Porous Rocks

Phenomenology and Mechanisms of Borehole Failures

Mechanisms

Compressive Shear Failure

Destabilisation due to
Interaction With Mud
Erosion by Mud
Sliding on Planes of
Weakness
Plastic Creeping

Phenomenology

Uniaxial Breakouts
Borehole Enlargement

Borehole Convergence

Borehole Wall
Fractures
Tensile Failures
(thermomechanical)

Phenomenology of Borehole Breakouts

Uniaxial Breakout

Mechanism:
Compressive
Shear Failure
in h Direction

Max Caliper

Max Compressive Stress

Kirsch Equation

Min Caliper

= 3H - h - pw

Risk Factors for Breakouts

High Horizontal Stress
Anisotropy: H/h
Mud Weight/ECD too low
Swab Pressures

Determination
of in situ Stress

Water Induced Destabilisation of Rocks

Phenomenon is known as Brittle Shale Failure Mechanism
Competent Non Reactive Shalestones are completely destroyed
by Imbibition of Water along a Network of Microfractures
Mechanism applicable for crystalline rocks from cataclastic zones
with high inner surface
Destabilisation of Red Shalestone in Water

Original Sample

Sample after 20 minutes in water

Impact of Drilling Fluid Type on Borehole Stability

Waterbased Mud System
Calmax(inch)

GR (API)

Oilbased Mud System

Calmax(inch))

GR (API)

Experiences from
Villeperdue Field

Phenomenology of Tensile Wall Fractures

Mechanism
Tensile Failure
in H - Direction
Max Tensile Stress
Kirsch Equation

= = 3h - H - pw

Risk Factors for Tensile Wall Fractures

High Horizontal Stress
Anisotropy: H/h
Mud Weight/ECD too high
Pressure Surges
Thermal Cooling Stresses
Hydraulic Fracturing Experiments for
Stress Determination

Slip Failure on Planes of Weakness/Faults

Mechanism
Fricional Sliding caused by

Critical Combination of
Normal Stress/Shear Stress
Criterion for Slip on Weak Planes

Phenomenology

| | = 0 +

coefficient of friction:
cohesion 0

Prediction of Failure Risk

requires Transformation
of 3D-Stress State
into the plane of weakness (/)

Risk for Sliding depends on:

Horizontal Stress Anisotropy H/h
Dip Angle and Dip Orientation of Weak
Planes with respect to Orientation of H
coefficient of friction
cohesion 0

Shear Failure on Planes of Weakness/Faults

Effect of Dip Direction and Dip Angle with Respect to H-Orientation
Circumferential Stresses on Plane of Weakness (Shear/Normal)

Shear Stress

Concept of Borehole Stability Margin

Stability Margin:
Distance between Mohrs Stress Circle
and Failure Envelope
Mohrs Envelope
From Triaxial Tests
Stability Margin

min
h

max Normal Stress

H

Borehole Stability - Conclusions

Borehole Stability is a Critical Factor for
Reaching Technical and Scientific Goals within
the Financial Budget Frame
Significant Impact Parameters are:
Natural Stress State / Horizontal Stress Anisotropy
Direction and Angle of Foliation Dip with Respect to
Direction of Major Horizontal Stress
Rock Strength Anisotropy
Water Sensitivity of Rocks

Time Dependent Destabilisation Effects have to

be taken into account when planning deep holes
Drilling Mud is of Predominant Importance for
Borehole Stability
For Determination of Stress State HydrofracExperiments are Indispensable