About this Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) 

Various subsurface project risks can be reduced significantly with a proper understanding of the geomechanical response of the subsurface along well trajectories and at field scale. Non-productive drilling time caused by stuck-pipe incidents is regularly attributed to bore hole instability, sand failure and sand production which may cause the erosion of equipment and filling-up of separation facilities. Meanwhile, unintended and uncontrolled fracturing may create permeable pathways and loss of containment of reservoir fluids. Field-scale geomechanical assessments provide important input to safe operating envelopes for the reservoir pressure as well as the production and injection wells. Reservoir compaction (and pore collapse) may cause a reduction of reservoir permeability, mechanical well failure and unacceptable (seabed) subsidence. Fault reactivation may create permeable pathways and loss of containments – e.g. in waterflood operations and Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) projects – and even induced seismicity. A proper geomechanical understanding of the subsurface response to our operations at well scale and on field scale is essential in managing the volatile pressure and temperature of fluids (gases) in wells and reservoirs. This 5 half-day Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) course will cover data acquisition and interpretation, geomechanical modelling and interpretation, and integrated risk assessment in conjunction with other subsurface disciplines to reduce project risks. Data acquisition includes field data such as Extended Leak-Off Test ((X)LOT), InSAR, and petrophysical log data to estimate in-situ stress and formation properties using correlation functions. Also, attention is paid to rock mechanical experiments and interpretation. Geomechanical modelling is applied at material point level (poro-elasticity theory, shear & tensile failure), at wellbore scale (stress around the bore hole) and at field-scale (compaction & subsidence, fault reactivation & induced seismicity, containment). Workflows for geomechanical risks assessment are discussed using (simple) analytical approaches (e.g. Geertsma) and applying Finite-element techniques which highlight their advantages and limitations. In addition, the data, methods and fundamental background for managing geomechanical projects risks are addressed with a focus on wellbore stability, compaction & subsidence and fault reactivation. Participants will be provided with a general approach on how to identify geomechanical project risks as well as the re-occurring elements of any geomechanical assessment. Various case studies and examples will be discussed to demonstrate concepts, theory and application. Participants are required to bring their own scientific calculators for this VILT course.