3D modeling of multilateral well (fishbone) junction stability in development conditions of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District oil field

Summary The results of 3D poroelastic finite element modeling of the fishbone well junction located in the north of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District oilfield are presented. The reservoir being studied is characterized by a thin productive pay bounded by a larger gas cap and a water-bearing layer. The oil-bearing rocks are brittle sandstones saturated with viscous oil. The 3D poroelastic modeling of the fishbone located at 1 km depth was carried out for the situations when main wellbore is oriented along maximum and along minimum horizontal stress. The safe wellbore pressure ranges were determined both for drilling and for production regimes of the junction passed through the sandstone with normal and reduced strength.