Integrated Geomechanical Operations for Successful Field Development: A Case Study from Western Offshore, India

This paper deals with the field development study for an offshore field in the western part of India. The main points of focus are holistic execution of integrated workflows for the delivery of subsea oil and gas wells from a jack up platform in this region. Given that the encountered formations encountered in wells posed significant challenges during the drilling phase, a field level geomechanics study was commissioned to understand and mitigate any challenges and effect smooth drilling and logging operations. Understanding the geomechanical effects by analysing the offset wells drilled in the region provided significant insights into the potential challenges faced while exploring target formations. The proposed well locations were drilled in a structurally complex geological setting. From the analysis of previously drilled wells in the region, it was evident that the variation in insitu properties of the lithologies and the extreme heterogeneity and vugular nature of the encountered carbonates caused significant drillability issues with subsequent losses, excessive cuttings, and several back reaming cycles impacting rig time and leading to generally poor borehole conditions. On the other hand, the shales encountered at shallower depths presented a different challenge, especially with a high swelling tendency, adding to progressively worsening hole conditions and significant fluid invasion. Finally, the basal clastics and the depleted zones with variable rock strengths added to the borehole instability issues, with particular zones projecting losses while others showed influxes. In light of such a plethora of issues, an integrated approach including dynamic real time monitoring of operations, structured LWD and wireline logging programmes, a high level petrophysics, formation evaluation and borehole acoustics for shear radial profiling was carried out. A fit for purpose geomechanical model was built encompassing the results of these analyses and was continually updated in real time during the operations phase. Given the variability in the pressures, temperatures and operational mud weights in each section, execution for successful delivery of the wells was further aided by identification of the optimal mud systems, critical casing setting depths and real time drilling optimization, ensuring good borehole quality throughout for further logging and testing programmes.