Modeling Borehole and Perforation Collapse with the Capability of Predicting the Scale Effect
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 11, Issue 4
Abstract
In this paper the writers examine a borehole failure model that is based on fracture mechanics and layer buckling theories and compare its predictions with experimental data. The model assumes that the main failure mechanism of borehole collapse takes place in the form of (preexisting or formed) layers buckling. The model introduces a combination of fracture mechanics parameters with length dimension that scales the size of the holes, thus allowing for size effect predictions. The writers review the model and compare its predictions with available experimental data of hollow cylinder tests on weak rocks. The writers found for the model predictions and for the experimental data a strong correlation between hollow cylinder strength normalized by the rock strength and hole size normalized by the square of the ratio of fracture toughness over tensile strength. These findings can be used for constructing efficient mechanical models for predicting or interpreting failure of boreholes and perforations in mining and petroleum engineering.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by Schlumberger.
References
Bazant, Z., Lin, F.-B., and Lippmann, H. (1993). “Fracture energy release and size effect in borehole breakout.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech., 17(1), 1–14.
Eshelby, J. D. (1961). “Elastic inclusions and inhomogeneities.” Prog. Solid Mech., 2(3), 87–140.
Germanovich, L. N., and Dyskin, A. V. (2000). “Fracture mechanisms and instability of openings in compression.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 37(1–2), 263–284.
Haimson, B., and Kovacich, J. (2003). “Borehole instability in high-porosity Berea sandstone and factors affecting dimensions and shape of fracture-like breakouts.” Eng. Geol., 69(3–4), 219–231.
Haimson, B., and Song, I. (1993). “Laboratory study of borehole breakouts in Cordova Cream: A case of shear failure mechanism.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr., 30(7), 1047–1056.
Haimson, B. C., and Herrick, C. (1989). “Borehole breakouts and in situ stress.” Proc., Drilling Symp., ASME, New York, 17–22.
Kachanov, L. M. (1988). Delamination buckling of composite materials, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands.
Nicholson, E. D., Goldsmith, G., and Cook, J. (1998). “Direct observation and modelling of sand production processes in weak sandstone.” Eurock 98, SPE/ISRM Rock Mechanics in Petroleum Engineering, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Richardson, TX, 2, 97–106.
Okland, D., and Cook, J. M. (1998). “Bedding-related instability in high-angle wells.” Eurock 98, SPE/ISRM Rock Mechanics in Petroleum Engineering, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Richardson, TX, 1, 413–422.
Papamichos, E., and van den Hoek, P. (1995). “Size dependency of Castlegate and Berea sandstone hollow-cylinder strength on the basis of bifurcation theory.” Proc. 35th U.S. Symp. Rock Mechanics, Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 301–306.
Papanastasiou, P., and Durban, D. (1997). “Elastoplastic analysis of cylindrical cavity problems in geomaterials.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech., 21(2), 133–149.
Papanastasiou, P., and Vardoulakis, I. (1989). “Bifurcation analysis of deep boreholes: II. Scale effect.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech., 13(2), 183–198.
Papanastasiou, P., and Vardoulakis, I. (1992). “Numerical treatment of progressive localization in relation to borehole stability.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech., 16(6), 389–424.
Papanastasiou, P., and Zervos, A. (2004). “Wellbore stability analysis: From linear elasticity to post-bifurcation modeling.” Int. J. Geomech., 4(1), 2–12.
Tronvoll, J., Papamichos, E., and Kessler, N. (1993). “Perforation cavity stability: Investigation of failure mechanisms.” Proc. Symp. Hard Soils, Soft Rocks, Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1687–1693.
van den Hoek, P. (2001). “Prediction of different type of cavity failure using bifurcation theory.” Proc. U.S. Rock Mechanics Symp., Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Vardoulakis, I., and Papamichos, E. (1991). “Surface instabilities in elastic anisotropic media with surface-parallel Griffith cracks.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 28(2–3), 163–173.
Yi, X., Valko, P. P., and Russell, J. E. (2005). “Effect of rock strength criterion on the predicted onset of sand production.” Int. J. Geomech., 5(1), 66–73.
Zervos, A., Papanastasiou, P., and Vardoulakis, I. (2001). “Modelling of localization and scale effect in thick-walled cylinders with gradient elastoplasticity.” Int. J. Solids Struct., 38(30–31), 5081–5095.
Zervos, A., Vardoulakis, I., and Papanastasiou, P. (2007). “Influence of nonassociativity on localization and failure based on gradient elastoplasticity.” Int. J. Geomech., 7, 63–74.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 11 • Issue 4 • August 2011
Pages: 286 - 293
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 21, 2009
Accepted: Mar 10, 2010
Published online: Mar 19, 2010
Published in print: Aug 1, 2011
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.