Setting a wellbore casing in a salt formation

1. A method for setting a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

drilling a test wellbore in the subterranean formation;

generating a density profile of a plurality of geological layers above a salt formation in the subterranean formation based on observations from the test wellbore;

calculating an overburden stress imposed on the salt formation by weight of overlying formation based on the density profile of the plurality of geological layers;

performing creep mechanical behavior tests on core samples from the salt formation to generate a strain-time curve for the salt formation;

calibrating multiple analytical creep models with mechanical properties of the salt data generated by the creep mechanical behavior tests;

implementing a wellbore closure model based on a best-fit analytical model and mechanical properties of the multiple analytical creep models to generate a relationship between drilling mud weight and casing time window for the salt formation; and

drilling a well extending through the salt formation and setting a casing through the salt formation within a casing time window based on a weight of a drilling mud used to drill the well.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculating of the overburden stress further comprises relating the density profile of the plurality of geological layers with an underground depth z and acceleration of gravity g.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the calculating of the overburden stress further comprises setting a reference depth to zero.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the calculating of the overburden stress further comprises setting a maximum horizontal principal stress and a minimum horizontal principal stress to be equal to the overburden stress.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the creep mechanical behavior tests on the core samples further comprises defining an in-situ stress and a temperature to impose deformation on the salt formation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the creep mechanical behavior tests on the core samples further comprises defining an isotropic confining stress in an axial and in a radial direction.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein performing the creep mechanical behavior tests on the core samples further comprises increasing the axial stress in a step-wise pattern.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating the multiple analytical creep models further comprises selecting models including springs and dashpots.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein multiple analytical creep models include a Kelvin model, a Maxwell model, a Burgers model, a modified Burgers model, a Zener model, and a modified Zener model.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein implementing a wellbore closure model further comprises defining a difference between an in-situ stress and the mud weight as a deviatoric stress.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein drilling the well extending through the salt formation comprises selecting the drilling mud based in part on a time required to set the casing through the salt formation.

12. A method for determining a time window for setting a wellbore casing in a salt formation, the method comprising:

calculating an overburden stress imposed on the salt formation by weight of overlying formations based on a density profile of a plurality of geological layers above the salt formation;

performing creep mechanical behavior tests on core samples from the salt formation to generate a strain-time curve for the salt formation;

calibrating multiple analytical creep models with mechanical properties of the salt data generated by the creep mechanical behavior tests;

implementing a wellbore closure model based on a best-fit analytical model and mechanical properties of the multiple analytical creep models to generate a relationship between drilling mud weight and casing time window for the salt formation; and

selecting a drilling mud based in part on a time required to set the casing through the salt formation.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the calculating of the overburden stress further comprises relating the density profile of the plurality of geological layers with an underground depth z and acceleration of gravity g.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the calculating of the overburden stress further comprises setting a reference depth to zero.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the calculating of the overburden stress further comprises setting a maximum horizontal principal stress and a minimum horizontal principal stress to be equal to the overburden stress.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein performing the creep mechanical behavior tests on the core samples further comprises defining an in-situ stress and a temperature to impose deformation on the salt formation.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein performing the creep mechanical behavior tests on the core samples further comprises defining an isotropic confining stress in an axial and in a radial direction.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein calibrating the multiple analytical creep models further comprises selecting models including springs and dashpots.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein multiple analytical creep models include a Kelvin model, a Maxwell model, a Burgers model, a modified Burgers model, a Zener model, and a modified Zener model.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein implementing a wellbore closure model further comprises defining a difference between an in-situ stress and the mud weight as a deviatoric stress.