IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,372,684
Granted Patent B2
US 12,372,684 · App. 17/752,317 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Numerical simulation capability for determining blockages within a wellbore and wellbore completion setups

Inventors: Osman Hamid (Houston, TX); Hussain AlBahrani (Al Qatif, SA)
Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
G01V99/00E21B43/04E21B47/04E21B47/06E21B47/08E21B47/10E21B49/006E21B49/02E21B49/08G01N33/24G01V20/00G06F30/23E21B2200/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,372,684
App. No.
17/752,317
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The systems and methods described in this specification relate to installing a wellbore completion setup of a wellbore based on a probability within a reservoir. The systems and methods measure one or more properties of the formation and receive data representing the one or more measured properties. The systems and methods use the one or more properties as input conditions to a finite element model of the wellbore. The systems and methods solve the finite element model to determine stresses of the formation surrounding the wellbore. The systems and methods determine a size of one or more rock fragments based on whether the determined stresses from the finite element model are greater than a threshold stress of a failure criterion. The systems and methods determine the probability, select the wellbore completion setup of the wellbore based on the bridging probability, and install the selected wellbore completion setup in the wellbore.

Claims (61)

1. A method for installing a wellbore completion setup of a wellbore, the method comprising:

measuring one or more properties of a formation surrounding the wellbore;

measuring one or more properties of a fluid within the wellbore;

receiving, at a processor, data representing the one or more measured properties of the formation and data representing the one or more properties of a fluid within the wellbore;

using, by the processor, the one or more properties of the formation and the one or more properties of the fluid as input conditions to a three-dimensional finite element model of the wellbore;

solving, by the processor, the finite element model to determine stresses of the formation, wherein solving the finite element model comprises evaluating a failure criterion for at least one finite element of the finite element model;

determining, by the processor, a size of one or more rock fragments based on whether the determined stresses from the finite element model are greater than a threshold stress of the failure criterion such that the one or more rock fragments are predicted to separate from the formation;

determining, by the processor, a probability that the one or more rock fragments form at least one restriction in a reservoir based on the size of the one or more rock fragments and the one or more measured properties of the formation;

selecting, by the processor, the wellbore completion setup of the wellbore based on the probability that the one or more rock fragments form at least one restriction in the reservoir; and

installing the selected wellbore completion setup in the wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the one or more properties of the formation comprises measuring, using a caliper log, a diameter of the wellbore as a function of depth within the wellbore.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining, by the processor using at least one result of the finite element model, a predicted diameter of the wellbore as a function of depth based on the determined size of the one or more rock fragments;

comparing the measured diameter of the wellbore to the predicted diameter of the wellbore; and

validating, by the processor, the finite element model based on the comparison.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wellbore comprises at least two laterals and measuring the diameter of the wellbore as the function of depth within the wellbore comprises measuring the diameter of the wellbore as the function of depth within each of the at least two laterals of the wellbore.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the one or more properties of the formation comprises:

extracting a core sample from the formation; and

determining, by testing the extracted core sample, a compressive strength of the formation.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining, by the processor, one or more parameters of the failure criterion based on the determined compressive strength of the formation.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the finite element model includes at least one plasticity model and solving the finite element model comprises determining the stresses of the formation based on the at least one plasticity model while being subject to the failure criterion.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the size of the one or more rock fragments comprises:

determining, by the processor, one or more regions of the formation from the finite element model where the determined stresses exceed the threshold stress;

determining, by the processor, a size for each of the one or more regions of the formation where the determined stresses exceed the threshold stress;

determining the size of the one or more rock fragments based on the determined size of the one or more regions; and

determining a diameter of the wellbore based on the determined size of the one or more regions.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the size for each of the one or more regions of the formation comprises:

retrieving one or more coordinates of each node of the finite element model where the stresses exceed the threshold stress;

determining a polygon that encapsulates each of the one or more coordinates of each node of the finite element model where the stresses exceed the threshold stress;

determining the size of the one or more rock fragments based on one or more dimensions of the determined polygon; and

determining the diameter of the wellbore based on a size of the determined polygon.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the one or more properties of the formation comprises measuring, using a caliper log, a diameter of the wellbore,

wherein determining the size of the one or more rock fragments comprises determining an effective diameter of each of the one or more rock fragments, and

wherein determining the probability comprises determining the probability by comparing the effective diameters of each of the one or more rock fragments from the finite element model to the measured diameter of the wellbore.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining, by the processor, a mean diameter of the wellbore based on the measured diameter of the wellbore,

wherein comparing the effective diameters from the finite element model to the measured diameter comprises comparing the diameters from the finite element model to the determined mean diameter of the wellbore.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining, by the processor, a statistical distribution of the effective diameters of the one or more rock fragments based on each of the one or more rock fragments from the finite element model,

wherein comparing the effective diameters from the finite element model to the measured diameter comprises comparing the statistical distribution of the diameters of the one or more rock fragments to the measured diameter of the wellbore.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining, by the processor, a number of occurrences within a pre-determined percentile range of the statistical distribution,

wherein comparing the statistical distribution of the effective diameters of the one or more rock fragments to the measured diameter of the wellbore comprises comparing the number of occurrences to the measured diameter of the wellbore.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining the probability comprises:

determining that the probability is greater than a restriction threshold when the number of occurrences within the pre-determined percentile range of the statistical distribution is greater than or equal to a pre-determined fraction of the maximum measured diameter of the wellbore, wherein the probability being greater than the restriction threshold is indicative that at least one restriction is likely to occur; and

determining that the probability is less than the restriction threshold when the number of occurrences within the pre-determined percentile interval of the statistical distribution is less than the pre-determined fraction of the maximum measured diameter of the wellbore, wherein the probability being less than the restriction threshold is indicative that at least one restriction is unlikely to occur.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the processor, a settling velocity of the one or more rock fragments based on the one or more properties of the fluid within wellbore,

wherein determining the probability comprises determining that the probability is greater than a restriction threshold when the determined settling velocity of the one or more rock fragments is less than a settling velocity threshold, wherein the probability being greater than the restriction threshold is indicative that at least one restriction is likely to occur.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a height of a rock fragment bed accumulation based on an effective diameter of each of the one or more rock fragments.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a direction of the height is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wellbore.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the probability comprises:

determining, by the processor, a flow regime of the fluid based on the one or more properties of the fluid within wellbore, the determined flow regime being either turbulent or laminar; and

determining, by the processor, a drag coefficient of the one or more rock fragments based on the one or more properties of the fluid within wellbore and the determined flow regime.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the probability comprises:

determining a predicted cumulative volume of sand produced as a function of a bottom hole pressure of the wellbore based on the determined stresses from the finite element model; and

determining the probability based on the predicted cumulative volume of sand produced.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the completion setup of the wellbore comprises:

selecting the completion setup to be an open-hole completion when the probability is less than a first threshold;

selecting the completion setup to be an open-hole with a gravel pack completion setup when the probability is between the first threshold and a second threshold; and

selecting the completion setup to be a cased and perforated completion setup when the probability is greater the second threshold.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2022
From: HAMID, OSMAN; ALBAHRANI, HUSSAIN
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 060009/0627 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230384479A1 · Nov 30, 2023
References Cited (69)
US 2848469A · Harry et al. · 1958 [cited by applicant]
US 3200106A · Dickson et al. · 1965 [cited by applicant]
US 3750768A · Suman, Jr. et al. · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3907034A · Suman, Jr. · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 4030548A · Richardson et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4081030A · Carpenter et al. · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4287946A · Brieger · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4589504A · Simpson · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4776410A · Perkin et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 5574371A · Tabanou et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5612293A · Swartwout et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5842149A · Harell et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 6164126A · Ciglenec et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6180571B1 · Sifferman et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 7114562B2 · Fisseler et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 8457940B2 · Xi et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8548783B2 · Dean et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8962535B2 · Welton et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9353305B1 · Jiang et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9646115B2 · Frydman · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9874806B2 · Takahara et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9920233B2 · Husein et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10000690B2 · Wu et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10088725B2 · Umezaki · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10334437B2 · Katsman et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10400570B2 · Erge et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10597959B2 · Rao et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10725012B2 · Lander et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10982124B2 · AlBahrani et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11261730B2 · AlBahrani et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20040221985A1 · Hill et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050149307A1 · Gurpinar · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20060200328A1 · Guo et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20080070805A1 · Munoz et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090084554A1 · Williamson et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100071957A1 · Huang et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110153296A1 · Sadlier et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110168395A1 · Welton et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110312857A1 · Amanullah et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120123756A1 · Wang et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130261032A1 · Ladva et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140032192A1 · Zamora et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140116776A1 · Trent et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140122035A1 · Dean et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140151042A1 · Faugerstrom et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140190695A1 · van Zanten et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140231146A1 · Nguyen · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150041120A1 · Gumarov · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150191640A1 · Lee et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160076357A1 · Hbaeib et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180051548A1 · Liu et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180119535A1 · Shen et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200072026A1 · Ray · 2020 [cited by examiner]
CN 103377307 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
EP 326720 · 1989 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011083182 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013189842 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
Abrams, “Mud design to mimimize rock impairment due to particle invasion” Journal of Petroleum Technology, May 1977, 29(5), 586-592, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Adham, “Geomechanics model for wellbore stability analysis in Field ‘X’, North Samatra Basin,” retrieved from URL <https://mountainscholar.org/bitstream/handle/11124/17O314/Adham_mines_0O52N_llO59.pdf?sequence=1>, Jan. … [cited by applicant]
Albukhari et al., “Geomechanical Wellbore Stability Analysis for the Reservoir Section in J-NC186 Oil Field,” retrieved from URL <https://www.onepetro.org/download/conference-paper/ISRM-TUNIR0CK-2018-22?id=conference-pa… [cited by applicant]
Al-Haidary, “Wellbore Stability Assessment in a Shale Formation,” retrieved from URL <http://eprints.kfupm.edu.sa/139181/1/Wellbore_Stability_Assessment_in_a_shale_formation_Saleh_AlHaidary.pdf>, retrieved on Oct. 14, 2… [cited by applicant]
Alsubaih, “Shale instability of deviated wellbores in southern Iraqi frields,” retrieved from URL <http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8544&context=masters_theses>, retrieved on Oct. 14, 2019, publis… [cited by applicant]
Kosset, “Wellbore integrity analysis for wellpath optimization and drilling risks reduction: the vaca muerta formation in neuquen basin,” retrieved from URL <https://mountainscholar.org/bitstream/handle/11124/464/Kosset… [cited by applicant]
Lang et al., “Wellbore Stability Modeling and Real-Time Surveillance for Deepwater Drilling to Weak Bedding Planes and Depleted Reservoirs, ” SPE, Mar. 1, 2011, 18 pages. [cited by applicant]
Li et al., “Pore-pressure and wellbore-stability prediction to increase drilling efficiency,” Journal of Petroleum Technology, Feb. 28, 2012, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Liu et al., “In situ deformation analysis of a fracture in coal under cyclic loading and unloading,” Energies, Oct. 2021, 14(20):6474, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
Tan et al., “Wellbore Stability of Extended Reach Wells in an Oil Filed in Sarawak Basin, South China Sea,” SPE Proceedings, XX, XX, SPE88609, Oct. 18, 2004, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Tutuncu et al., “Annual Meeting Selections. Integrated Wellbore-Quality and Risk-Assessment Study Guides Successful Drilling in Amazon Jungle,” Geophysics, Society of Exploration Geophysics, vol. 71, No. 6, Jan. 1, 2006… [cited by applicant]
Voorn et al., “Porosity, permeability and 3D fracture network characterisation of dolomite reservoir rock samples,” Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Mar. 2015, 127:270-285, 39 pages. [cited by applicant]