Patent · US Expired

Methods for determining in situ shale strengths, elastic properties, pore pressures, formation stresses, and drilling fluid parameters

US5205164A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
60References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 1990
Grant dateApr 27, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B49/006
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for determining drilling fluid density for stabilizing a wellbore including obtaining shale cuttings from a wellbore. In one embodiment of a method according to this invention, shale cuttings are obtained from a wellbore and their index properties, including but not limited to surface area, is measured; mean effective stress around the wellbore is calculated using the geostatic overburden in situ stress, the field pore pressure, and the total stress around the wellbore; the in situ shale strength is determined using a correlation between surface area, mean effective stress and shale strength; and drilling fluid density is determined using the shale strength. Methods for determining in situ shale strengths, elastic properties, pore pressures, and formation stresses of low permeability rocks.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.