CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority to U.S. Non Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 12/568,094 entitled, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING VERTICAL STRESS FIELDS, filed September 28, 2009

BACKGROUND

[0001] Determination of pore fluid pressure is an important aspect of subterranean drilling, exploration and completion operations. Determination of pore fluid pressure is important in maintaining proper fluid pressures to maximize the effectiveness of drilling, production or other operations. For example, the drilling fluid pressure applied by drilling fluid pumped downhole through a drillstring must be sufficient to control hydrostatic pressure in a wellbore to prevent blowouts and maintain optimum drilling rates.

[0002] Typically, the pore fluid pressure at a point in a formation has been calculated by considering a difference between total vertical and effective vertical stress at the point of interest. Conventionally, total vertical stress is estimated by vertical integration of density data. On the other hand, there are different approaches for estimation of effective vertical stresses.

[0003] Total vertical stress distribution in the Earth may be affected by many factors including surface topology and density heterogeneities. The effect of these factors on total vertical stresses decays with depth below the surface or below the heterogeneity. For example, total vertical stresses are significantly affected by topology close to the surface, but with increasing depth, they approach the stress distribution for a horizontal surface at average elevation.

[0004] Conventionally used vertical integration of density implicitly assumes that the gravitational load of an infinitesimal rock element is completely transferred to the element below it. As a result of this assumption, the influence of the gravitational load of an element on the vertical stress distribution does not decay with depth but is transferred to all the elements below it. Depending on the surface topography and density distribution, this assumption can result in overestimation or underestimation of the total vertical stresses and in turn, overestimation or underestimation of the formation pore pressures derived from the total vertical stresses. BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0005] Disclosed herein is a method of estimating at least one of stress and pore fluid pressure in an earth formation, including: discretizing a domain including at least a portion of the earth formation into a plurality of cells, each cell including a respective density value; dividing the domain into a first region and a second region, the first region including a surface of the earth formation; vertically integrating the respective density values in the first region; and estimating the total vertical stress for each cell in the first region and the second region by estimating a point load based on the respective density value.

[0006] Also disclosed herein is a system for estimating at least one of stress and pore fluid pressure in an earth formation, including: a downhole tool configured to be disposed in a borehole in the earth formation; at least one sensor associated with the downhole tool configured to generate data relating to a density of the earth formation; a processor in operable communication with the sensor, for receiving the data, the processor performing: discretizing a domain including at least a portion of an earth formation into a plurality of cells, each cell including a respective density value; dividing the domain into a first region and a second region, the first region including a surface of the earth formation; vertically integrating the respective density values in the first region; and estimating the total vertical stress for each cell in the first region and the second region by estimating a point load based on the respective density value.

[0007] Further disclosed herein is a computer program product stored on machine readable media for estimating at least one of stress and pore fluid pressure in an earth formation by executing machine implemented instructions, the instructions for: discretizing a domain including at least a portion of the earth formation into a plurality of cells, each cell including a respective density value; dividing the domain into a first region and a second region, the first region including a surface of the earth formation; vertically integrating the respective density values in the first region; and estimating the total vertical stress for each cell in the first region and the second region by estimating a point load based on the respective density value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

[0009] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a well drilling, production and/or logging system; [0010] FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart providing an exemplary method of predicting a force such as vertical stress and/or formation pore fluid pressure in an earth formation;

[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of a domain including an earth formation and an associated density data matrix;

[0012] FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of a domain and a cross-sectional representation of an associated distributed surface load;

[0013] FIG. 5 depicts density data matrices of the domain of FIG. 4;

[0014] FIG. 6 depicts a cell of a two-dimensional density data matrix and an associated idealized point load; and

[0015] FIG. 7 depicts a cell of a three-dimensional density data matrix and an associated idealized point load;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a portion of a well drilling, production and/or logging system 10 includes a conduit or string 12, such as a drillstring or production string. The string 12 is configured to be disposed in a borehole 14 for performing operations such as drilling the borehole 14, making measurements of properties of the borehole 14 and/or the surrounding formation downhole, and facilitating hydrocarbon production. As a matter of convention, a depth of the borehole 14 is described along a z-axis, while a cross-section is provided on a plane described by an x-axis and a y-axis.

[0018] In one example, the drill string 12 includes lengths of drill pipe or drill segments 16 which drive a drill bit 18. Drilling fluid 20 is pumped or otherwise flows through the drill string 12 toward the drill bit 18, and exits into the borehole 14. The drilling fluid 20 (also referred to as "drilling mud") generally includes a mixture of liquids such as water, drilling fluid, mud, oil, gases, and formation fluids as may be indigenous to the surroundings.

[0019] The string 12 may include equipment therein such as a logging instrument or logging tool 22 for performing various measurements of the borehole, downhole components and/or the formation. In one embodiment, the logging tool 22 is configured as a "measurement while drilling" (MWD) or "logging while drilling" (LWD) tool. In another embodiment, the logging tool 22 is configured to be lowered into the borehole 14 after drilling, such as by a cable or wireline. Exemplary tools 22 include sensors for generating data such as resistivity, density, gamma ray, pressure, strain and stress data. In one embodiment, the tool 22 is configured to collect and/or process data for predicting or estimating a vertical stress field and/or pore fluid pressures of the formation.

[0020] The logging tool 22 includes at least one sensor 24 for sensing various characteristics of the borehole 14, the formation and/or downhole components. In one embodiment, the at least one sensor 24 is in communication with downhole electronics 26 that may receive input from the sensor 24 and provide for at least one of operational control and data analysis. The downhole electronics 26 may include, without limitation, a power supply, a transformer, a battery, a processor, memory, storage, at least one communications interface and the like.

[0021] In one embodiment, the logging tool 22, sensor 24 and/or electronics 26 are operably coupled in communication with surface equipment 28. The surface equipment 28 may provide power to the tool 22 and/or other downhole components, as well as provide computing and processing capabilities for at least one of control of operations and analysis of data. A communications channel is included for communication with the surface equipment 28, and may operate via pulsed mud, wired pipe, and other technologies as are known in the art.

[0022] In one embodiment, the system 10 is operably connected to a downhole or surface processing unit, such as surface equipment 28, which may act to control various components of the system 10, such as drilling, logging and production components or subs. Other components include machinery to raise or lower segments and to operably couple segments, and transmission devices. The downhole or surface processing unit may also collect and process data generated by the system 10 during drilling, production or other operations.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a method 40 of predicting or estimating a force in an earth formation. Such a force includes stress and pressure, such as the vertical stress field and/or formation pore fluid pressures in an earth formation. Prediction of the vertical stress field and/or formation pore fluid pressures includes estimating the total vertical stress of the formation. In this method, estimation of total vertical stress includes a calculation approach utilizing the Boussinesq's solution for a point load on a half space.

[0024] The method 40 includes one or more stages 41-49. The method 40 is described herein in conjunction with the system 10, although the method 40 may be performed in conjunction with any number and configuration of sensors, tools, processors or other machinery. The method 40 may be utilized as a workflow or as part of one or more workflows, such as vertical stress, pore fluid pressure and horizontal stress estimation workflows. In one embodiment, the method 40 includes the execution of all of stages 41-49 in the order described. However, certain stages may be omitted, stages may be added, or the order of the stages changed.

[0025] In the first stage 41, density data is calculated or measured at various depths (z-axis locations). In one embodiment, data is collected at each selected depth at a plurality of x-axis and/or y-axis locations. The plurality of x-axis and/or y-axis locations may correspond to sensor locations in one or more boreholes 14 and/or in a sensor array disposed with the tool 22. In one embodiment, density data is estimated from data generated by one or more gamma ray detectors.

[0026] In the second stage 42, referring to FIG. 3, a region or domain 50 is selected that includes locations at which density data has been generated. In one embodiment, the domain 50 is a two-dimensional plane. In another embodiment, the domain 50 is a three- dimensional region. For convention purposes, the domain 50 has a z-axis corresponding to a depth of the location, and an x-axis and/or y-axis that is orthogonal to the z-axis. In one embodiment, the domain 50 includes a surface region 52 including a surface topology 54 and a subterranean region 56.

[0027] In the third stage 43, the domain 50 is discretized into a plurality of cells forming a matrix. In one embodiment, the domain is two-dimensional and the cells are rectangular cells having dimensions referred to as "Δχ" and "Δζ". The matrix includes a number of rows "M" in the z-direction and a number of columns "N" in the x-direction.

[0028] In another embodiment, the domain 50 is three-dimensional and the cells are rectangular prism cells having dimensions "Δχ", "Ay", and "Δζ". In this embodiment, the matrix includes a number of rows "M" in the z-direction, a number of columns "N" in the x- direction and a number of columns "R" in the y-direction.

[0029] In the fourth stage 44, the cells are populated with density data. The domain is partitioned into two regions 58, 60 separated by a "half space" 62. For two-dimensional domains, the half space 62 is a line extending along the x-axis. For three-dimensional domains, the half space 62 is a plane extending along the x- and y-axes. In one embodiment, the half space 62 is positioned at a selected depth relative to the surface topology 54. For example, the half space 62 is positioned at a depth corresponding to a lowest depth of the surface topology 54. [0030] In one embodiment, for a two-dimensional domain, each cell thus includes a density value /¾, where "i" is a row number 1 through M and "j" is a column number 1 through N. The domain is sectioned into two regions 58 and 60, which are bounded by the half space line 62. A first region 58 includes rows above the half space 62, shown as rows 1 through p, and a second region 60 includes rows below the half space 62, shown as rows r through M.

[0031] In another embodiment, for a three-dimensional domain, each cell includes a density value p^, where "i" is a row number 1 through M, "j" is an x-axis column number 1 through N and "k" is a y-axis column number 1 through R. The two regions 58, 60 are bounded by a half space plane 62, the first region 58 including rows 1 through p and the second region 60 including rows r through M.

[0032] In the fifth stage 45, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the total vertical stress (i.e., overburden stress) in each column in the first region 58 (i.e., above the half space 62) is estimated or calculated, for example, by using vertical integration of the density data. The total vertical stress data is stored and the total vertical stress corresponding to the depth of the half space 62 is applied on the second region 60 as a distributed surface load 64.

[0033] Implementation of this stage is shown in FIG. 5. A new discrete domain 66 is created that includes rows p and r through M, and density values in the original domain 50 are transferred to the new discrete domain 66. Density values in the row above depth to half space (row p) are replaced by equivalent density values, p*.

[0034] In one embodiment, where the domain 50, 66 is two-dimensional, p* is represented as " i*", where:

"Sp " is the total vertical stress value calculated by vertical integration for the first region in each cell (p,i) located in the row p, "Δζ" is the vertical dimension of the cell, and N is the number of elements "i" in the x-direction.

[0035] In another embodiment, where the domain 50, 66 is three-dimensional, p* is represented as "/¾*", where: "S _p j _j " is the total vertical stress value calculated by vertical integration for the first region 58 in each cell (p,i,j), and "N" and "R" are the number elements "i" and "j" in the x- and y-directions, respectively.

[0036] In the sixth stage 46, the gravitational load in each cell is idealized as a point load acting at the bottom center of the cell. The point load location in each cell is exemplary, as other locations such as a center or top center location can be used.

[0037] In one embodiment, shown in Figure 6, the domain 66 is a two-dimensional domain having a plurality of two-dimensional (such as rectangular) cells 68. In this embodiment, the cell numbers "i" and "k" are the coordinates of each cell 68 in the x- direction and z-direction, respectively, and the density associated with the cell 68 is denoted as "yOk,i". The induced total vertical stress, Ασ _ν , at each cell 68 is calculated for a selected point load location 70, designated (xi,Zk). In one embodiment, the total vertical stress Ασ _ν is calculated for a plurality of points (x _m ,zi) relative to the selected point (x;,Zk) as:

where is the induced vertical stress at a point (x _m ,zi), x _m and ¾ are the x- and z- coordinates of each of the plurality of points relative to the cell 68, and x; and Zk are the x- and z-coordinates of the location of the idealized point load 70. δζ is equal to the difference between ¾ and Zk, and δχ is equal to the difference between x _m and x;. P _k ,i is a vertical point load value at the idealized point and may be calculated as:

P _k ,i = Pk/Ax Az.

Δχ is a dimension of the cell along the x-axis, and Δζ is a dimension of the cell along the z- axis.

[0038] In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the domain 66 is a three- dimensional domain. In this embodiment, the cell numbers "i", "j" and "k" are the numbers in the x-direction, y-direction and z-direction, respectively, and the density associated with the cell 68 is denoted as "pk,ij"- The induced total vertical stress, Ασ _ν , at each cell 68 is calculated for a selected point load location 70, designated (xi, j,Zk). In one embodiment, the total vertical stress Ασ _ν is calculated for a plurality of points (x _m , y _n ,zi) relative to the selected point (xi,y _j ,z _k ) as:

'> "k ^{■ Δ} 1

0, z _k = Z _t & X _t ≠ X m

Q, z _k =∑i & y _n y _f

<5z ³

2?r

where Ao( _{v m} _ _n, i is the induced vertical stress at a point (x _m ,y _n ,zi), x _m , y _n and z _\ are the respective x-, y- and z-coordinates of each of the plurality of points relative to the cell 68, and Xi, y _j and Zk are the x-, y- and z-coordinates of the location of the idealized point load 70. δζ is equal to the difference between ¾ and Zk, δχ is equal to the difference between x _m and ¾, and 5y is equal to the difference between y _n and y. P _k ,i,j is a vertical point load value at the idealized point 70 and may be calculated as:

Δχ is a dimension of the cell along the x-axis, Ay is a dimension of the cell along the y-axis, and Δζ is a dimension of the cell along the z-axis.

[0039] In the seventh stage 47, the total vertical stress σ _ν at each cell 68 is calculated by summing all of the induced vertical stresses σ _, ι- The total vertical stress σ _ν for each cell 68 in the first region 58 is merged with the total vertical stress σ _ν for each cell in the second region 60 to form a complete total vertical stress field of the domain 50.

[0040] In the eighth stage 48, effective vertical stress is estimated or calculated based on any suitable method or technique. For example, the effective vertical stress is calculated for a selected cell 68 from interval velocities based on empirical relationships that are calibrated against well-based data.

[0041] In the ninth stage 49, the pore fluid pressure is estimated by subtracting the effective vertical stress from the total vertical stress. In one embodiment, the effective vertical stress for a selected cell 68 is subtracted from the total vertical stress σ _ν for the selected cell 68. [0042] In addition, various other properties of the formation can be estimated using the vertical stress calculations described herein. For example, the estimated total vertical stress and pore fluid pressure are used to estimate horizontal stresses. Total maximum and total minimum horizontal stresses can be calculated as:

ESR(min) = (shmin - Pp) / (Sv - Pp),

ESR(max) = (sHmax - Pp) / (Sv - Pp), where ESR(min) is the effective stress ratio for minimum horizontal stress, ESR(max) is the effective stress ratio for maximum horizontal stress, Pp is the pore fluid pressure, Shmin is the total minimum horizontal stress, sHmax is the total maximum horizontal stress, and Sv is the total vertical stress.

[0043] As described herein, "drillstring" or "string" refers to any structure or carrier suitable for lowering a tool through a borehole or connecting a drill bit to the surface, and is not limited to the structure and configuration described herein. For example, the string 12 is configured as a hydrocarbon production string or formation evaluation string. The term "carrier" as used herein means any device, device component, combination of devices, media and/or member that may be used to convey, house, support or otherwise facilitate the use of another device, device component, combination of devices, media and/or member. Exemplary non- limiting carriers include drill strings of the coiled tube type, of the jointed pipe type and any combination or portion thereof. Other carrier examples include casing pipes, wirelines, wireline sondes, slickline sondes, drop shots, downhole subs, BHA's and drill strings.

[0044] In support of the teachings herein, various analyses and/or analytical components may be used, including digital and/or analog systems. The system may have components such as a processor, storage media, memory, input, output, communications link (wired, wireless, pulsed mud, optical or other), user interfaces, software programs, signal processors (digital or analog) and other such components (such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and others) to provide for operation and analyses of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein in any of several manners well-appreciated in the art. It is considered that these teachings may be, but need not be, implemented in conjunction with a set of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, including memory (ROMs, RAMs), optical (CD-ROMs), or magnetic (disks, hard drives), or any other type that when executed causes a computer to implement the method of the present invention. These instructions may provide for equipment operation, control, data collection and analysis and other functions deemed relevant by a system designer, owner, user or other such personnel, in addition to the functions described in this disclosure.

[0045] The apparatuses and methods described herein provide various advantages over existing methods and devices, in that the apparatuses and methods produce described herein result in superior pore fluid pressure predictions and improved calculation methods as compared to prior art techniques.

[0046] The pore pressure prediction methods described herein provide an improvement in workflows pertaining to calculation of formation stresses, pressures and other properties. For example, the improvement in the total vertical stress, i.e. overburden stress, calculation provides an improvement in any related workflow. In addition, most of the currently used methods start with calculation of total vertical or overburden stress. Thus, the methods described herein improve not only pore pressure prediction workflows but also other workflows such as estimation of total horizontal stresses.

[0047] Prior art methods calculate pore fluid pressure and generally estimate total vertical stress by vertical integration of density data. Such integration cannot capture the decay of the effect of topology and heterogeneities as a function of depth, and thus these prior art methods can lead to unrealistic pore fluid pressure predictions and unrealistic input for borehole stability predictions during drilling and production. In contrast, the apparatuses and methods described herein produce results that reflect the decay with depth of the total vertical stress, and thus produce more accurate and realistic results.

[0048] One skilled in the art will recognize that the various components or technologies may provide certain necessary or beneficial functionality or features. Accordingly, these functions and features as may be needed in support of the appended claims and variations thereof, are recognized as being inherently included as a part of the teachings herein and a part of the invention disclosed.

[0049] While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to adapt a particular instrument, situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.