Case Study: Middle East Operating Company mitigates wellbore instability NPT with SLB 3D geomechanical modeling

3D Geomechanical Modeling Predicts Mud Weight to Maintain Wellbore in Oman Appraisal Wells

SLB worked with Middle East Operating Company, a gas-condensate field operator in Oman, to investigate severe wellbore instability that was causing borehole breakouts, induced fractures, and significant drilling-related nonproductive time in multiple appraisal wells. The challenge was to identify the mechanisms behind the failures and determine how to maintain wellbore stability in future development wells.

SLB used integrated geomechanics services to build 1D mechanical earth models for nine wells, apply 3D seismic inversion, and develop a full 3D geomechanical model of the field. The model enabled accurate mud weight window predictions and hydraulic fracture estimates, and the operator subsequently drilled planned wells with no significant instability issues, successfully mitigating the NPT seen in earlier wells.