James Nicolson

MSc student - Eng

Biography

Including dot points of Education and Work Experience.

PhD/MEng Research Project

Distinct Element Modelling to Improve Borehole Stability

Supervisors: Dr Suzanne Hunt, Assoc Prof Carlos Sansour

Project Description

Wellbore stability modelling is being conducted making use of the Itasca software codes UDEC and 3DEC. These codes allow for the modelling of discontinuous media, such as a jointed rock mass, in either static or dynamic situations. The initial data set for the project has been provided by ConocoPhillips and relates to the Bayu-Undan project in the Timor Sea. This project has involved the drilling of a directional wells from a pair of production platforms in order to produce hydrocarbons for export.

The project will consider the applicability of using the modelling technique to investigate wellbore stability in jointed rock masses. It will also endeavour to determine appropriate mud weights for stable drilling in a variety of azimuths and inclinations in the problem area. There will be a focus on using the code to investigate the performance of the wellbore as a number of other drilling activities are conducted, including leak-off tests and borehole breathing.

As the complexity of drilling projects rise and the cost of poor quality drilling also climbs, techniques which can be used to mitigate hole instability will become increasingly important. The use of numerical modelling will be an important part of petroleum rock mechanics analysis, allowing for an improved drilling engineering.