Stability analysis of vertical boreholes using a three-dimensional hoek-brown strength criterion

Lianyang Zhang, K. C. Radha

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Borehole stability analysis plays an important role in the design of oil and gas well drilling. A main aspect of borehole stability analysis is the selection of an appropriate rock strength criterion. The two most commonly used rock strength criteria in borehole stability analysis are the Mohr-Coulomb criterion and the Drucker-Prager criterion. However, the Mohr-Coulomb criterion ignores the effect of the intermediate principal stress and is too conservative in estimating the critical overbalance pressure required to maintain borehole stability; while the Drucker-Prager criterion overestimate the effect of the intermediate principal stress and may result in non-sensible stability predictions. In this paper, a simple model based on a three-dimensional (3D) Hoek-Brown strength criterion is developed for stability analysis of vertical boreholes. Examples are presented to show the application of the 3D Hoek-Brown strength criterion for analyzing the stability of vertical boreholes and the results are compared with those using the Mohr-Coulomb and Drucker-Prager criteria. It shows that the 3D Hoek-Brown strength criterion predicts critical overbalance pressure values that are less conservative than those predicted by the Mohr-Coulomb criterion yet are not as unconservative as those predicted by the Drucker-Prager criterion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationGeoFlorida 2010
Subtitle of host publicationAdvances in Analysis, Modeling and Design - Proceedings of the GeoFlorida 2010 Conference
Pages283-292
Number of pages10
Edition199
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
EventGeoFlorida 2010: Advances in Analysis, Modeling and Design Conference - West Palm Beach, FL, United States
Duration: Feb 20 2010Feb 24 2010

Publication series

NameGeotechnical Special Publication
Number199
ISSN (Print)0895-0563

Other

OtherGeoFlorida 2010: Advances in Analysis, Modeling and Design Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWest Palm Beach, FL
Period2/20/102/24/10

Keywords

  • Boreholes
  • Stability
  • Three-dimensional analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Building and Construction
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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