Calibration of Wireline Mechanical Properties using Whole Core Laboratory Results

Sand production in new wells can result in several problems to an operator including increased production equipment costs, loss of production from equipment failure, slower return on investment from lower flowrates, and loss of the wellbore in the severe case of downhole equipment failure. Identifying potential sand productive zones early in the field development cycle is key in planning field production and ultimately can determine recoverable reserves. Whole core, if available, can be used to determine formation mechanical parameters on a point basis. Laboratory measured formation mechanical properties on whole core is both time consuming and expensive. Wireline logs can also be used to determine formation mechanical properties, and on a continuous basis, but is not always as accurate due to underdetermined equations. This paper demonstrates the use of whole core analysis as a calibration reference for wireline logs in determining formation mechanical properties and critical formation drawdown pressures. Triaxial extension and compression tests were used to determine mechanical properties on 37 cores across 6 wells and through a range of facies types