Learn reservoir geomechanics through comprehensive lectures covering continuum mechanics, rock properties, in-situ stress analysis, fault mechanics, wellbore stability, hydraulic fracturing, and reservoir depletion effects. Master practical problem-solving techniques for determining pore pressure gradients, calculating total vertical stress from logs and geological data, and analyzing non-hydrostatic conditions with disequilibrium compaction. Explore the fundamentals of stress tensors, principal stresses, and 3D Hooke's law while understanding Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and elastic behavior of reservoir rocks. Examine rock failure mechanisms through tensile and shear strength analysis, triaxial testing, and strength anisotropy concepts including the brittle-to-ductile transition. Study fault classification systems, ideal fault orientations in different stress regimes, and apply 3D Mohr circle analysis for calculating normal and shear stresses on fault planes. Investigate wellbore stability using Kirsch solutions, analyze drilling-induced fractures and breakouts, and determine mud weight windows for various wellbore orientations. Delve into hydraulic fracturing fundamentals including fracture gradient calculations, leak-off tests (LOT), diagnostic fracture injection tests (DFIT), and step rate testing procedures. Understand fluid-driven fracture mechanics, fracture toughness concepts, and hydraulic fracture modeling approaches for height determination and simulator applications. Explore advanced topics in multi-stage fracturing, fracture interaction effects, microseismicity analysis, and estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) calculations for unconventional reservoirs, with access to detailed course notes and handwritten class materials for comprehensive understanding.

Syllabus

L01-1 Introduction to PGE 334 and impact of geomechanics
L01-2 Pore pressure gradient and rock bulk mass density
L01-3 Total vertical stress gradient onshore and offshore, and vertical effective stress
L02-1 Total vertical stress offshore, effective stress at the seafloor
L02-2 Total vertical stress from logs
L02-3 Non-hydrostatic pore-pressure, disequilibrium compaction
L03-1 Porosity trend with disequilibrium compaction
L03-2 Calculating pore pressure from undercompacted shale
L03-3 Horizontal stresses and ideal orientation and shape of hydraulic fractures
L04-1 Horizontal well azimuth, horizontal stress magnitude and direction
L04-2 Scalar, vectors and tensors
L04-3 The stress tensor, normal and shear stresses, positive convention
L05 Homework 2 step by step (total vertical stress and pore pressure)
L06 Principal stresses, the effective stress tensor, the (small) strain tensor
L07-1 Young modulus and Poisson ratio -- towards 3D Hooke's law
L07-2 Axial loading test #1: Young modulus and UCS
L07-3 Axial loading test #2: Young modulus and UCS
L08-1 UCS laboratory report
L08-2 Data analysis for Young Modulus
L08-3 Data analysis for Young Modulus and Poisson ratio
L09-1 3D Hooke's law (isotropic llinear elasticity)
L09-2 The compliance and stiffness elastic matrices, application to uniaxial-strain stress path
L09-3 Effective lateral stress coefficient according to linear isotropic elasticity
L10 Fracture gradient explained by linear elasticity, tectonic strains/stresses
L11 Homework 4 - Elasticity problems and reservoir rock compressibility
L12 General solution to an elasticity problem, Real rocks: anisotropy and visco-plasticity
L13 Rock tensile strength and shear strength
L14-1 Brazilian test to measure indirectly tensile strength
L14-2 Confined loading of a coffee package under vacuum
L14-3 Shear strength: unconfined and confined loading
L15 Rock failure and permeability, the triaxial test apparatus, homework problems
L16 Strength anisotropy, compression yield cap and brittle to ductile transition
L17 Faults on the Earth's shallow crust, fault mapping, fault strike and dip, stereonet
L18 Fault strength and ideal orientation
L19 Ideal orientation of faults in SS and R regimes, and 3D Mohr circle
L20 Solving for normal and shear stress with the 3D Mohr circle
L21 Applications of projection of stress on fault/fracture planes
L22 Introduction to wellbore stability and Kirsch solution
L23 Drilling-induced tensile fractures and shear failure (breakouts)
L24 Drilling mud window and orientation of breakouts
L25 Fracture gradient and stability of deviated wellbores
L26 Well stability: thermal effects, loss of filtercake, clay swelling, anisotropy, frac gradient
L27 Review of fault and wellbore stability
L28 Hydraulic fractures in nature and caused by well testing (LOT and DFIT)
L29 DFIT test results and Step Rate Test
L30 Fluid-driven fractures: break down of fluid and mechanical processes
L31 Fracture modes, fracture toughness, and hydraulic fracture models
L32 Determination of fracture height with stress logs and hydraulic fracture simulators
L33 Multiple stage hydraulic fracturing and fracture interaction
L34 Multicluster fracturing and microseismicity
L35 Microseismicity, Induced Seismicity, and EUR for unconventionals