Abstract
Abstract This paper presents a case study of borehole instability from 4 wellbores on the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shelf, offshore Louisiana. Logging while drilling (LWD) borehole images are combined with observations of cavings and modeling of borehole shear failure in order to diagnose the mechanisms of instability and thus select the appropriate remedial action. It is observed that instability due to shear failure of intact rock (borehole breakout) can be suppressed by increasing mud weight. However, where pre-existing planes of weakness such as bedding planes and fractures dominate the mechanism of instability, mud weight increases do not necessarily lead to a more stable hole and can in fact further destabilize the wellbore.
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