Time-dependent reliability analysis of wellbore stability during drilling in hydrate exploitation

Abstract

Methane hydrates is regarded as an important alternative energy in the future. Due to the complexity of marine environment, the mechanical parameters and initial stress state of formation have great uncertainties which can affect the wellbore stability in hydrate exploitation. In this study, a new time-dependent analytical model is proposed, considering the influence of hydrate dissociation on the mechanical properties and the partial coupling among pore pressure/temperature/mechanical field. The analytical solutions are verified and validated by numerical solutions. Based on the analytical solution and Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion, the reliability of wellbore stability during drilling in hydrate exploitation is analyzed by the Response Surface Method. Through the reliability analysis, the probability of wellbore instability increases and the safe drilling fluid pressure window range is narrowed with time, and finally tended to be stable at t = 12 h. Hydrate dissociation would lead to a more narrowed pressure window range, about by −38.75%. The most significant parameter whose uncertainty affects the instability probability is initial in-situ stress, followed by the initial internal friction angle and Biot’s coefficient.