COURSE OVERVIEW:

Petroleum geomechanics is the study of how subsurface rocks and fluids respond to changes in stress, pressure, and temperature throughout the life of a reservoir. This course provides a fundamental understanding of the mechanical behavior of rocks and how this knowledge is applied to solve critical engineering challenges in the oil and gas industry. From the initial drilling phase to long-term production and abandonment, geomechanics plays a vital role in ensuring operational safety and economic efficiency. Participants will explore the core concepts of stress tensors, pore pressure, and rock strength that form the basis of a 1D or 3D Geomechanical Model.

The scope of this training covers the practical integration of geological and engineering data to predict and prevent failures. Coverage includes wellbore stability analysis, which is essential for optimizing mud weights and preventing costly stuck-pipe incidents or lost circulation. The course also addresses the geomechanical aspects of hydraulic fracturing, reservoir compaction, and surface subsidence. By understanding the in-situ stress state—consisting of vertical stress and two horizontal stresses—engineers and geologists can better predict how the formation will react to drilling and completion activities.

In addition to traditional reservoir applications, the course highlights the growing importance of geomechanics in unconventional plays and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Participants will learn how the mechanical properties of shales affect stimulation success and how stress field orientation influences the growth of induced fractures. The curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between geoscientists and drilling engineers, providing a common language and methodology for managing subsurface mechanical risks. This holistic view ensures that participants can contribute to more stable wells and more productive reservoirs.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Define the basic principles of stress, strain, and elasticity in rocks.
• Identify the components of the Earth’s in-situ stress field.
• Distinguish between different types of pore pressure regimes.
• Explain the concepts of rock failure and the Mohr-Coulomb criterion.
• Utilize well log data to estimate mechanical rock properties.
• Analyze wellbore stability to optimize drilling parameters.
• Predict the orientation and magnitude of horizontal stresses.
• Evaluate the impact of depletion on reservoir stress changes.
• Describe the mechanics of hydraulic fracture initiation and growth.
• Recognize the signs of reservoir compaction and surface subsidence.
• Identify geomechanical risks associated with fault reactivation.
• Apply geomechanics to the design of sand control strategies.
• Use diagnostic tests like Leak-Off Tests (LOT) for stress calibration.
• Integrate geomechanical data into a 1D Mechanical Earth Model (MEM).

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Drilling Engineers, Reservoir Engineers, Geologists, and Petrophysicists involved in well planning, completions, and field development.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximise the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.