COURSE OVERVIEW:

Building a robust geomechanical model is a prerequisite for safe and efficient well construction, especially in complex geological settings or high-pressure environments. This course provides a structured workflow for constructing Mechanical Earth Models (MEM) that integrate geological, petrophysical, and engineering data. Participants will learn how to move from 1D wellbore models to 3D field-scale geomechanical frameworks. The scope covers the determination of in-situ stresses, pore pressure, and rock mechanical properties, providing a comprehensive "roadmap" for predicting subsurface mechanical behavior during drilling and production.

The coverage of this course emphasizes the practical application of geomechanical models in optimizing well design. Attendees will learn how to use these models to determine the safe operating mud weight window, select casing seats, and design stable trajectories for horizontal and multilateral wells. The curriculum details the calibration of model parameters using laboratory core tests and diagnostic field measurements such as Leak-Off Tests (LOT) and Extended Leak-Off Tests (XLOT). By grounding the model in real-world data, engineers can significantly reduce the risk of wellbore instability, lost circulation, and other costly drilling incidents.

Furthermore, the course addresses the role of geomechanical models in reservoir development and management. This includes assessing the impact of pore pressure depletion on stress changes, which can lead to reservoir compaction, fault reactivation, and casing failure. Participants will explore how to update and refine the geomechanical model as new data becomes available during the development phase. The curriculum is designed for technical professionals who need to bridge the gap between subsurface characterization and operational engineering, ensuring that well planning is based on a sound mechanical understanding of the Earth.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

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

• Construct a 1D Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) from well data.
• Integrate seismic and well data into a 3D geomechanical framework.
• Calculate overburden, pore pressure, and horizontal stresses.
• Determine rock mechanical properties (Young’s Modulus, Poisson’s Ratio).
• Calibrate geomechanical models using core and field test data.
• Optimize mud weight windows for various well trajectories.
• Design stable wellbore geometries for high-angle and horizontal wells.
• Predict and mitigate risks of wellbore instability and lost circulation.
• Evaluate the impact of depletion and injection on reservoir stresses.
• Identify potential for fault reactivation and induced seismicity.
• Use geomechanical models to select optimal casing setting depths.
• Perform sensitivity analysis on geomechanical model inputs.
• Update geomechanical models in real-time during drilling operations.
• Collaborate effectively across geoscience and drilling engineering teams.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Drilling Engineers, Geomechanics Specialists, Petrophysicists, and Geologists involved in well planning and field development optimization.

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.