Integrated Geomechanics and Pore Pressure Prediction in Carbonate Reservoir Drilling

As part of well planning and operational support, the Geomechanicists together with the Pore pressure prediction specialists, are required to characterize the overburden shale and provide pore pressure prediction for mudweight design for drilling. This is often routinely done utilizing nearby offset wells data, however despite this, subsurface uncertainty around pore pressure and formation strength remains. The intent of this paper is to share insights and lessons learnt in drilling a challenging carbonate well and the integrated approach taken to recover and secure the well safely.