Revolutionizing Geomechanics with Drilling Dynamics Data: Unlocking the Full Potential of Wellbore Stability

Abstract In the ever-evolving landscape of energy exploration, advanced geomechanics plays a pivotal role in optimizing wellbore stability, completions, and production efficiency, while continuously adapting to meet the increasing demands of modern drilling operations. Traditional methods of rock property and stress estimation rely heavily on well logs and field tests, which are often limited in availability and resolution, particularly in complex geological formations where conventional measurement techniques may fall short. Teverra's Drilling Dynamic Geomechanics (DDG™) offers an innovative approach by extracting all geomechanical characteristics directly from drilling dynamics data, providing continuous insights into in-situ stresses and rock properties, thereby revolutionizing our understanding of subsurface conditions during drilling operations. This paper presents a comprehensive workflow that processes high-frequency vibration data and electronic drilling recorder (EDR) data with advanced signal processing and machine learning algorithms to predict rock strength, pore pressure, in-situ stresses, collapse gradient, and fracture gradients across the entire wellbore trajectory with high accuracy, while simultaneously accounting for geological heterogeneity and operational variables. Field applications in both conventional and unconventional reservoirs demonstrate DDG's potential to enhance drilling efficiency, mitigate instability risks, optimize completion and hydraulic fracturing designs, and identify casing deformation hazards, ultimately leading to significant improvements in well construction safety and economic performance. The implementation of this technology has shown remarkable success in reducing non-productive time, minimizing drilling-related failures, and enabling more precise well planning and execution strategies across diverse geological settings. Furthermore, the real-time nature of DDG data acquisition and analysis provides operators with unprecedented capabilities to make informed decisions during critical drilling phases, adjust operational parameters on the fly, and maintain optimal wellbore conditions throughout the drilling process.