System and Method for Modeling Stress Disturbances for Multi-Lateral Wellbore Drilling

Abstract This study introduces an innovative system and methodology for modeling stress disturbances during the drilling of lateral wellbores in subsurface formations, addressing challenges associated with multilateral wellbore construction. The primary objectives are to accurately predict stress-induced deformation, evaluate potential failure risks, and optimize drilling parameters to ensure wellbore stability and operational efficiency. The methodology employs a sequential finite element analysis (FEA) approach to simulate the formation of a main wellbore and subsequent lateral branches. The system integrates a stress field assessment engine, incorporating pre-processing components for assigning geomechanical properties, a simulator for stress field calculations, and a model updating module to include lateral wellbore geometries. The stress field simulations account for in-situ stresses, material properties, and disturbed stress fields, while employing advanced failure criteria, such as Drucker-Prager and Mohr-Coulomb, to evaluate deformation risks. The use of 3D meshing with 20-node brick elements ensures high-resolution calculations and computational efficiency. Results demonstrate that the proposed methodology successfully predicts stress distributions and failure risks in real-time drilling scenarios. The simulations identify optimal mud weight and pressure parameters, reducing the likelihood of shear or tensile failures and ensuring wellbore integrity. The methodology also highlights the critical influence of stress disturbances from the main wellbore on lateral wellbore stability. The conclusion emphasizes that this system provides a robust framework for modeling and mitigating stress disturbances in multilateral wellbores. By accurately simulating real-world drilling conditions and offering actionable insights into stress-induced risks, the system enhances operational efficiency and reduces costs. The innovation lies in the sequential stress field modeling approach, which retains and builds upon initial stress field data from the main wellbore to predict cumulative effects during lateral wellbore formation. This step-change in geomechanical modeling capabilities offers a transformative tool for optimizing multilateral wellbore design and