Advanced Rock Properties – Thick-Wall Cylinder
Traditional and Advanced Thick-Wall Cylinder Tests
Core Lab operates a full service geomechanics laboratory that provides customers with test data and engineering analyses to predict borehole failure. Wellbore stability and sanding predictions are simulated in the laboratory by performing either traditional thick-wall cylinder test or our proprietary advanced thick-wall cylinder test.
Common Problems encountered with borehole instability
- Sand production
- Stuck pipe
- Breakout
- Casing failure
- Lost circulation
- Uncontrolled fracturing
- Hole collapse
- Washout
Benefits of Traditional Thick-Wall Tests
- Perforation hole failure simulated
- Initial and catastrophic stress for perforation hole failure
- Tests can be performed either hydrostatically or under triaxial conditions
Benefits of Advanced Thick-Wall Tests
- Performed on full diameter cores
- More accurate strain and stress data at failure
- Sand production onset directly monitored
- Ability to simulate downhole flow conditions
Traditional Thick Wall Cylinder Test
Lab Simulation of Perforation Failure
The thick-wall cylinder test employs a geometry that simulates actual loading conditions under downhole stresses. This provides direct measure of pressures under which a hole will start producing sand or cause other problems like casing collapse. Armed with this information, an operator can control conditions to maintain wellbore stability.
