What Does
Geomechanical Study Mean?
A geomechanical study refers to the study of soil and rock deformation when subjected to stress, temperature, pressure and environmental factors. Compared to other branches of geotechnical investigation, geomechanical study is relatively new and greatly influences all aspects of petroleum extraction.
It is also used to study the behavior of rocks and soil for trenchless pipeline installation methods such as horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and microtunneling.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Geomechanical Study
The geomechanical study of rock and sub-surface formation helps in determining formation integrity during drilling of boreholes and during pullback. Engineers find this study important in modeling and predicting rock and soil behavior in order to reduce risk of project failure. For any drilling project, choosing the right method and equipment is of paramount importance. How a drill bit or cutter will react to a particular rock formation with acting stresses and temperature changes helps designers to choose the most suitable method for the geology.
Geomechanics also helps in understanding borehole integrity which is crucial in designing the right mud mix by adjusting drilling fluid parameters for viscosity, plasticity and gel strength.