Published March 2019

The reasons for failures in well drilling associated with geodynamic stress

G.O. Veliyev

R.V. Veliyev

The paper studies the factors causing failures while well drilling under the influence of spatial-temporal changes of geodynamic stress in the regions adjacent to the active and buried mud volcanoes in oil fields and prospective structures revealed via seismic exploration. In the context of Umid structure located in the Caspian Sea, it was shown that as a result of change of rocks’ lithologic composition, dynamic and ki-nematic parameters of seismic wave change as well, which is associated with abnormal spatial-temporal changes of geodynamic stress. In the context of Neft-Dashlary-Guneshly-Oghuz-D30 East Absheron oil-gas bearing region, the properties of geodynamic stress in relation to earthquakes, took place in drilling areas have been studied and it was justified that most of the earthquakes occurred in 10–15 km depth interval in sedimentary cover. Considering the probability of occurrence of complications and failure risks while drilling in seismic profiles of bedded medium in the areas with characteristic features and complicated seismic records, it is recommended to increase the drilling control in these zones alongside with preventive measures.