Study on Rock Mechanics and Wellbore Stability of Igneous Formation in the Shunbei Area

[Image: see text] While drilling into the igneous rock formations of the Shunbei area, problems such as loss of well circulation and borehole collapse occur frequently, seriously hindering the efficient development of oil and gas resources. Aiming to solve this problem, the physicochemical and mechanical properties of igneous rocks are studied through a series of laboratory tests to determine the main factors influencing formation collapse and instability. In addition to the laboratory results, the weak plane effect of fracture mechanics, the seepage effect of drilling fluid, and the hydration effect of the drilling fluid on the borehole wall stability of igneous rock formations are evaluated and analyzed by establishing a mathematical model. The results show that the microfractures in the igneous rock are relatively developed and can be divided into unfilled fractures and calcite-filled fractures. The mechanical strength of the matrix igneous rock is higher than that of the rock samples with microfractures. The compressive strength of calcite-filled and unfilled fracture samples is 1/3–1/4 that of matrix igneous rocks, and immersion in the drilling fluid has little influence on the mechanical strength of igneous rocks. The fracture weak plane effect has the greatest influence on wellbore stability. With the increase of the number of fractures at different angles, the collapse pressure equivalent density of the formation subject to the mechanical weak plane effect increases by 21% compared with that of the homogeneous formation without fractures. The seepage effect of the drilling fluid on borehole stability is secondary, and the equivalent density of the formation collapse pressure increases by 11%. Because of the low content of clay minerals, the hydration effect of the drilling fluid on borehole stability was minimal and the equivalent density of collapse pressure increased by only 2%. During the drilling process, considering the weak plane effect of the microfractures and the seepage effect of the drilling fluid, the drilling fluid density should be controlled at about 1.82 g/cm(3). The effective plugging ability and rheological properties of the drilling fluid should be improved for the formation with microfractures. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the safe and efficient development of igneous reservoirs.