SPE 153430

Geomechanics Characterization of the Clastics and Carbonates Formation

of Southern Fields of Mexico (2005 - 2009)
C. P. Tellez, SPE, PEMEX E&P; F. Elisabeth, E. Bentosa, D. Munoz, C. Cortes, SPE, Schlumberger

Copyright 2012, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference held in Mexico City, Mexico, 16–18 April 2012.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract

The geological structures to drill and reach the producing reservoir of the South region of Mexico are very complex. They can vary from
deep fractured carbonates reservoir at more than 7000 m true vertical depth, anticline uplifted by salt or/and shale dome themselves
inducing abnormal pressure up to 2.2 gr/cc of equivalent density in the overlying formation. The geological complexity of the south region
is reflected also in its geo-pressures, geo-stresses and geomechanical properties.

Since early 2000 Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) has considered the Geomechanics discipline as a key component for their future economic
success. With the urgent need to improve recovery, more complex wells are being drilled and PEMEX has taken the challenge to have
geomechanics analysis for any well that will cost more than 10 Million of dollars. This strategy has been translated with training of key
personnel, geomechanical core campaign and geomechanics studies included into their drilling program. Since 2006, more than fifty
geomechanics studies (analytical and numerical) have been carried out in the south region of Mexico and have been incorporated to
mitigate drilling risk and optimize well design. Velocity analysis, Geomechanics core test interpretation, caving interpretation, breakouts
and induced fracture analysis from image logs, direct pressure measurements, leak off test and mini-frac interpretation are some of the
different information used to calibrate the geomechanics studies.

This paper refers to the regional compilation, findings and results of the 50 geomechanics studies conducted in the different fields of the
south region between 2006 and 2010 and its impact on the well design of exploratory and development locations. The paper presents to the
industry, the methodology used for their construction, illustrated by the data used for their calibration and how they were successfully used
for well design and real time decision with selected post mortem analysis for some well. Finally the results of the geomechanical studies
(Strength, overpressure and stress anisotropy) have been mapped regionally to forecast the geomechanics behavior in the entire south
region of Mexico to optimize the drilling of future well locations.
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Introduction
The geology of the south region of Mexico is complex. The majority of the reservoirs are producing from fractured carbonates of the
Mesozoic, at depth reaching up to 7000 meter true vertical depth. However to reach and produce those reservoirs, drillers have to cross
unconsolidated formation of the Pliocene with intercalations of thin layered shale and sands sequence, latest with high permeability and
prone to partial and total losses. Salt and shale domes are present sometimes from Pliocene and up to Eocene with entrapped pressure
reaching equivalent density greater than 2.2 gr/cc (Shale domes of the Macuspana Basin and Salt dome of the Juspi field). Finally the
carbonates are usually fractured and significantly depleted, major mud losses events are observed and setting the casing between the
transition zone between the clastic overpressured zone of the tertiary and the depleted fractured carbonates of the Mesozoic is usually a
turning point to successfully reach the reservoir.

Between 2006 and 2010 more than 50 mechanical earth model (M.E.M) have been developed in various basin of the South region of
Mexico. This, with the objective to understand and characterized the behavior of the geopressures, geomechanics properties and the
mechanism of instability, to reduce the risk related to the drilling operation, and to improve well design and finally reach safely the
producing reservoirs. The different fields and their locations that were studied are shown in the following figure 1 and table 1.

Figure 1: Black points in the Map are showing the location of the South Region of Mexico field with Geomechanics study and Mechanical
Earth model (2006 – 2010)
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Table 1: Fields and exploratory wells location where a Geomechanics study and Mechanical Earth model were built from 2006 – 2010

Methodology
The mechanical earth models built were done following Schlumberger and PEMEX methodology which consist of 10 steps:

• Step 1: Data audit of the geological, petrophysical, seismic and drilling information
• Step 2: Structural modeling (cross correlation G&G with drilling information)
• Step 3: Mechanical stratigraphy (geomechanics discrimination of the lithological column)
• Step 4: Overburden/Vertical stress
• Step 5: Pore pressure
• Step 6: Elastic properties and rock strength
• Step 7: Horizontal stress direction
• Step 8: Minimum horizontal stress magnitude
• Step 9: Maximum horizontal stress magnitude
• Step 10: Failure mechanism analysis

Depending of the complexity of the location, 1D, 3D analytical and numerical model were developed to capture and understand the
variation of rock strength, geo-pressure and geostresses. To date more than 50 projects has been done and any new information is being
integrated to keep the models up to date and improve the predictions.
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Step 1. Data Audit and Analysis of the common available information to conduct a Geomechanics study in the South Region
The objective of this macro-activity is to realize a data audit of all the available G&G and drilling information in order to identify the
quality and the quantity of the available data to build a Mechanical Earth Model. To reach this goal, it is important to identify the missing
data to build the mechanical earth model, identify the root-cause of the drilling problems (in the case of a Drilling Geomechanics study)
and identify area of opportunity to improve the prediction in the near future development of the field with recommendation of data
acquisitions while drilling.

The first step of the data audit consist of identifying the offset well that are the most consistent geologically and seismically with the
proposed location. Those key offset will be used to look for all the remaining geological, petrophysical, seismic, drilling and production
information that will be used to constrain the construction of the mechanical earth model.

Data collection and evaluation

All the data from geology, seismic, drilling, completion, production and petrophysics need to be collected for analysis. The following table
is showing the data that are generally available for building a mechanical earth model in the south region of Mexico. Green color
corresponds to available information, orange corresponds to incomplete and red corresponds to usually absent information.

Table 2: Data required and usually available in a south region Geomechanics project

The quantity and quality of the available information allows identifying which parameter of the mechanical Earth model will have the most
uncertainty (Figure 3). From experience, we defined a minimum of 40% of available information of each discipline in order to conduct a
reliable mechanical earth model. The following picture represent the evaluation of the available data of the mechanical earth model built
for the area of Teotleco field, the evaluation indicates there is enough data to build a MEM however there is uncertainty in the estimation of
the horizontal stress direction and the overburden gradient (Vertical stress).
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Figure 3: Example of the evaluation of the quantity and quality of the available data for the area of Teotleco Field (January 2010)

Drilling Events Analysis

Drilling information in the south region of Mexico is usually the best source to calibrate the Mechanical Earth Model. The following table
illustrates the basic drilling information collected to build and calibrate the Mechanical Earth Model in the South region of Mexico
illustrated with the Nagui-1 exploratory location (Table 4). The color denotes the usual availability of such information (Green color
corresponds to available information, orange corresponds to incomplete and red corresponds to usually absent information).
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Table 4: Example of the evaluation of the available drilling information for the Naguin.-1 location (September 2009)

Even though wells can be old as back as the 1970’s, it is frequent to locate their daily drilling report or drilling summary with valuable
information to calibrate the Mechanical Earth Model. From all the available drilling information necessary to calibrate the M.E.M, it is
usually more difficult to get the leak off test in a digital format that is useful to interpret and calibrate the minimum stress. Also it is usually
missing the digital collection of the cuttings/cavings pictures/photos that will help to understand the failure mechanisms of the rock.

The daily drilling reports are analyzed in detailed by the drilling experts to extract relevant information for geomechanics calibration.
Recurrent drilling events for geomechanics calibration of the field of the South region of Mexico are:
• Stuck Pipe
– Pack off of the formation (Mechanism of instability)
– Differential sticking (Pore Pressure)
• Tight Hole (Drilling mechanics or Mechanism of instability)
• Drag (Drilling mechanics or Mechanism of instability)
• High torque (Drilling mechanics or Mechanism of instability)
• Cavings (Mechanism of instability)
• Partial Losses (Minimum Stress)
• Total losses (Minimum Stress/Maximum Stress)
• Gas influx, water influx, Kicks (Pore Pressure)
• Drilling breaks (Pore Pressure)
• Bit Balling
• Leak Off Test (Minimum/Maximum Stress, tensile strength)
• Formation Integrity Test (Minimum Stress)
• Equivalent density test (Minimum Stress)

A color code was defined in order to facilitate the identification of the drilling events in a Mud weight vs depth graph (Figure 4). The
following picture illustrate with an example from the Pache fields how drilling information were summarized along the depth of the
correlation wells to understand the problems encountered while drilling. In this example the Pache-1 and 21 wells had several tight hole
problems in the shallow formations. In the overpressure zone drags, cavings, packoff were the recurrent events. The Pache-21 had up to 3
sidetrack with the presence of many tabular cavings indicating an instable faulted/fractured zone.
SPE 153430 7

Figure 4: Example of the drilling events in the Pache field (December 2008)

Time to depth and statistics were also realized in various study to understand the main drilling problems in some fields. The following
example from the Complex of Antonio J. Bermudez indicate than more than 50% of the drilled wells took more than 100 days to reach
their reservoir with 6 wells with sidetrack. The majority of the non productive time is associated with the sidetrack, consequences of
wellbore total mud losses and collapse of the wellbore (Figures 5 and 6)

Figure 5: Time to depth curves in the Antonio Complex of Bermudez (September 2008)
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Figure 6: Drilling events statistics in the Antonio Complex of Bermudez (September 2008)

Step 2. Structural Modeling (Cross Correlation G&G with Drilling Information)

A detailed Petrophysical/Geological and drilling cross correlation were also investigated to identify the root cause of the drilling problems
along the geological column of some fields of the south region (Example of the Antonio J. Complex of Bermudez) (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Example of the recurring problems in the A.J Bermudez field along the geological column (September 2008)
SPE 153430 9

In the following example of the Antonio. J. Bermudez field, we can observed that the depth of the casing at the entrance of the overpressure
zone (Conception Inferior (CI)/ Encanto)depth were not set consistently between wells, leaving exposed sometimes formation with lower
fracture gradient.

Figure 8: Casing Depth in different wells in the Antonio Complex of Bermudez (September 2008)

Step 3. Mechanical Stratigraphy (Geomechanics discrimination of the lithological column)

Preliminary Analysis: Correlation and Re-Construction of Missing logs

Electric logs are the principal information used to estimate complete profile of elastic properties, rock strength stresses and geo-pressures.
In the Data Audit phase it is important to identify which petrophysical information is available from the offset wells. The following table
indicates the available data that are usually available in the south region field red, orange and green color indicate the availability of the
different geophysical logs information. (Green color corresponds to available information, orange corresponds to incomplete and red
corresponds to usually absent information)
10 SPE 153430

Table 5 Example of the geophysical logs usually available in the south region field of Mexico

The quantity and quality of the geophysical logs to build a mechanical Earth model is variable. It is in the tertiary formation where the data
are the most incomplete since usually the reservoir is in the Mesozoic formation. However from all the Geomechanics study done in the
south region field there were always a key well, usually the first exploratory well that had the most complete data set from tertiary to
Mesozoic. A log montage of the offset wells of the field were always the first steps allowing to identify which wells had the most complete
or incomplete sets of geophysical logs. In the following example Cunduacan-101, Tintal-201, 401 and Guineo wells does not have
sufficient logs with depth whereas Cupache-1, Pache-1 and Pache-21 have the best coverage of geophysical logs for building a mechanical
earth model (DT, DTSM, RHOB, NPHI, GR). For the Bocbil-1 location there is not enough geophysical logs to build a mechanical earth
model. The lack of information such as shear velocity, density and special logs for petrophysical analysis increase the error in the
mechanical earth model and the safe operational window.
SPE 153430 11

Figure 9. Example of the log montage of the available geophysical for the Bocbil location (October 2008)

Geophysical logs cross-plots and correlation

In order to get a wellbore stability prediction for all the key offset wells, geophysical logs correlations and cross-plots have been
consistently calibrated with the objective to re-construct the missing logs and verify the consistency of the Mechanical Earth Model in all
the offset wells. This re-construction can be 1D correlation or 3D propagation guided by seismic interval velocity whenever a 3D M.E.M
has been built (Figure 14, Figure 15 and Figure 16).

Correlations that were usually calibrated for: Resistivity vs. compresional slowness, shear slowness vs. compresional slowness, density vs.
compresional slowness and neutron porosity vs. compresional slowness this, with the objective to reconstruct absent logs in some key
offset wells.
12 SPE 153430

Figure 10. Example resistivity (RT) to compresional slowness (DTCO) correlation

Figure 11 Example density (RHOB) to compresional slowness (DTCO) correlation

Figure 12 Example neutron porosity (NPHI) to compresional slowness (DTCO) correlation

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Figure 13 Example shear slowness (DTSM) to compresional slowness (DTCO) correlation

An alternative method used to re-construct incomplete geophysical log from key offset well for geomechanics studies were to take
advantage of the existing interval velocity cubes and the defined correlation in order to guide and populate the area of studies in
geophysical properties. Figure 14 show how the interval velocity was used to guide and populate the area of study in neutron porosity,
compresional slowness and density in the Bricol field. Figure 15 show the comparison of the reconstructed synthetics geophysical
logs(Black) vs. the real geophysical logs (Orange) from key offset wells used to build the mechanical earth model of the Cupache location
(2006).

Figure 14 3D Modeling of properties (Example from Bricol field- 2009)

14 SPE 153430

Figure 15 Comparison of reconstructed synthetics logs (Black) vs real logs (Orange) (Cupache location 2006)

Reconstructed logs along with petrophysical interpretation were used to determine the lithology - The following picture is showing the
lithology cube for the Puerto Ceiba field (Yellow represents sandstone, brown shale, red salt and pink carbonates)

Figure 16 Lithology cube in Puerto Ceiba field - February 2006

SPE 153430 15

Step 4 and 5. Pore Pressure

Overpressure zone usually starts at the base of the Miocene (Red dot line in Figure 17) and can reach maximum value of equivalent density
from 1.5 gr/cc up to 2.2 gr/cc depending of the basin. One of the challenge while drilling in some of the south region field of Mexico is the
transition zone between the overpressure shale from Eocene/Paleocene formation and the depleted fracture carbonates of the Cretaceous
formation.

Figure 17: Identification of the start of the overpressure zone with sonic slowness and resistivity

From the different studies, the Eaton method is usually a good method to calibrate pore pressure with sonic slowness of the south region
fields. The Eaton coefficient used to calibrate pore pressure could be as low as 1 and up to 2.5 getting closer to the littoral/offshore area.
The Eaton coefficient calibrated in the different field was mapped and distributed in the south region of Mexico (Figure 19). This map is
used as a starting point to calibrate the Eaton coefficient for any given location in the south region. However in some cases, the analysis of
velocity to effective stress transform indicated some unloading mechanism in some over-pressured formation. For example, the pressure in
the presence of the shale domes in the Macuspana basin induce an unloading mechanism that generates abnormal pressure in upper and
lower Pliocene that reach equivalent density up to 2.2 gr/cc (Shishito field, Epico and Beth field). Juspi-101 is probably the well that has
shown the highest equivalent density in pore pressure with a maximum of 2.45 gr/cc of equivalent mud weight while drilling within a salt
dome. Finally the sands present in the upper Miocene of the Bellota-Chinchorro-Palangre-Bricol-Yagual basin are also showing an
unloading mechanism. In some fields, where interval velocities were of good quality for pore pressure prediction, pore pressure cube were
generated. Figure 20 is showing the mapping of the start of the over pressure in the entire Puerto Ceiba field (Pp>1.2 gr/cc)
16 SPE 153430

Figure18 Eaton trendline calibrated against shale points of the sonic slowness of the
Bricol field

Figure 19: Map of the Identification of the start of the overpressure zone with sonic slowness and resistivity
SPE 153430 17

Figure 20 : Map of the start of the overpressure zone in the Puerto Ceiba field (Pp>1.2 gr/cc) - March 2006

The maximum overpressure zone is generally observed between the transitions of the lower Oligocene with upper Eocene. The value of
maximum overpressure in equivalent mud weight density observed and calibrated against gas and water influx while drilling and/or
pressure points in the reservoirs were interpolated between the different fields to generate a pseudo-maps of maximum overpressure of the
south region of Mexico. The red area, indicating the highest pore pressure in equivalent density, corresponds to the Macuspana Basin area
where shale domes are generating abnormal pressure greater than 2.2 gr/cc. This maps is being used for assessing the maximum equivalent
density pore pressure expected for any location in the south region

Figure 21 Map of the maximum overpressure zone in the south region (Lower Oligocene/Upper Eocene transition)
18 SPE 153430

Step 6. Elastic Properties and Rock Strength

Since the early 2000's PEMEX E&P has invested in characterizing the elastic deformation and the strength of the rock of the reservoirs but
also the overlying overburden where instabilities have been frequently observed. During the various study performed over the years,
geomechanical report of laboratory test were compiled from different service companies. The following table summarizes the different
fields and wells location from the south region of Mexico where geomechanics parameters have been characterized.

Table 6: Wells with Geomechanical core test in the south region of Mexico (2006 - 2009)

Measurements of Elastic parameters (such as Static Young modulus, Poisson ratio) and Rock strength parameters (such as unconfined
compressive strength, and friction angle) were mapped along the geological column of the south region of Mexico. These graphs serve as a
reference for the expected range of deformation and strength by lithology along the geological column of the south region of Mexico.
These graphs detailed the well/field and the lithology where the parameter was obtained.

• Tertiary Oil reservoir (Salina del Itsmo Basin)

• Mesozoic Gas reservoir (Mesozoic Chiapas Tabasco Basin)
• Mesozoic Oil Reservoir (Mesozoic Chiapas Tabasco Basin)
• Tertiary gas reservoir (Macuspana Basin)
SPE 153430 19

Figure 22: Variation of the static Young’s Modulus interpreted from core test along the geological column of the south region

Figure 23: Variation of the static Poisson’s Ratio interpreted from core test along the geological column of the south region
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Figure 24 Variation of the UCS interpreted from core test along the geological column of the south region

Figure 25 Variation of the Friction Angle interpreted from core test along the geological column of the south region

Local correlations were established in order to re-construct complete profile of rock strength and static elastic properties profile.
SPE 153430 21

Figure 26 Static Young Modulus vs Dynamic Young Modulus of sandstone, shale and carbonates of some of the south region fields of
Mexico

Figure 27 Static Young Modulus vs Dynamic Young Modulus correlation (All lithology - sandstone, shale and carbonates) for the south
region fields of Mexico
22 SPE 153430

Figure 28 Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) vs. Static Young Modulus for sandstone, shale and carbonates in some of the south
region fields of Mexico

Figure 29 Unconfined Compressive Strength vs. Static Young Modulus correlation for the shale from some of the south region fields of
Mexico
SPE 153430 23

Figure 30 Unconfined Compressive Strength vs. Static Young Modulus correlation for the sandstone from some of the south region fields
of Mexico

Figure 31 Tensile strength vs. Unconfined Compressive Strength correlation for (all lithology) of some of the south region fields of Mexico

Those correlations were used as primary estimation for the complete profile of elastic and strength. The key offset fields/well with
geomechanics core test were used as blind test to validate that the calculated profile was consistent with the reported value from
geomechanics laboratory reports in the same formation (Table 7 and Figure 32 - Example for the Bocbil-1 location)
24 SPE 153430

Table 7 Example of neighboring field from the Bocbil-1 location with geomechanics laboratory test (October 2008)

Figure 32 Complete profile of Elastic properties (Young Modulus, Poisson ratio) and rock strength (Unconfined compressive strength,
Friction Angle) - Example from Bocbil-1 location (October 2008)

Step 7. Horizontal Stress Directions

The regional Maximum stress direction of the formation of the South region of Mexico is generally NE-SW, however it has been observed
locally stress rotation in the presence of salt/shale dome and faults. (Figure 33 - Example from). Wellbore Images, Acoustic anisotropy
interpretation and oriented caliper are the principal data used to constrain the local stress direction of the south region of Mexico. From all
the Geomechanics study done in the south region, three fields have been studied in depth specifically for stress directions: Puerto Ceiba
(August 2007), AJ Complex of Bermudez (2008) and Jujo-Teco (October 2009). Those studies confirmed the local variation that can be
observed in the presence of salt and faults (Figure 33, 34 and 35). In some fields it is believe that the stress direction in the tertiary is
opposite that the expected stress direction of the Mesozoic formation of NE-SW.
SPE 153430 25

Figure 33 StressMap of the Samaria-Iride field (Complex of Antonio J. Bermudez), general stress direction for the maximum horizontal
stress is NE-SW however, locally stress rotation can be observed mainly due to the presence of salt and faults - July 2006

Figure 34 StressMap of the Puerto Ceiba field, general stress direction for the maximum horizontal stress is NE-SW however, locally stress
rotation can be observed mainly due to the presence of salt and faults
26 SPE 153430

Figure 35 StressMap of the Cactus/Teotleco field, general stress direction for the maximum horizontal stress is NE-SW

For some of the complex field of the south region, numerical analyses were performed to assess the stress rotation with the presence of
shale or salt dome. For the exploratory well Juspi-101 (July 2009), a compete 3D equilibrated Mechanical Earth Model was built to capture
stress rotation and magnitude changes in the vicinity of the salt dome.

Figure 36 Seismic interpretation of the salt dome in the Juspi field

SPE 153430 27

Figure 37 3D property Modeling for the field and the salt dome (Example with the Density- RHOB)

In the following picture it can be observed how the stress tensor above and in the salt is affected in direction and in magnitude

Figure 39 Comparison of the stress tensor above (~3100 m) and in the salt dome (3255 m) of the Juspi field (Finite element model of the
salt dome of Juspi field - July 2009
28 SPE 153430

Figure 40 Comparison of the stress tensor crossing the salt intrusion of the Tenek-1 location (Finite element model of the salt intrusion of
the Tenek-1 location - December 2008)

Step 8 and 9. Horizontal Stress Magnitude

In the fields of the south region of Mexico, there is usually limited digital information of leak off test, Fracture test, to characterize with
high precision the horizontal stress magnitude. However, from the daily drilling reports, we do have as a reference the interpreted
equivalent mud weight value of the leak off pressure. Also, in many fields we do have breakouts and induced fractures from images logs
that allow to quantify indirectly the current stress field magnitude. From the majority of the studies done, stress regime is usually normal
(Sv>SH>Sh), in some fields a strike slip regime were predicted in the Mesozoic formations due to the local compression induced by the
sliding movement over salt basement. Generally Fracture Gradient and Minimum stress are between values of 1.5/1.7 gr/cc for lower
Pliocene, 1.8/2.0 gr/cc in the starts of over pressurized zone and in some areas greater of 2.0gr/cc. The horizontal stress anisotropy of the
south region field of Mexico is low. However, in the Macuspana basin where shale domes are inducing high concentration of stress,
horizontal stress anisotropy inverted from breakouts, induced fracture and digital extended fracture test indicated value of SH/Sh~ 1.4. The
horizontal stress ratio from all the different studies were mapped and interpolated all over the south region of Mexico (Figure 41). In the
Macuspana basin it is interpreted that the shale dome present in the Shishito field induce a stress anisotropy SH/Sh as high as ~1.4
SPE 153430 29

Figure 41 Horizontal Stress Anisotropy Map of the south region of Mexico

Step 10. Failure Mechanism

The different Geomechanics analysis in the South Region indicated different Mechanisms of Instability across the Geologic Column.
Shallow formations are characterized generally with the presence of an aquifer with poor consolidation where it is observed enlarge
boreholes, presence of high quantity of cuttings, partial losses due to the permeability of the sandstone and, according with the salinity of
the drilling fluid, sometimes are present bit balling and gumbo attack. Upper Miocene is composed by a rock mildly weak where is
observed drilling events as necessity to ream while drilling and back ream during drilling trips. Sand intercalations in Mioceno have high
permeability and as a consequence, partial mud losses are commons. Breakout limit can be lower or higher than the Pore Pressure
depending of which field is being drilled. Strong deep Carbonates reservoir formation at their original pressure is not expected to have
wellbore instability, however after depletion it is common to observed clear breakouts in FMI and UBI images showing the effect of how
the breakouts limits can get higher than pore pressure in the presence of high depletion (Complex of Bermudez, Jujo-Teco, Cactus fields).
In addition, while drilling severe mud losses are observed, the hole can collapse as in the Jujo-Tecominoacan field and Complejo
Bermudez. The following table indicates fields that can be complex to model (Type 2 pore pressure, Plane of weakness, High collapse
pressure).

A geomechanics risk map was generated with a traffic light color to indicate location where collapse pressure (Shear failure/Breakout limit)
is expected to be lower than pore pressure (Green) and higher than pore pressure (Red) (Figure 42)
30 SPE 153430

Figure 42 Geomechanics Risk map of the south region of Mexico

Pache, Bijagua and Nispero fields presented multiples mechanisms of instability where a combination of angular/planar and tabular
breakouts have been observed while drilling due to the combination of weak rocks and fractured zones. The following table summarizes the
field where it was identified complex pore pressure mechanism and also where it was confirmed wellbore instability due to the presence of
a fault generating high stress anisotropy

Table 9 Fields with different mechanism of instability (High Shear failure limits, plane of weakness in a faulted/fracture zone)

Post Mortem Analysis

The following example presents some post mortem analysis where we could compare the predrilled synthetic logs vs. the real logs and the
comparison of the predrill wellbore stability window vs. the updated wellbore stability window with the real geological tops, logs and
drilling events observed while drilling. For the nomenclature of the drilling events see Figure 4.

Bajlum-1 location (Pijije field)

Bajlum-1 was a planned exploratory well near the Pijije field. In the following picture the predrilled geological column is compared to the
real geological column. It can be observed some differences in the salt and Oligocene thickness which also induced differences in the
planned synthetics logs vs. real logs (Figure 43). While drilling the mud weight and casing depth are being updated with the change
observed in the geological column and the geopressures. Except for the pore pressure in the reservoir which was depleted when it was
planned to be at its original pressure value, it can be seen that the M.E.M applied to the real logs and the real geological column is showing
SPE 153430 31

an accurate predictions between the Leak off tests at 730 meters with the fracture gradient limit and the wellbore stability events observed
at 1300 meters with the breakouts limit higher than the mud weight used at this depth (Figure 44).

Figure 43 Comparison of the planned geological column vs. real geological column and the planned synthetic logs(blue curves in the left
hand side) vs. real logs (DTCO and RHOB) of the Bajlum-1 location

Figure 44 Comparison of the planned wellbore stability window vs. Post mortem wellbore stability window of the Bajlum-1 location
32 SPE 153430

Bricol-1 location

Bricol-1 was an exploratory well located south of the Tupilco field and north east of the Chinchorro-palangre-Yagual field. Those two
offset fields had different geopressure and geostress mechanism. In the following picture the predrilled geological column is compared to
the real geological column. It can be observed some differences in the depth of the geological tops, however the synthetics logs were not
too much affected. Actually a good consistency is observed between planned and real logs (Figure 45). While drilling the mud weight and
drilling events were consistent with the planned and updated wellbore stability operational windows. It can be seen that the M.E.M applied
to the real logs and the real geological column is showing an accurate predictions between the Leak off tests at 1000 meters and some tight
hole consistent with the high breakouts limit of some unconsolidated sands of the Pliocene (Figure 46)

Figure 45 Comparison of the planned geological column vs. real geological column and the planned synthetic logs(blue curves in the left
hand side) vs. real logs (DTCO and RHOB) of the Bricol-1 location
SPE 153430 33

Figure 46 Comparison of the planned wellbore stability window vs. Post mortem wellbore stability window of the Bricol-1 location

Conclusions
The geomechanics behavior in the south region is as complex as its structural geology. The various studies conducted in the south region of
Mexico allowed to generate regional maps of over pressure and stress anisotropy that not only helped to understand and forecast the
preliminary risk in new areas to drill but also to improve the well design of exploratory and development wells with good prediction and
consistence with observed while drilling events. These five years effort help understand the natural phenomenon of the drilled formations
and transmit this knowledge to the different assets and multidisciplinary team involved in the planned well design and while drilling well
operation. This work allows to break existing paradigm on how the design of wells were supposed to be in some mature fields including
proposal for new well geometry, problem avoidance in setting casings in formation known to induce operational problems and finally one
the most important achievement was to be able to improve communication and decisions making between the different assets involved in
the drilling process of the wells in the south region.

Acknowledgement
This work reflect a multidisciplinary effort involving managers and geoscientist from PEMEX and other service company integrated in a
Front End Loading projects in Villahermosa Tabasco.
Victor Hugo Martinez Kemp (PEMEX), Ignacio Ramirez (PEMEX), Antonio Luna (PEMEX), Esteban Brito (Techdrill), Juan Macedo
(Techdrill), Raul Sibilla (PEMEX), Juan Abud (VCDSE Leader Mud Logging), Eduardo Medina (PEMEX), Victor Batres (PEMEX),
German Giraldo (Geofosico - Techdrill), Maximino Salcedo (PEMEX), Fran Chapman (Mudlogging), Kevin Perea (MudLogging), Juan
Silva (MudLogging)

References

1. Bowers, G. L., “Pore Pressure Estimation from Velocity Data; Accounting for Overpressure
Mechanisms Besides Undercompaction”, SPE Drilling & Completions, June, 1995.
2. Bowers, G. L., A Procedure for Deterring an Appropriate Pore Pressure Estimation Strategy”,
AADE Industry Forum on Pressure Regimes in Sedimentary Basins and Their Prediction,
September 2-4, Lake Conroe, TX, 1998.
3. Eaton, B. A., “The Effect of Overburden Stress on Geopressure Prediction from Well Logs”,
4. Journal of Petroleum Technology, August, 1972.
5. Eaton, B. A., “The Equation for Geopressure Prediction from Well Logs”, SPE 5544, 1975.