Geomechanical zonation of the Faraghan, Zakeen and Sarchahan formations based on incorporation of rock mechanical and sedimentological studies, in one of the Persian Gulf oil fields

Geomechanical studies have important applications in various topics such as wellbore stability, well completion, well orientation, hydraulic fracturing plans and operations, sand production and hydrocarbon fields subsidence. It is necessary to prepare earth mechanical model of the well in the field. In addition, one of the necessary subjects to prepare mechanical earth model (MEM) is providing continuous rock mechanical parameters in the well. Rock mechanical parameters change by any variation in lithology. In this study, rock mechanical parameters are provided in continuous form, for Faraghan, Zakeen and Sarchahan formations for a field in the Persian Gulf and these parameters are clustered. Clustering resulted in recognizing six clusters with various rock mechanical characteristics. Petrographic study (i.e. determining facies, cementation and diagenesis) recognized five facies with different petrographic and cementation characteristics. These facies include quartz arenite and arkosic sandstones, shales, red mudstone and carbonates. A correlation between sedimentary and geomechanical facies was found. According to petrographic and geomechanical studies, the studied interval was divided into 7 sections. Accordingly, variation of rock mechanical parameters with regard to change in lithology was investigated. In addition, the impact of rock composition, cementation and compaction changes on rock mechanical parameters were evaluated as well.