About this Research Topic
Wellbore integrity problem while fracturing treatment has been a big threat to the development of unconventional reservoirs. Wellbore integrity issues during production especially in shale gas reservoirs have already been highlighted in the petroleum engineering literature. However, the driving mechanisms behind the casing failure have remained unknown. Therefore, it is of vital importance to understand rock mechanics and stresses induced by fracturing treatments and analyze their impacts on wellbore integrity. We would like to invite researchers and engineers working in relevant fields to contribute papers that aim to address wellbore integrity issues from the perspective of geomechanics. This research topic aims to fill the gaps among fundamental theories, applied technologies, and field practices, reporting recent innovations and advances related to wellbore integrity control while fracturing treatment in unconventional reservoirs.
This Research Topic covers themes such as rock mechanics in unconventional reservoirs, in-situ stress assessment, fracture network growth, and casing deformation mechanism. We seek comprehensive reviews, experimental studies, numerical simulations, and field applications related to geomechanics and wellbore integrity in unconventional reservoirs. Specific topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following:
• Machine learning for geomechanics
• Novel hydraulic fracturing technologies and simulation methods
• In-situ stress measurement technologies
• New theories and simulations on mechanisms of casing deformation and sustain casing pressure while fracturing
• New methods and equipment for evaluation of wellbore integrity issues and their control in lab and field
• New tools, software, and technologies for addressing wellbore integrity issues
Keywords: geomechanics, wellbore integrity, sustain casing pressure, casing deformation, unconventional reservoirs
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.