Porochemoelastic Solution for an Inclined Borehole in a Transversely Isotropic Formation

Abstract

A porochemoelastic model which couples the chemical interactions effected by solute and ionic transport with the diffusion-deformation processes is presented. The chemical effects are encompassed within the model assuming the saturating pore fluid to be a two species constituent comprising of the solute and the solvent. Governing equations are presented in their anisotropic forms and specialized for the transversely isotropic material. The resulting system of equations is applied to obtain the porochemoelastic analytical solution for an inclined borehole subjected to a three-dimensional state of stress in a transversely isotropic formation. In obtaining the analytical solutions, it is assumed that the borehole axis is perpendicular to the plane of isotropy of the transversely isotropic formation. Chemical effects on the stress and pore pressure distributions and their impact on borehole stability is demonstrated in the numerical examples included.