Time-Dependent Wellbore Stability Window of Clay-Rich Shales Exposed to Water-Based Drilling Fluid: A Tunisian Drilling Case Study

Wellbore instability in clay-rich intervals remains a major drilling challenge, even when the selected fluid density satisfies the conventional pressure window. This study evaluates delayed instability during exposure to a low-salinity water-based drilling fluid using outcrop-derived Aleg and El Har...

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Bibliographic Details

Published in:	Applied Sciences
Main Author:	Mohamed Arayedh
Other Authors:	Mahmoud Khlifi, Ines benaoun, Riadh Ahmadi, Noureddine Hamdi
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2026
Subjects:	Drilling and Well Engineering Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis Rock Mechanics and Modeling wellbore stability clay-rich shale water-based drilling fluids stability window clay mineralogy smectite mixed-layer illite/smectite swelling pressure shear strength degradation hydration effective stress hydro-mechanical behaviour
Online Access:	https://doi.org/10.3390/app16136381
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