FLOGEN Logo
In Honor of Nobel Laureate Dr. Aaron Ciechanover

SIPS 2025 logo
SIPS 2025 takes place from November 17-20, 2025 at the Dusit Thani Mactan Resort in Cebu, Philippines

Honoree Banner

More than 400 abstracts submitted from over 50 countries
Abstracts Still Accepted for a Limited Time



Featuring many Nobel Laureates and other Distinguished Guests


Back

OIL WELL BEHAVIOR IN A GEOLOGICAL SALT FORMATION
Abdollah Esmaeili1; Afonso Cesar Rodrigues Nogueira1
1Federal University of ParĂ¡, Belem, Brazil

PAPER: 195/Energy/Regular (Oral) OS
SCHEDULED: 13:20/Thu. 20 Nov. 2025/Benjarong-Phuket

ABSTRACT:

The behavior of oil wells in salt formations is complex and different from wells drilled in other geological formations due to the unique characteristics of these formations, such as dissolution and sedimentation cycles, changes in salt volume and potential. They show non-linear and complex behaviors due to their low resistance to compressive forces. Salt formations are known as important oil traps, and drilling in these formations and maintaining wells during production are important challenges in drilling engineering. Salt easily dissolves in water and this can cause gradual erosion of the formation and changes in the surface of the earth. The volume of salt changes with temperature and pressure changes. This can cause changes in phase and mobility in the formation and wellbore. Salt can act as an electrical conductor and affect the electrochemical activity in and around the well. Salt formations have little resistance to compressive forces due to their crystalline structure. This makes it possible to encounter large holes during drilling. Salt formations show nonlinear behaviors. For example, due to changes in temperature or pressure, the formation may contract or expand. This makes it difficult to predict well behavior over time.