A brief historical review is given of the benefits of research and development in Rock Mechanics as applied within Petroleum Engineering. It is concluded that the major challenge for the coming decade is the acquisition of reliable data for input to the existing theoretical models. Successful application in the field of Rock Mechanics research depends not only on having an identified business need and the right technology to fulfill that need, but also requires a committment to dialogue between the researchers and the field.

Keywords:
drilling operation, information, wellbore integrity, reservoir geomechanics, sand production, society of petroleum engineers, prediction, upstream oil & gas, kenter, rock mechanics research
Subjects:
Wellbore Design, Drilling Operations, Reservoir Characterization, Formation Evaluation & Management, Information Management and Systems, Wellbore integrity, Rock properties, Reservoir geomechanics
Copyright 1998, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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