K. E. Gray (ken_gray@mail.utexas.edu) is the Program Manager of the Drilling, Well Completions, and Rock Mechanics research program.
Elements of the Drilling, Well Completions, and Rock Mechanics research program include: well bore stability in highly deviated wells; high-temperature/high-pressure properties of drilling fluids; fracture gradient and pore pressure quantifications; MWD, LWD, and PWD technologies; wave propagation and mechanical behavior in weak, loosely cemented, granular materials; ocean floor acoustics and Biot parameters; FracPack process mechanics; well control and drilling optimization; formation compaction mechanics; formation damage; petrophysics; fluid flow in porous media ; well completions; hydraulic fracturing; rock mechanics; structural geology; formation evaluation; well logging; image and signal processing; 3-D seismic data analysis and interpretation; overbalance/underbalance drilling; completion operations; operations management; estimating and cost modeling; and value of information.
Research Projects
Drilling Research - Principal Investigator: Martin E. Chenevert
Research projects: Shale Stability with Water Base Muds and Entrance of Oil-Base Muds into Shales. Please see the Drilling Research page for more information.
Soft Sediment Systems - Principal Investigator: K. E. Gray
Research projects include: Mechanical, Acoustic, Electrical, and Transport Parameters; Deformation and Acoustic Parameter Correlations for Fracture Modeling/Simulators
Related Research
The Effect of Particle Cementation on the Mechanical Properties of Granular Materials: A Fundamental Study - Jon E. Olson (more info)
Wave Propagation and Mechanical Properties of Weak Sands - Jon E. Olson (more info)
Research Initiatives
Development and Construction of a High Resolution Measurement While Drilling Tool - Mukul M. Sharma (more info)
Ocean Floor Acoustics and Biot Parameters - K. E. Gray
Overbalance/Underbalance Drilling and Completion Operations - K. E. Gray
FracPack Process Mechanics, Quantification, and Evaluation - K. E. Gray
Cementation Properties and Behavior Under Stress/Flow - K. E. Gray
Fracture Gradient/Pore Pressure Operational Limits - K. E. Gray
Wellbore Stability and Pressure Control in Soft Sediments - K. E. Gray
Formation Compaction: Consequences, Evaluation, Applications, and Management