Wellbore stability problem in shale is a very complex and worldwide problem in drilling engineering. Core chose in the test is shale in deep strata from Shawo section in Zhungaer Basin

which collapses seriously. Based on experiment of measuring strength parameters such as cohesion

angle of internal friction

elastic modulus

Poisson’s ratio of shale in different water contents; and regression analysis of experiment data wad made; the relation between water contents of shale and its strength parameter is obtained. And the distributing rule of water content in shale is deduced in virtue of seepage mechanics theory. The research result provides the basis of experiment and theory for calculating hydrating stress in wellbore adjoining rock and evaluating wellbore stability.