Wellbore instability problems usually occur when shale rocks are drilled. The process of wellbore instability is the result of mechanical and physicochemical effects. Mechanical instabilities can be prevented and controlled by optimizing the weight of the drilling fluid. On the other hand, physicochemical instabilities are more complex and difficult to control, because aside from having several variables, they are time-dependent. In this sense, this work has the objective of analysing and understanding the wellbore instability through a methodology that integrates the field results and laboratories analyses in order to propose competent and economically more viable drilling fluids to act in the physicochemical stability in shale stretches. First, the instability problems of a study case and its main causative agents are identified through Drilling Daily Report analyses, profile data and stability analyses considering the elastic model. Based on the problems identified, hypothetical saline fluids are proposed. Then, well samples are collected, characterized and analysed in laboratory in order to obtain its mass transporting parameters when samples are submitted to hypothetical fluids. Finally, stability analyses is performed considering physicochemical effects according to the exposure time to hypothetical saline fluids in order to guarantee the optimization of the drilling fluid design and the stability of the well in the drilling process.