Abnormal Pressure

10.1- 1
1.10-1

Abnormal Pressure
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 2
Abnormal Pressure
- Definition, Causes -
Normal Pore Pressures
Abnormal Pore Pressure Gradients
Fracture Gradients
Mud Weights
Casing Seat Depths
What Causes Abnormal Pressure?
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 3
Abnormal
Pressure
Gradients
Normal Pressure Gradients
West Texas: 0.433 psi/ft
Gulf Coast: 0.465 psi/ft
Normal and Abnormal Pore Pressure
Pore Pressure, psig
D
e
p
t
h
,


f
t

10,000
? ?
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 4
Pore Pressure vs. Depth
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Pore Pressure Equivalent, lb/gal
0


5,000


10,000


15,000


20,000
{ Density of mud required to control this pore pressure }
Normal
Abormal
0.433 psi/ft 8.33 lb/gal
0.465 psi/ft 9.0 lb/gal
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 5
Pore Pressure
Gradient
Fracture Gradient
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 6
* Pore
Pressure
Gradients

* Fracture
Gradients

* Casing
Setting
Depths
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 7
Some Causes of Abnormal Pressure
1. Incomplete compaction of sediments
Fluids in sediments have not
escaped and are still helping to
support the overburden.
2. Tectonic movements
Uplift
Faulting
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 8
Some Causes of Abnormal Pressure
3. Aquifers in Mountainous Regions
Aquifer recharge is at higher
elevation than drilling rig location.
4. Charged shallow reservoirs due to
nearby underground blowout.

5. Large structures...
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 9
HIGH PRESSURE
NORMAL PRESSURE
Thick, impermeable layers of shale (or salt) restrict the movement
of water. Below such layers abnormal pressure may be found.
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 10
HIGH PRESSURE
NORMAL PRESSURE
Hydrostatic pressure gradient is lower in gas or oil than in water.
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 11
When crossing faults it is possible to go from normal
pressure to abnormally high pressure in a short interval.
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 12
Well A found only Normal Pressure ...
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 13
o
OB
= p + o
Z

o
ob

p o
z

Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 14
?
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 15
Indications of Abnormal Pore Pressures
Methods:

1. Seismic data
2. Drilling rate
3. Sloughing shale
4. Gas units in mud
5. Shale density
6. Chloride content
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 16
Indications of Abnormal Pore Pressures
Methods, contd:

7. Change in Mud properties
8. Temperature of Mud Returns
9. Bentonite content in shale
10. Paleo information
11. Wire-line logs
12. MWD-LWD
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 17
Prediction and Detection of Abnormal
Pressure Zones
1. Before drilling
Shallow seismic surveys
Deep seismic surveys
Comparison with nearby wells
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 18
Prediction and Detection of Abnormal
Pressure Zones
2. While drilling
Drilling rate, gas in mud, etc. etc.
D

- Exponent
D
C
- Exponent
MWD - LWD
Density of shale (cuttings)
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 19
Prediction and Detection of Abnormal
Pressure Zones
3. After drilling
Resistivity log
Conductivity log
Sonic log
Density log
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 20
.
.
S
D 000085 . 0
e 41 . 0

= |
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 21
Decreasing ROP
What is d-
exponent?
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 22
D - Exponent
The
drilling rate
equation:
Where
R = drilling rate, ft/hr
K = drillability constant
N = rotary speed, RPM
E = rotary speed expon.
W = bit weight, lbs
D
B
= bit diameter, in
D = bit wt. Exponent
or D - exponent
D
B
E
D
W
N K R
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 23
D - Exponent
If we assume that K = 1
and E = 1

Then
D
B
E
D
W
N K R
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
B
D
W
log
N
R
log
D
D
B
D
W
N
R
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 24
D - Exponent
A modified version of this equation
follows:
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
B
6
D 10
W 12
log
N 60
R
log
d
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 25
Example
d may be Corrected for mud density
as follows:
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
) ppg ( use in weight mud actual
) ppg ( gradient normal for weight mud
d d
c
37 . 1
12
9
* 82 . 1
12
9
d d ., g . e
c
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 26
Procedure for Determining Pore
Pressure From d
c
- Exponent
Calculate d
c
over 10-30 ft intervals
Plot d
c
vs depth (use only date from
Clean shale sections)
Determine the normal line for the
d
c
vs. depth plot.
Establish where d
c
deviates from the
normal line to determine abnormal
pressure zone
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 27
Procedure for Determining Pore
Pressure From d
c
- Exponent
d
c
- Exponent
D
e
p
t
h

Normal
Abnormal
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 28
Procedure for Determining Pore
Pressure From d
c
- Exponent
If possible, quantify the magnitude of the
abnormal pore pressure using
overlays, or Ben Eatons Method
Pore
Pressure
Grad.
Overburden
Stress Grad.
Normal Pore
Pressure Grad.
2 . 1
c
c
n
normal d
calculated d
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 29
In normally pressured
shales, shale
compaction increases
with depth
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 30
Pore Pressure from
Resistivity
Shale resistivity plots
may be developed
from (i) logs or
(ii) cuttings
What is the pore
pressure at the point
indicated on the plot?
[Assume Gulf Coast].
Depth=10,000 ft
0.2 0.5 1 2 3
10,000
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 31
From plot, R
n
= 1.55 ohms
R
obs
= 0.80 ohms

From Eaton:
EATON
2 . 1
n
obs
n
R
R
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
( )
2 . 1
55 . 1
80 . 0
465 . 0 95 . 0 95 . 0
D
P
|
.
|

\
|
=
= 0.7307 psi/ft = 14.05 lb/gal
P = 0.7307 * 10,000 = 7,307 psi
0.2 0.5 1 2 3
10,000
D
e
p
t
h
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 32
Prediction of
Abnormal Pore Pressure
Resistivity of Shale
Temperature in the Return Mud
Drilling Rate Increase
d
c
- Exponent
Sonic Travel Time
Conductivity of Shale
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 33
EXAMPLE

Shale Resistivity
vs. Depth

1. Establish normal
trend line

2. Look for
deviations


(semi-log)
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 34
Shale Resistivity
vs. Depth

1. Establish normal
trend line

2. Look for
deviations

3. Use OVERLAY
to quantify
pore pressure
(use with caution)
Pore Pressure
(lb/gal equivalent)
16 14 12 10
9 ppg
(normal)
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 35
Example
8.2 X
Why?
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 36
Determination of Abnormal Pore
Pressure Using the d
c
- exponent
From Ben Eaton:
2 . 1
cn
c
n
d
d
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
(

|
.
|

\
|
=
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 37
Where
trend normal the from onent exp d d
plot from ent expon d actual d
psi/ft gradient, stress overburden
D
S
psi/ft 0.465, or 0.433 e.g.,
area in gradient water normal
D
P
psi/ft gradient, pressure formation
D
P
c cn
c c
n
=
=
=
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
2 . 1
cn
c
n
d
d
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
(

|
.
|

\
|
=
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 38
Example
Calculate the pore
pressure at depth X using
the data in this graph.

Assume:
West Texas location with
normal overburden of
1.0 psi/ft.
X = 12,000 ft.
X
1.2 1.5
d
c

Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 39
Example
From Ben Eaton:
psi/ft 5662 . 0
D
P
5 . 1
2 . 1
] 433 . 0 0 . 1 [ 0 . 1
d
d
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
2 . 1
2 . 1
cn
c
n
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
(

|
.
|

\
|
=
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 40
Example
lbm/gal 9 . 10
12,000 x 0.052
6794
EMW
psi 6794 000 , 12 x 5662 . 0 P
= =
= =
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 41
E.S. Pennebaker
Used seismic field data for the
detection of abnormal pressures.

Under normally pressured conditions the
sonic velocity increases with depth.
(i.e. Travel time decreases with depth)

(why?)
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 42
E.S. Pennebaker
Any departure from this trend is an
indication of possible abnormal
pressures.

Pennebaker used overlays to estimate
abnormal pore pressures from the
difference between normal and actual
travel times.
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 43
Interval Travel Time, sec per ft
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 44
Ben Eaton
also found a way to determine pore pressure
from interval travel times.

Example:
In a Gulf Coast well, the speed of sound is 10,000
ft/sec at a depth of 13,500 ft. The normal speed
of sound at this depth, based on extrapolated
trends, would be 12,000 ft/sec. What is the pore
pressure at this depth?

Assume: S/D = 1.0 psi/ft
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 45
Ben Eaton
From Ben Eaton,
psi/ft 0.6904
12,000
10,000
0.465] - [1.0 - 1.0
t
t
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
3
0 . 3
n
n
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
.
|

\
|
A
A
(

|
.
|

\
|
=
( At o 1/v )
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 46
Ben Eaton
From Ben Eaton




Note: Exponent is 3.0 this time,
NOT 1.2!
= (0.6904 / 0.052) = 13.28 lb/gal

p = 0.6904 * 13,500 = 9,320 psig
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 47
Equations for Pore Pressure Determination
2 . 1
c
c
n
normal d
calculated d
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2 . 1
n
obs
n
R
R
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
ACTUAL
NORMAL
B
6
C
*
D 10
W 12
log
N 60
R
log
d
2 . 1
o
n
n
C
C
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
0 . 3
o
n
n
t
t
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
A
A
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
Abnormal Pressure
10.1- 48
Pore Pressure Determination