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2/25/2015
Pore Pressure.
Pore pressure .
Is the pressure exerted by fluids (such as hydrocarbons) in the
pore space of rock.
If the pore pressure exceeds the downward hydrostatic pressure
exerted by mud inside the well, the fluids in the pore spaces can
flow into the well, and unprotected sections of the well can
collapse.
An unwanted influx of fluid or gas into the well is called a kick.
Big amount of gas or oil influx (Kick) will result to blow out.
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Fracture pressure.
Fracture pressure.
Is the pressure at which the geologic formation
will break down or fracture.
6.The drilling engineers need to adjust the drilling mud weight (density) in order to make
sure that the pressure exerted by the mud inside the wellbore will be in between two
important points which are pore and fracture pressures.
8. The pore pressure and fracture pressure gradients define the boundaries of
the drilling process. Drillers strive to keep the mud weight between these
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two curves.
Abnormal pressures
Abnormal pore pressure .
Occur if the pore pressure is lower or higher than the hydrostatic
pressure (Normal Pore Pressure)
When pore pressure exceeds the normal pressure it is overpressure.
Abnormal pressures
The following are some of the sources of Abnormal pressures,
1. Abnormal formation compaction.
2. Tectonic compression.
3. Mineral transformations, etc.
ATM
1. One of the major reasons for abnormal pore pressure is abnormal formation compaction.
. When sediments compact normally, formation porosity is reduced at the same time pore fluid
is expelled.
. If the sedimentation rate is slow, normal compaction occurs, i.e. equilibrium between
increasing overburden and the reduction of pore fluid volume due to compaction is
maintained. This is normal compaction, generates hydrostatic pore pressure in the formation.
. When the sediments subside rapidly, or the formation has extremely low permeability, fluids in
the sediments can only be partially expelled. The remaining fluid in the pore spaces must
support all or part of the weight of the overburdened sediment, causing abnormally high pore
pressure.