Predicting Formation Pressures

DRILLING TECHNOLOGY
REFERENCES : DRILLING ENGINEERING BY NEAL ADAMS
DRILLING ENGINEERING BY HERRIOT WATT UNIVERSITY

WELL PLANNING CONSIDERATION

Definition of Terms
The magnitude of the pressure in the pores of a

formation, known as the formation pore

pressure (or simply formation pressure), is an
important consideration in many aspects of well
planning and operations. It will influence the
casing design ,mud weight, cement etc.

 In

most geographical areas the pore pressure gradient is

approximately 0.465 psi/ft (assumes 80,000 ppm salt content) and
this pressure gradient has been defined as the normal pressure
gradient. Any formation pressure above or below the points defined
by this gradient are called abnormal pressures. When the pore
fluids are normally pressured the formation pore pressure is also said
to be hydrostatic. For Normal Pressure MW = 9 ppg

The differential between the mud pressure and the

pore pressure at any given depth is known as the

overbalance pressure
If the mud pressure
is less than the pore pressure
.
then the differential is known as the underbalance
pressure at that depth

FORMATION FRACTURE GRADIENT -

pressure at which the rocks will fracture.

The vertical pressure at any point in the earth is

known as the overburden pressure or geostatic

pressure. The overburden pressure at any point is a
function of the mass of rock and fluid above the
point of interest.

The specific gravity of the rock matrix may vary from

2.1 (sandstone) to 2.4 (limestone). Therefore, using

an average of 2.3 and converting to units of psi/ft, it
can be seen that the overburden pressure gradient
exerted by a typical rock, with zero porosity would be
:
2.3 x 0.433 psi/ft = 0.9959 psi/ft = 1 psi/ft

ABNORMAL PRESSURES

Pore pressures which are found to lie above or below

the normal pore pressure gradient line are called

abnormal pore pressures (Figure 5 and 6). These
formation pressures may be either Subnormal (i.e.
less than 0.465 psi/ft) or Overpressured (i.e.greater
than 0.465 psi/ft). The mechanisms which generate
these abnormal pore pressures can be quite complex
and vary from region to region. However, the most
common mechanism for generating overpressures is
called Undercompaction

mechanisms which cause over pressures to develop

Incomplete sediment compaction or undercompaction
is the most common mechanism causing overpressures.
2. Faulting-Faults may redistribute sediments, and place
permeable zones opposite impermeable zones, thus creating
barriers to fluid movement. This may prevent water being
expelled from a shale, which will cause high porosity and Phase
Changes during Compaction
3. Massive Rock Salt Deposition
Deposition of salt can occur over wide areas. Since salt is
impermeable to fluids the underlying formations become
overpressured. Abnormal pressures are frequently found in
zones directly below a salt layer.
1.

MECHANISM
Salt Diaperism
2.
This is the upwards movement of a low density salt dome due to buoyancy which
disturbs the normal layering of sediments and produces pressure anomalies. The salt
may also act as an impermeable seal to lateral dewatering of clays.
3.
Tectonic Compression
4.
The lateral compression of sediments may result either in uplifting weathered
sediments or fracturing/faulting of stronger sediments. Thus formations normally
compacted at depth can be raised to a higher level. If the original pressure is
maintained the uplifted formation is now overpressured.
5.
Repressuring from Deeper Levels
6.
This is caused by the migration of fluid from a high to a low presssure zone at
shallower depth. This may be due to faulting or from a poor casing/cement job. The
unexpectedly high pressure could cause a kick, since no lithology change would be
apparent. High pressures can occur in shallow sands if they are charged by gas from
lower formations.
Density Differences. Fluid density differences between zones with
connecting
permeability can cause abnormal pressures.
1.

Example of Overpressured/Abnormal Formations

These are formations whose pore pressure is greater

than that corresponding to the normal gradient of
0.465 psi/ft.
Gulf Coast 0.8 - 0.9 psi/ft
2. Iran 0.71 - 0.98
3. North Sea 0.5 - 0.9
4. Carpathian Basin 0.8 - 1.1
1.

Simple Calculation of Formation with abnormal Pressure

DRILLI NG PROBLEMS ASSOCIA TED WITH A BNORMA L FORMA TI ON

PRESSURES

When drilling through a formation sufficient

hydrostatic mud pressure must be maintained to

1.

Prevent the borehole collapsing and

Prevent the influx of formation fluids.

To meet these 2 requirements the mud pressure is kept

slightly higher than formationpressure. This is known
as overbalance. If, however, the overbalance is too great
this may lead to:

2.

Reduced penetration rates (due to chip hold down effect)

Breakdown of formation (exceeding the fracture gradient) and
Subsequent lost circulation (flow of mud into formation)
Excessive differential pressure causing stuck pipe

Pressure Prediction Methods

Several methods of pressure prediction are available to

the engineer. These methods can be grouped logically as
follows:
I. areal analysis from seismic data
2. offset well correlation
log analysis
drilling parameter evaluation
production or test data
3. real-time evaluation
qualitative
quantitative
The real-time analysis involves monitoring drilling and
logging parameters while the prospect well is drilled
(MWD/LWD) wire line etc..

DRILLING PARAMETER EVALUATION

Calculating the Fracture Pressure of a Formation

It is however necessary, in order to ensure a safe

operation and to optimise the design of the well, to

have an estimate of the fracture pressure of the
formations to be drilled before the drilling operation
has been commenced. In practice the fracture
pressure of the formations are estimated from
leakoff tests on nearby (offset) wells.

Field Determination of Fracture Gradients

It is common practice to pressure-test each new casing seat in field

applications to determine the exact minimum fracture gradient. The

primary reason for this practice is due to the inability of any
theoretical procedure to account for all possible formation
characteristics. For example, several authors have noted wells that
exhibited lower-than-expected fracture gradients due to abnormally
low bulk densities in the rock.
The most common procedure used for the field determination of
fracture gradients is the leakoff test (often called the pressure integrity
test). In the test,the blowout preventers are closed and then pressure
is applied incrementally to the shutin system until the formation
initially accepts fluid. The results of the test would be similar to those
shown in Fig. 4-10. Example 4.3 illustrates the procedure

 Casing was set at 10,000 ft in a well. The operator

performs a leak off test to determine the fracture

gradient at 10,000 ft. If the mud weight in the well
was 11.2 Ib/gal, what is the fracture gradient at the
casing seat?