Master of Petroleum Well Engineering

Advanced Drilling Practices

PORE PRESSURE PREDICTION

April 2005
Assoc. Prof. Sampaio

jsampaio@peteng.curtin.edu.au

Pore Pressure Prediction

Motivation
Formation Fracture Resistance
Casing Set Depth
Kick Prevention and Control
Underbalanced Drilling

Casing Set Depth

Pore Pressure
Gradient Plot

EQ. DENSITY, LBM/GAL

Trip Margin
Riser Margin
Swab

Formation Fracture
Gradient

Kick Margin
Surge
3

Content
Normal Pore Pressure
Subnormal Pore Pressure
Abnormal Pore Pressure
Origins of Pore Pressure
Origins of Abnormal Pore Pressure
Bulk Density and Porosity vs. Depth

Hydrostatic Pressure
p = p0 + g (D D0 ) Incompressible fluids
p = p0 e

Mg
( D D0 )
RT

Compressible fluids

p0 reference pressure
D0 reference depth
fluid density (liquid)
M molecular mass (gas)
R universal gas constant
T absolute temperature
5

Hydrostatic Pressure
Field Units
lbf 1gal 12in

p (psi) = L (lbm/gal) g D(ft )

3
lbm g 231in 1ft
12
p (psi) = p0 +
L (lbm/gal) [D (ft ) D0 (ft )]
231
1
p(psi) = p0 +
L (lbm/gal) [D(m) D0 (m)]
5.8674

Hydrostatic Gradient
p
= 0.052 L Incompresible fluids - constant
p =
D
Mg
p =
P Compresible fluids - not constant
RT

Column of Fluid

Porous Formation

Contains fluid
Interconnected
pores (if
permeable)
Pressurized

Normal Formation Pressure

10

Normal Formation Pressure contd

Normal pressure gradients correspond
to the hydrostatic gradient of a fresh
or saline water column
A formation pore is said to be normally
pressurized if the pore pressure
corresponds to that of a column of
water at the same depth

11

Normal Formation Pressure Example 1

Determine the pore pressure of a normally
pressured formation in the Gulf of Mexico at
9,000 ft depth.

12

Example 1 contd

Solution:

p9000 = 0.465 psi/ft 9000 ft = 4185 psi

13

Normal & Abnormal Pore Pressure

14

Normal & Abnormal Pore Pressure contd

Fluid density required to control the pore pressure

15

Normal & Abnormal Pore Pressure contd

16

Casing Set Depth

Determining
casing set
depths.
From Bottom
to surface

17

Casing Set Depth contd

Casing set Depth also depends on:

Formations to be drilled (cement
bonding, mechanical strength, etc)
Type of mud and mud properties
(interaction with the formations)
Time spent working in the uncased
borehole (excessive wear)
Regulatory Laws

18

Abnormal Pore Pressure

Abnormal pressurized formations
always require some means of
sealing or trapping the pressure
within the rock body.
Otherwise hydrostatic equilibrium back
to a normal gradient would
eventually be restored.

19

Abnormal Pore Pressure contd

Massive shales provide good
pressure seals, but shales do have
some permeability, so, given
sufficient time, normal pressures will
eventually be established.
It may take tens of millions of years
for a normal pressure gradient to reoccur.

20

Abnormal Pore Pressure contd

Pressure
Seals

21

Abnormal Pore Pressure contd

Dense rocks should always be a
warning to a driller that the pore
pressure may be changing
Many abnormal pore pressure
processes are simply the reverse of
those which effect subnormal
pressures

22

Abnormal Pore Pressure contd

For example, the converse to a low
piezometric water level is abnormal
pressure resulting from an Artesian
source.
A thick gas sand that is normally
pressured at the bottom of the sand
will be abnormally pressured at the
top of the sand.

23

Abnormal Pore Pressure contd

Pore Pressure
Gradient do not
always increase
with depth

24

Causes of Abnormal Pore Pressure

Artesian systems
Structural reasons
Tectonics

Faults
Salt or shale diapirs
Other

Surface erosions

25

Causes of Abnormal Pore Pressure - contd

Rock diagenesis

Sulfates
Precipitates
Clays

Thermal effects
Osmosis through shale
Biochemical effects
External pressure sources
Natural
Artificial

Undercompacted shales
26

Artesian Systems

27

Structural Reasons
Lower Fluid Density

28

Structural Reasons contd

29

Tectonics

30

Tectonics contd

31

Tectonics contd

32

Osmosis

33

Surface Erosion

34

Rock Diagenesis

35

External Pressure Source

36

Subnormal Pressurized Formations

Formation pressure gradients less
than normal gradients for a given
area.
Lost circulation problems and
differential sticking are common
problems in these areas.

37

Subnormal Pressurized Formations contd

38

Subnormal Pressurized Formations contd

39

Subnormal Pressurized Formations contd

40

Indications of Abnormal Pore Pressures

Methods:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Seismic data
Drilling rate
Sloughing shale
Gas units in mud
Shale density
Chloride content
41

Indications of Abnormal Pore Pressures contd

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
42

Prediction and Detection of Abnormal

Pressure Zones
1. Before Drilling
Shallow seismic surveys
Deep seismic surveys
Comparison with nearby wells

43

Prediction and Detection of Abnormal

Pressure Zones contd
2. While drilling
Drilling rate, gas in mud, etc.
D - Exponent
DC - Exponent
MWD - LWD
Density of shale (cuttings)

44

Prediction and Detection of Abnormal

Pressure Zones contd
3. After drilling
Resistivity log
Conductivity log
Sonic log
Density log

45

Compaction Theory of
Abnormal Pressure
Best fits most naturally occurring
abnormal pressures.
In new areas, geologic and
geophysical interpretations along
with analogy to known areas are
always important.

46

Compaction Theory contd

During deposition, sediments are
compacted by the overburden load
and are subjected to greater
temperatures with increasing burial
depth.
Porosity is reduced as water is forced
out.

47

Compaction Theory contd

Hydrostatic equilibrium within the
compacted layers is retained as long
as the expelled water is free to
escape.
If water cannot escape, abnormal
pressures occur.

48

Formation Pressure and Matrix Stress

49

50

51

52

Compaction Theory contd

Overburden Stress
Stress arising from the weight of rocks
overlaying the zone under consideration
Overburden Stress = Bulk Density x g x D
g = gravity acceleration,
D = Depth

Bulk Density = ma (1-) + f

= porosity
ma= matrix or grain density
f= fluid density

In Porous Formation the Overburden Stress is supported by

Rock Matrix Stress and Pore Pressure
53

Compaction Theory contd

The average porosity in sediments
generally decreases with increasing
depth due to the increasing
overburden.
This results in an increasing bulk
density with increasing depth and
increasing rock strength.

54

Compaction Theory contd

b = ma (1 ) + f

Bulk Density

Average Porosity

Plot vs. Depth on semilog graph

55

Compaction Theory contd

Bulk Density

b = ma (1 ) + f
ma b
=
ma f

Average Porosity

Plot vs. Depth on semilog graph

56

Compaction Theory contd

57

Compaction
Theory contd

x Depth

58

Compaction Theory contd

Bulk Density

b = ma (1 ) + f
ma b
=
ma f

Average Porosity

Plot vs. Depth on semilog graph

59

Compaction Theory contd

b = ma (1 ) + f

Bulk Density

ma b
=
ma f

Average Porosity

Plot vs. Depth on semilog graph

= 0 e

Bulk Density

K D

0 = surface porosity
K = porosity [L-1]
D = depth from surface

b = f (D )
60

Compaction Theory contd

From a porosity log a plot of bulk

density vs. depth is constructed.
From this graph the porosity decline
constant K is obtained.

61

Overburden Stress
D

ob = g b dD
0

ob = g ma (1 ) + f dD
0
D

K D
K D

dD
ob = g ma 1 0e
+ f 0 e
0

after integration and using field units

ob

ma f )
(
K DS
= 0.052 sw DW + ma DS
0 1 e
K

DW = water depth (for marine environment, 0 if onshore)

DS = depth of sediments
sw = salt water density
62

Compaction Theory Example 2

The graph beside
represents the bulk
density x depth of an
area of interest.
Determine the values for
the surface porosity and
the porosity decline
coefficient. The average
matrix density is 2.65
g/in3, and the average
pore fluid density is
1.057 g/cm3.
63

Example 2 contd
Solution:
The following table contains
the bulk density extracted
from the graph and the
calculation of the porosity
using the problem data and
expression for the porosity.

ma b
2.65 b
=
=
ma f 2.65 1.057
64

Example 2 contd
A linear regression of
the porosity x depth
results in the following
expression:

= 0.383 e

0.000121D

65

Compaction Theory Example 3

Calculate the overburden stress at a
depth of 7,200 ft in the Santa Barbara
Channel. Assume:
0 = 0.37
3
ma = 2.6 g/cm
-1
K = 0.0001609 ft
3
f = 1.044 g/cm

66

Example 3 contd
Solution:
ob

ob

(
gr f )
K D
= 0.052 sw DW + gr DS
0 1 e S
K

2.6 1.044 )
(
0.00016097,200
= 0.052 (2.6 8.33) 7, 200
0.34 1 e

0.0001609

ob = 7, 032 psig

67

Compaction Theory contd

Overburden Pressure vs. Depth
Porosity vs. Depth
Pore Pressure Prediction

By Analogy
By Seismic Methods
From Drilling Rate Changes
Factors that Affect Drilling Rates

68

Pore Pressure Prediction Methods

Most pore pressure prediction
techniques rely on measured or
inferred porosity.
The shale compaction theory is the
basis for these predictions.

69

Pore pressure prediction methods

Measure any Indicator (porosity

dependent parameter, e.g. density,
resistivity, transit time) in normally
pressured, clean shales to establish a
normal trend line.
When the indicator suggests porosity
values that are higher than the trend,
then abnormal pressures are suspected to
be present.
The magnitude of the deviation from the
normal trend line is used to quantify the
abnormal pressure.
70

Porosity Indicator Trend

71

Determination of Matrix Stress

Methods

Equivalent Matrix Stress

similar formations having the same
value of a porosity dependent
parameter (indicator) are under the
same effective matrix stress (z)

Correlations

72

Equivalent Matrix Stress

ob = p p + z
z = ( z ) e

ob p p = ( ob p p )e

ob p p = ( ob )e ( p p )e

p p = ( p p ) + ob ( ob )e
e
73

Equivalent Matrix Stress contd

74

Equivalent Matrix Stress Example 4

Estimate the pore pressure at 10,200ft
if the equivalent depth is 9,100 ft.
The normal pore pressure gradient is
0.433 psi/ft. The overburden gradient
is 1.0 psi/ft.

75

Example 4 contd
Solution: @ 9,100 ft

(p )

p e

= 0.433 psi/ft 9,100 ft = 3,940 psig

( ob )e = 1.0 psi/ft 9,100 ft = 9,100 psig

@ 10,200 ft ob = 1.0 psi/ft 10,200 ft = 10,200 psig
p p = ( p p )e + [ ob ( ob )e ]

p p = 3,940 + [10,200 9,100]

p p = 5,040 psig
5,040
p =
= 0.494 psi/ft
10,200
p
= 9.50 lb/gal
eq =
0.052
76

Overbuden
Stress
Gradient
Risk of
assuming
constant
1psi/ft in young
sediments
- Less pp -

77

Correlations

Require a large
amount of data
Accurate
Indicators
X0-Xn
X0/Xn

(X is any indicator)

78

Correlations contd

79

Pressure Pore Example 5

A result from seismic survey is the
interval transit time at several depths
(time required by acoustic wave to
traverse a length, normally 1 ft or 1
m, of formation).
These seismic data are, sometimes,
the only source of information about
the sedimentary rocks underground (in
wildcats, for example).
80

Example 5 contd
The average interval transit time tave depends
on the matrix transit time tma (transit time in
the grain of the rock), on the pore fluid
transit time tf, and on the porosity of the
rock .
This dependence is reasonably expressed as
follows:

t ave = t f + (1 ) t ma
81

Example 5 contd
Typical values for matrix
interval transit time vary
from 44 s/ft to 167 s/ft
In water it varies from
189 s/ft and 218 s/ft
depending on the salinity
of the water.

Matrix Material
Dolomite

44

Calcite

46

Limestone

48

Anhydrite

50

Granite

50

Gypsum

53

Quartz

56

Shale

62-167

Salt

67

Sandstone

For oil, the interval

transit time is
approximately 240 s/ft.

tave (/ft)

53-59

Oil

240

Water (dist.)

218

100.000ppm NaCl

208

200.000ppm NaCl

189
82

Example 5 contd
The problem is that matrix interval
transit time is also a function of
porosity.
In fact it varies with the compaction
that causes the loss of hydration water
in the matrix of some formations like
shales.
(Montmorillonite in shales turning into Ilite)
83

Example 5 contd
The table shows the
average interval
transit time for a
normally pressured
formation in the
same area of
Example 2.

Depth Interval

tave

1500 To 2500

144

2500 To 3500

137

3500 To 4500

129

4500 To 5500

123

5500 To 6500

117

6500 To 7500

111

7500 To 8500

106

8500 To 9500

101

9500 To 10500

97

10500 To 11500

93

11500 To 12500

90

12500 To 13500

87

84

Example 5 contd
Using the expression for the porosity in
the area (Ex. 2) and the average interval
transit time data, determine an
expression for matrix interval transit time
as function of the porosity.
Then obtain an Expression for the
average interval transit time as function
of depth.
Assume that the fluid in the pores has
salinity 90.000 ppm with interval transit
time of 209 s/ft.
85

Example 5 contd
Solution:
From Ex. 2

= 0.383 e

0.000121D

t ave = t f + (1 ) t ma
t ma =

t ave t f
1
86

Example 5 contd
Now, using the data
for the average
interval transit time
we create the
following table:

= 0.383 e 0.000121D
t ma

t ave 209
=
1

Dave

tave

tma

2000

144

0.3007

116.1

3000

137

0.2664

110.9

4000

129

0.2361

104.3

5000

123

0.2092

100.3

6000

117

0.1853

96.1

7000

111

0.1642

91.7

8000

106

0.1455

88.5

9000

101

0.1289

85.0

10000

97

0.1142

82.6

11000

93

0.1012

79.9

12000

90

0.0897

78.3

13000

87

0.0794

76.5

87

Example 5 contd
A plot of matrix
interval transit time
vs. porosity indicates
a linear relationship
Using a linear
regression gives:

t ma = 61.9 + 181.8
88

Example 5 contd
Substituting into the expression for the
average interval transit time

t ma = 61.9 + 181.8
t ave = t f + (1 ) t ma
t ave = 209 + (1 ) (61.9 + 181.8 )
t ave = 61.9 + (209 + 181.8 61.9) 181.8
t ave = 61.9 + 328.9 181.8

2
89

Example 5 contd

Substituting the expression for

= 0.383 e 0.000121D
t ave = 61.9 + 328.9 181.8 2
t ave = 61.9 + 328.9 0.383 e 0.000121D 181.8 (0.383 e 0.000121D ) 2

t ave = 61.9 + 126 e

0.000121D

26.7 (e

0.000121D 2

90

Example 5 contd
Plotting the results in
a semilog graph
This result represents
the Normal Interval
Transit Time for a
typical area of the
region in study.

91

Pressure Pore Example 6

Consider now another
area in the region in
study.
Interval transit time
obtained from seismic
data are shown in the
table.

Depth Interval

tave

1500 To 2500

130

2500 To 3500

122

3500 To 4500

114

4500 To 5500

109

5500 To 6500

103

6500 To 7500

96

7500 To 8500

92

8500 To 9500

105

9500 To 10500

108

10500 To 11500

104

11500 To 12500

99

12500 To 13500

95
92

Example 6 contd
This area is geologically older than the
area in Example 5.
Older formations normally present a
degree of compaction larger than new
ones.
A plot of the date is shown next, which
includes the curve for the normal
interval transit time in the region.

93

Example 6 contd

94

Example 6 contd

To adjust the normal curve to this area,

we need to adjust the surface porosity to
best match the interval transit time

Considering the interval transit time at

2,000 ft (130 s/ft) the surface porosity
should be:
0.000121 2000
0.000121 2000 2
130 = 61.9 + 328.9 0 e
181.8 (0 e
)

11202 2580 + 68.1 = 0

2.00
0 =
0.304

95

Example 6 contd
Repeating the process
to the normal portion of
the interval transit time
of the area results in
the following table:
The average surface
porosity is
(0)ave=0.281

Ref. Depth

2000

0.304

3000

0.297

4000

0.285

5000

0.287

6000

0.279

7000

0.258

8000

0.255

96

Example 6 contd
tave = 61.9 + 328.9 0 e 0.0001212000 181.8 (0 e0.0001212000 ) 2
tave = 61.9 + 328.9 0.281 e 0.0001212000 181.8 (0.281 e 0.0001212000 ) 2

tave = 61.9 + 92.4 e

0.000121D

14.36 (e

0.000121D 2

97

Example 6 contd

98

Pressure Pore Example 7

Considering the interval transit time for the area of
Example 6, surface porosity, the porosity decline
coefficient for the region, and the expression for
the interval transit time for normally pressured
formation, estimate the pore pressure at 10,000 ft
using:
a) the equivalent matrix stress, and
b) the correlation in slide 79.
Additional data are:
ma
= 2.65 g/cm3
fl
= 1.074 g/cm3

99

Example 7 contd

The average interval

transit time at 10000
ft is 108 s/ft.

Depth Interval

tave

1500 To 2500

130

2500 To 3500

122

3500 To 4500

114

4500 To 5500

109

5500 To 6500

103

6500 To 7500

96

7500 To 8500

92

8500 To 9500

105

9500 To 10500

108

10500 To 11500

104

11500 To 12500

99

12500 To 13500

95
100

Example 7 contd
Equivalent matrix stress: similar formations having
the same value of an indicator are under the same
matrix stress.

t10,000 = 108 m/s

tave = 61.9 + 92.4 e 0.000121D 14.36 (e 0.000121D ) 2

108 = 61.9 + 92.4 e 0.000121D 14.36 (e 0.000121D ) 2
X = e 0.000121D
14.36 X 2 92.4 X + 46.1 = 0
5.88945
14, 654 ft
X =
D=

0.545095
5, 015 ft

101

Example 7 contd
p p = ( p p ) + ob ( ob )e
e

Needed:
pore pressure @ 5,015 ft,
overburden stress @ 5,015 ft, and
overburden stress @ 10,000 ft.

102

Example 7 contd

Pore Pressure at 5,015 ft

Normal: p=0.465 psi/ft

(p )

p 5, 015

= 0.465 psi/ft 5,015 ft = 2332 psi

103

Example 7 contd

Overburden Stress at 5,015 ft:

ma = 2.65 g/cm3
fl = 1.074 g/cm3

ob

(
gr f )
K DS
0 1 e
= 0.052 sw DW + gr DS
K

104

Example 7 contd
ma = 2.65 g/cm3 = 22.1 lb/gal
ma = 1.074 g/cm3 = 8.95 lb/gal

( ob )5,015

22.1 8.95

= 0.052 22.1 5, 015

0.281 (1 e 0.0001215,015 )
0.000121

( ob )5,015 = 5,041 psi

105

Example 7 contd

Overburden Stress at 10,000 ft:

( ob )10,000

22.1 8.95

0.00012110,000
= 0.052 22.110, 000
0.281 (1 e
)

0.000121

( ob )10,000 = 10,378 psi

106

Example 7 contd

Pore Pressure at 10,000 ft

(p )

p 5,015

(p )

= 2,332 psi

( ob )5,015 = 5, 041 psi

( ob )10,000 = 10,378 psi
p p = ( p p ) + ob ( ob )e
e

p 10,000

= 2,332 + [10,378 5, 041]

(p )

p 10 , 000

= 7,669 psi
107

Example 7 contd

Using the Correlation

108

Example 7 contd
Normal interval transit time at 10,000

t ave = 61.9 + 92.4e

0.000121D

t ave = 61.9 + 92.4e

0.00012110 , 000

14.36 e

0.000121D 2

14.36 e

0.00012110 , 000 2

(tave )normal @10,000 = 90.73 m/s

109

Example 7 contd
Using the Correlation

t
108 m/s
=
= 1.19
t0 90.73 m/s
p = 0.81 psi/ft

( p ) = 0.81 psi/ft 10,000 ft

p

(p )

p 10 , 000

= 8,100 psi

110