Vertical vs. Mean Effective Stress - Which One Is Better for Pore Pressure Estimation?

Glenn L. Bowers, Applied Mechanics Technologies, Houston, TX

Introduction
In tectonically relaxed areas, the horizontal effective stress σh is the same in all directions, and proportional to the
vertical effective stress σv, where the ratio σh/σv is termed the effective stress ratio K0. Pore pressure estimation
methods and basin modeling programs typically tie compaction to the vertical effective stress. This tacitly assumes
that K0 remains constant during burial. Recent work has questioned this assumption (Harrold, et al., 1999), and
proposed the mean effective stress P = σv(1+2K0)/3 as a more suitable parameter for defining compaction.
However, this overlooks the role that shear stress plays in inelastic deformation.
The Yield Surface Concept
Most of the porosity loss that occurs during compaction is inelastic (permanent), with a relatively small elastic
component. The elastic part is a function of the mean effective stress P, while the inelastic portion depends upon
both P and “Q”, where Q is a measure of the shear stress. For tectonically relaxed areas, Q = σv(1-K0). Figure 1-a
illustrates the relationship between P, Q, and inelastic deformation. The yield surface defines P-Q combinations that
will produce a particular amount of inelastic porosity loss. As Q increases, P decreases along an approximately
elliptical path until the critical state line is intersected, at which point incipient shear failure is reached. The size of
the yield surface increases with the amount of inelastic deformation that has occurred.
Porosity-Mean Effective Stress-K0 Relationships
Burial histories in which K0 remains constant follow a straight line on the P-Q plot. Points A, B, and C in Figure 1-
a mark where burial histories corresponding to K0 = 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0, respectively, would reach the same amount of
inelastic porosity loss. Elastic porosity losses increase between A and C, but these will typically be relatively small.
The net result is that the mean stress P associated with a given porosity φ will decrease as K0 decreases (see Figure
1-b). If the mean effective stress in a zone where φ=0.2 and K0=1, were computed using a φ-P relation derived from
data where K0=0.6, P would be underestimated. For the curves in Figure 1-b, this would cause the pore pressure to
be overestimated by 6 MPa (870 psi).
Porosity-Vertical Effective Stress-K0 Relationships
Figure 1-c shows the porosity data in Figure 1-b re-plotted in terms of the vertical effective stress σv. Converting
from P to σv is equivalent to multiplying the P values by a scale factor of 3/(1+2 K0). For the data in Figure 1-b,
this has the effect of reducing the scatter among the different K0 curves. For the curves in Figure 1-c, using the φ-
σv relation for K0=0.6 to calculate the vertical effective stress where φ=0.2 and K0=1 would cause the pore
pressure to be underestimated by 1 MPa (145 psi).
25 .5 .5
.4 .4
20 Critical State
(MPa)

Yield Surface
Line (Compaction) .3 .3
Inelastic
Porosity: φ

Shear
Porosity: φ

15
Failure
Q = σv (1-K0)

K0=0.6 A
.2 .2
10 K0=0.8
Elastic
Tension K0=0.8 A B C
B K0=0.6
5 K0=1.0
K0=0.6
K0=0.8 K0=1.0
K0=1.0 C
0 .1 .1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50
P = σv(1+2K0)/3 (MPa) P = σv(1+2K0)/3 (MPa) σv (MPa)

a b c
Figure 1: a) The yield surface defines P-Q pairs that produce identical inelastic porosity losses; b)
Porosity vs. mean effective stress “P” for different constant K0 burial histories; c) Porosity data in b) re-
plotted vs. vertical effective stress.
References
Harrold, T. W. D., R. E. Swarbrick, and N. R. Goulty, 1999, “Pore Pressure Estimation from Mudrock Porosities in
Tertiary Basins, Southeast Asia”, AAPG Bulletin, v. 83, No. 7, p 1057-1067.