SPE

Society of Petroleum Engineers

SPE 16695

Method for Fracture Gradient Prediction for Vertical and

Inclined Boreholes
by B.S. Aadnoy, Rogaland U., and K. Larsen, Statoil
SPE Members

Copyright 1987, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 62nd Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in
Dallas, TX September 27-30, 1987.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the
author(s). Contents of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the
author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers
presented at SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Permission to copy is
restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of
where and by whom the paper is presented. Write Publications Manager, SPE, P.O. Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836. Telex, 730989 SPEDAL.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION

A new method for prediction of fracture A detailed knowledge of formation pore

gradients in deeper wells has been pressure and fracture strength is considered
developed. The method is based on the the single most essential element in
principles of mechanics, but uses a achieving a successful drilling program.
correlation method in the application of This becomes even more critical when
field data. Improvements over existing drilling high angle wells.
methods are:
Methods to predict fracturing gradients are
* Gives both leak-off and lost typically based on empirical correlations
circulation pressures. between fracturing data, overburden data and
* Works for vertical and inclined depth. References 1 to 7 give different
boreholes. methods of this nature. Daines 7 method in
* Result given as simple equation. particular has been successfully applied in
* Identifies lithological effects. Norway by several oil companies. All of
these methods work for vertical wells.
The result is given as a simple equation
where only well depth, pore pressure and Bradley8 and Aadnoy and Chenevert 10 used the
borehole angle are needed to predict the equations for the stress field around the
fracture pressure. Since borehole borehole, thereby being able to study
inclination is included, the method can be inclined boreholes by means of stress
used during production drilling as well as transformations. The mathematical model
when drilling vertical wells. The method was used, the so called Kirch solution for
applied in a field study offshore Norway. stresses in a plate with a hole in the
The results show a remarkably good middle, has certain limitations. It assumes
correlation with fie~d observations. homogeneous and isotropic ~ock properties,

References and illustrations at end of paper .

.. 11
2 METHOD FOR FRACTURE GRADIENT PREDICTION SPE 16695
FOR VERTICAL AND INCLINED BOREHOLES

linear elasticity and a plane strain overburden. Experience shows that the
condition. The last constraint limits the porosity as a function of depth typically
application to wells deeper than 600 meters exhibits an exponential behavior. Since the
10
(Aadnoy and Chenevert ). weight of the overburden depends on the
porosity, this curve is also exponential.
Real rocks can be described as heterogeneous
and anisotropic with both spatial and To obtain the weight of the overburden at
directional variations in all its physical any depth, Bourgoyne et.a1. 9 defines:
properties. Due to this complexity, there
exists today no mathematical model that
describes real rock perfectly. D
(J
0
gJwgswdD
0
In later years it has become evident that
the ideal mathematical model does not work D -KD
+ g~[Qg- (gg- gf 1 ), 0 e ]dD .•... (1)
well for field calculations. The fact is w
(Aadnoy and Chenevert 10 ), the ideal model
gives too extreme results. In view of the Integration of
this equation and
complexity of modelling real rocks, it is substitution of Ds D - Dw, the depth
easily understood that the model is too below the surface of the sediments, yields:
simple.

To bridge the gap between field measurements

and the principles of mechanics, this new -KD
- e s) •••••• (2)
method is derived. The idea is to use the
principles of mechanics, but to adjust
Assuming that all densities are constant,
certain parameters to obtain a good fit to
Equation (2) is seen to have a linear part,
the measured fracture data from the field.
and one correction term inside the last
The criteria chosen for these adjustments
parenthesis. The true overburden curve for a
are based on observed behavior, and are not
field is obtained from sonic logs. When a
always rational from a rigorous continuum
mechanics point of view. However, the method field curve is given, the constants and K 'o
in Equation (2) can be determined by curve
gives very good results.
fitting methods.
The method takes into account the
However, as will be seen later, Equation (2)
inclination of the borehole. Therefore,
fracture data from production wells, wild is not always a good model for real field
cat wells and delineation wells can be used data. For cases not behaving exponentially,
as input. The model can be updated any function can be used. The key is to find
continuously as new fracture data becomes a function which is simple, and which
available. reasonably well describes the real
overburden weight versus depth.

THE WEIGHT OF THE OVERBURDEN.

THE IN-SITU. STRESSES.
Due to compaction effects, the overburden
gradient as a function of depth varies. Knowledge of all in-situ stresses is
Bourgoyne et. a1. 9 summarize previous work necessary to be able to apply the principles
on the modelling of the weight of the of continuum mechanics to borehole stability

412
SPE 16695 B. s. Aadnoy and K. Larsen 3

problems. The horizontal in-situ stresses that when the effective tangential {hoop)
can be found indirectly by using fracture stress exceeds the rock strength, fracturing
10
data. As shown by Aadnoy and Chenevert the occurs. For inclined boreholes, the
horizontal in-situ stress can be found using mathematics becomes more complicated, since
the following equation: shear effects come into account. However, it
11
has been shown by Aadnoy that for deeper
1 0 boreholes the fracture will always be
0 Tl 2[Pw-frac +Po+ A] ···········< 3 > confined to extend along the axis of the
hole. This shows that the tangential stress
The above equation is derived from the so
is the governing parameter, regardless of
called Kirch solution, but it is mod.ified borehole inclination.
with a correlation coefficient A to
accomodate field data. Also it is assumed Next stage is to generate the complete
that the horizontal in-situ stress is equal horizontal in-situ stress curve. Aadnoy and
in all directions. In its application, the 10
Chenevert used field data from the Gulf
tensile strength of the rock is ·set to zero,
area in their calculations. It was observed
assuming that an existing crack is merely
here that the overburden curve and the
reopened when fracturing the hole.
horizontal in-situ stress curve were nearly
parallel. This is a useful observation,
Experience shows that when calculating the
because we can say that having an overburden
horizontal in-situ stress from field data,
curve and one point on the horizontal
different values are found depending on the
in-situ curve, the complete corrected
local pore pressure at which the fracture
in-situ stress curve can be defined as:
test is performed. This questions the
validity of the Kirch solution. However,
- K1 ••••••••••••• 0 ••• 0 • ( 4)
some of the discrepancies are.known to be
caused by: anisotropic rock properties,
The only unknown now is the correlation
simplified effective stress concept and the
quality of the mud cake, (see Aadnoy
11
). The coefficient A. It is found by combining
Equations {3) and (4) obtaining:
last factor indicates that the pressure
transition through the mudcake is seldom an
0
ideal step function, because some leak-off A 2o 0 - 2K 1 - p w- f rae - p o ••••••• (5)

occurs thereby increasing the pore pressure

in the rock surrounding the borehole. Plotting A versus P , a linear equation can
0
Another assumption is that the horizontal be found, of the form:
in-situ stresses are equal, which is
probably not correct for many oil fields. A a - bP 0 ••• 0 0 •• 0 •• 0 0 0 ••• 0 • 0 ••• 0 ( 6)

Despite the discrepancies found by the

applicat~on of Equation (3}, we will state THE PORE PRESSURE CONSTANT.
that the overall stress behavior at the
borehole is described by the Kirch solution, Referring back to the results of Aadnoy and
10
and we will use the discrepancy Chenevert , one conclusion was that the
constructively to adjust the model to field. higher the pore pressure, the less the
data. effect on borehole inclination. This means
that for low pore pressures, the fracture
Equation (3) is strictly valid for a gradient is significantly lower for a
vertical hole only. The failure criteria is horizontal hole compared to a vertical hole.

413
4 METHOD FOR FRACTURE GRADIENT PREDICTION SPE 16695
FOR VERTICAL AND INCLINED BOREHOLES

At high pore pressures, this difference THE FRACTURE GRADIENT

diminishes. This can also be observed in the
empirical formula derived by Aadnoy and Now we have all the parameters necessary to
Chenevert 10 : define an equation for the fracture gradient
for a vertical borehole. Combining Equations
(5) and (6) the result is:
Po
Pw-frac ( "V) w-frac
P0* )sin 2 "V
Po
+ 1 (P - ••••••••• ( 7) w-frac
3 0

It is evident from the above equation that The overburden data can be taken from a
the value of the unknown pore pressure curve for the particular depth in question,
constant, P * , is an important parameter for or any equation for o 0 (Equation (2)) can
0
the prediction of fracture gradients for be inserted into Equation (9). In our field
inclined boreholes. To determine its value, study, we used polynomial equations for the
two different approaches will be used. The overburden curve.
first approach assumes that we have no
fracturing information from inclined Finally, the equation for the fracture
boreholes, and we will develop a way to gradient for any inclination can be written
estimate the pore pressure constant. The out by inserting Equation (9) into Equation
second approach uses real fracture data from (7).
inclined boreholes.
FRACTURE GRADIENTS, LOST CIRCULATION AND
Approach 1: No fracture data from LITHOLOGY.
inclined boreholes exists. Since the
fracturing gradient becomes less sensitive Field data usually shows quite a variation.
towards the borehol.e inclination with At the same depth, one well can have a
increased pore pressure, the following substantially different fracture gradient
definition will be used: From the fracture from the nearby wells. To complicate this
data we select the point which was measured issue further, one frequently experiences
at the highest porepressure. This point is lost circulation of drilling muds
furthermore defined to have a fracture unpredictably. In our opinion, lost
gradient equal to the pore pressure for a circulation is just another case of
horizontal hole. Applying this condition in fracturing, and therefore requires the same
Eqn. (7) yields for the unknown pore analysis.
pressure constant:
There is, in our opinion, a correlation
between lithology and fracturing pressure.
*
Po 3 Pw-frac- 2 Po ............... (B)
In the field, the highest fracture pressures
are obtained in shales, while chalks and
Approach 2: Fracture data available sandstones typically have lower fracture
from inclined boreholes. For this case we pressures. The actual tensile strength of
will follow the procedure given in the the rock is of lesser value, since a
appendix to find an equation for the borehole may contain cracks anyway. Shales
fracturing gradient in vertical boreholes. are considered impermeable, and here is the
Then we will use the fracture data for key to their high fracture pressures
inclined boreholes in Eqn. (7) to defina the 11
( Aadnoy ) •
only unknown, namely the pore pressure
constant.

414
SPE 16695 B. S. Aadnoy and K. Larsen 5

When using the proposed method, first one Applying the new method, first an equation
must collect all .fracture data and lost for the overburden curve must be found.
circulation inform~tion. Then the data must Inspection of Figure (1) reveals that this
be grouped into lithological groups. We have curve does not possess a monotonous
chosen two groups, one for shale data and derivative with depth. Therefor~, instead
one for the sand data. Two curves or of obtaining a poor fit with Equation (2) a
equations then result from the analysis, cubical polynomial is fitted to the curve.
one representing the maximum and one The result is as follows:
representing the minimum fracturing
gradient. The lithology at a particular
CJ 19.5 - 1.21*10- 3 D
0
depth then determines which curve applies. 2
+ 8. 78*10- 7 D - 10. 43*10-
11 3
D ••• ( 10)

where the overburden has units (kPa/m) and

FIELD STUDY the depth (meters). Following the method
outlined in the appendix we obtain a shift
The Statfjord Field. from the overburden curve of K1 2.725
(kPa/m). The resulting correlation
Statfjord, which is. the largest offshore coefficients are shown in Figure (2). A
field in the world with 3.3 billion barrels reasonably good curve fit is observed. The
oil in recoverable reserves, is located equations for the shaleline is: A 16.79
across the median :line between Norway and 1.06P , and for the sandline: A 17.42 -
0
the UK (Wilson and Willis 12 ). The field 1.06P • Inserting all determined parameters
0
lies North-South and is in approximately 145 into Equation (9) results in two equations
meters of water. Three giant concrete for the fracture gradients for vertical
condeep gravity structure platforms are boreholes, one for shales and one for sands.
required to develop the field in Jurassic These are shown plotted in Figure (3). It
and Triassic sandstones at approximately is interesting to note that the two lines
2500 - 3000 m TVD, and 42 wells may be are parallel. Finally, to determine the
drilled from each installation. Drilling behavior for inclined boreholes, the
60° wells has developed to almost routine, porepressure constant was found by Equation
12
and the present limit is 70° inclination • (8) to be 20.78 and by a frac point at 59°
inclination to 20.5 (kPa/m), a reasonably
The Statfjord stratigraphy shows a high good agreement. We chose to use the latter.
shale and clay content. The shales are Now the equations for the fracture gradients
overpressured as shown in Figure (1). There for inclined boreholes (Equation (7)) can be
are several sands which are partially or written as follows:
completely isolated. This results in a
wiggly pore pressure curve. More details
shale D J
about the field and the drilling experiences Pw-frac(y) = 16 · 76 - 2 · 42 [ 1000
are given by Wilson and Willis 12 • Statfjord
has used oil-based drilling fluids for many
years, therefore only a few leak-off
+ 1. 756 [1g00 r- o. 2oa6 [wgof
pressures from the production wells are
+ 0.06P +
0
available. Most data used in this analysis
therefore refer back to the early field
13
development stage .
Psand shale
w-frac(y) p
w- f rae (y)- 0.63 .... (12)

415
6 METHOD FOR FRACTURE GRADIENT PREDICTION SPE 16695
FOR VERTICAL AND INCLINED BOREHOLES

Also in Figure (3) is the lithology shown, very useful in field applications. The new
and the full line gives the actual method takes into account borehole
·fracturing gradient for a vertical hole. To inclination, and therefore works for
get an idea for the effect of borehole production wells as well as for vertical
inclination, Figure (4) was made. It is wells. A field study showed that the method
seen that by drilling a hole horizontally works remarkably well.
rather than vertical~y results in a
significant lowering of the fracturing Both lost circulation and fracturing is
gradient. analyzed the same way. High fracture
pressures are found in shales, while lost
Offshore wells typically cover a large circulation typically occurs in sands,
range of borehole inclinations, depending on chalks or coals. Therefore, the lithology
the well profile. The proposed method is was found to be an important parameter.
very advantageous when planning a deviated
well, since the actual well profile and pore
pressure line can be used to calculate the
fracturing gradient for this particular NOMENCLATURE
profile. A result of such a calculation is
shown in Figure (5) in full line. The
broken line shows the fracturing gradient Weight of the overburden
for a vertical well, and the dotted line Horizontal in-situ stress
shows the pore pressure. A potential problem Correbted horizontal in-situ
zone exists in ·the chalk layer at 1700 - stress
1740 m. We see that the high inclination A Correlation coefficient
here shifts the fracture-line towards the D Total well depth from sea
pore pressure line. To minimize problems, level
the hole could be planned at a lesser D
w Water depth
deviation through this zone, provided that D Well depth from sea bottom
s
the field plan allowed it. Density of sea water
Density of fluid inside rock
Finally, the accuracy of the proposed method Grain density
was tested. Table (1) shows some of the Constants in overburden weight
leak-off data. The error is about 1.7% with model
Po
the new method. Daines 7 method gave nearly w-frac Fracture pressure for vertical
the same result, with an error of 2.1%. borehole
Pw-frac(y) = Fracture pressure for
well with inclination y
CONCLUSIONS. p Pore pressure
0
*
Po Pore pressure constant
A new method has been derived to predict
a, b Constants to be found from
fracture gradients in deeper wells. The
curve fitting
method uses an equation for the overburden
K Constant shift between the
weight curve, and, therefore, the fracture 1
overburden weight curve and
pressure can be calculated using only well
the corrected horizontal in-
depth, pore pressure and borehole
situ stress-
inclination as input data. Since the result
is expressed in a simple equation, it is

416
SPE 16695 B. S. Aadnoy and K. Larsen 7

REFERENCES lO.Aadnoy, B.S. and Chenevert, M.E.:

"Stability of Highly Inclined Boreholes".
1. Matthews, W.R. and Kelly, J., "How to Paper SPE 16052 presented at the 1987
Predict Formation Pressure and Fracture SPE/IADC Drilling Conference in
Gradient." Oil and Gas J. Feb. 20, New Orleans, March 15-18.
1967, 92-106.
ll.Aadnoy, B.S.: "Modelling of the Stability
2. Eaton, B.A., "Fracture Gradient of Highly Inclined Boreholes in
Prediction and its Application in Anisotropic Rock Formations". Paper SPE
Oilfield Operations," J. Pet. Tech. 16526 presented at Offshore Europe 87
Oct. 1969, 1353-1360. in Aberdeen, September 8-11, 1987.

12.Wilson, R.C. and Willis, D.N.:

3. Andersen, R.A., Ingram, D.S., and Zanier,
"Successful High Angle Drilling in the
A.M., "Determining Fracture Pressure
Statfjord Field". Paper SPE 15465
from Well Logs". J.Pet.Tech. Nov. 1973.
presented at the 6lst. Ann. Conf.
and Exhibition of the SPE, New ·
4. Hubbert, M.K. and Willis, D.G.,
Orleans, Oct. 5-8, 1986.
"Mechanics of Hydraulic Fracturing,"
Trans., AIME (1957) 210, 153-168.
13.Larsen, K.: "Fracture Pressure Prediction
for Offshore Wells". M.S. Thesis in
5. Pilkington, P.E., "Fracture Gradient
Petroleum Engineering, Rogal and
Estimates in Tertiary Basins," Pet.
University, 1987.
Engr.Int., May 1978, 138-148.

6. Brennan, R.M. and Annis, M.R., "A New

Fracture Prediction Technique that Shows
Good Results in the Gulf of Mexico APPENDIX APPLICATION OF THE NEW METHOD.
Abnormal Pressure." SPE 13210, pres. at
the 60th. Ann. Tech. Conf. Reference is to Figures ( 1) and ( 2)
given
SPE of AIME, Houston, TX, Sept. 16-19, which show a field example of using the
1984. method. Before starting the
analysis, available well data must be
7. Daines, S.R. "Prediction of Fracture collected and organized. For each frac.
Pressures for Wildcat Wells", point or lost circulation data the pore
J.Pet.Tech. April 1982, 863-872. pressure, the
depth, the borehole
inclination and the lithology must be known.
8. Bradley, W.B. "Failure of Inclined If the data are taken from wells located at
Boreholes", J.Energy Res.Tech. different water depths, the data must be
Trans. ASME, Vol. 101, Dec. 1979, 232- adjusted to a common base, for example the
239. RKB.

9. Bourgoyne, A.T., Millheim, K.K., 1. Split the data in two groups, one for the
Chenevert, M.E. and Young Jr., F.S.: leak-off points in shales and another
"Applied Drilling Engineering". SPE group for lost circulation data and
Textbook, 1986. frac. data from sandstones and chalks.

417
8 METHOD FOR FRACTURE GRADIENT PREDICTION
FOR VERTICAL AND INCLINED BOREHOLES
2. Split each of the two groups from step 1
into two, namely one for vertical or
near- vertical wells, and another
for deviated boreholes.
3. Starting with the leak-off data for
vertical boreholes, proceed as follows:
4. Plot and derive equation for the
overburden curve. Plot pore pressure data
or curve and the fracture points.
5. Calculate oTl (Eqn. (3)) by setting A
for the frac. point taken at highest
pore pressure.
6. Draw a line parallel with o through
0
aT 1 from step 5. Label this line a'Tl"
Measure the shift K (Eqn. (4)).
1
7. For each of the remaining frac. points,
calculate aTl with Equation (3),
(A = 0), and plot the points in the
diagram.
8. Make a table over A/2 = o~ 1 - aT 1 and P 0 .
Plot A versus P as shown in Figure (2),
0
and determine the equation for the
straight line, that is: constants a
and bin Equation (6).
SPE 16695
9. Write out the equation for the vertical
fracture gradient, Equation (9).
lO.Calculate the pore pressure coefficient
P 0*with Eqn. (7) if frac. data exists for
deviated boreholes. If not, estimate
with Eqn. (8).
ll.Write out the complete maximum fracture
gradient equation by inserting Eqn. (9)
into Eqn. (7). This is called the shale
line.
0
12.Going back to step 7, repeat the
procedure with the lost circulation data,
and derive the minimum fracture
gradient equation, or the sand line.
13.To apply the method, define the pore
pressure and the well profile. Compute
and plot the shale and sand lines.
Finally, use the lithology information to
define which line is to be used at any
given depth.
418
 DEPTH (M): FRACTURE GRADIENTS CKPA/M): ERROR (%):
NEW METHOD: DAINES: MEASURED: NEW METHOD: DAINES:

972 16.51 16.81 16.82 -1. R8

1LJ22 17.20 lR. 26 17.53 -i. 92 +LJ. 00
1652 17.53 lR. 33 17.88 -2.00 +2. LJ8
1676 17.55 18.25 17.76 -1.20 +2 .69
1682 17.56 18.25 17. !Jl +0. 85 +lj, 60
1687 17.57 18.27 16. 9LJ +3. 59 +7. 28
1762 17.69 18. 2LJ 17.88 -1.07 +2. 00
1812 17.81 18. LJO 18.35 -3.03 +0. 27
1872 17.86 lR .17 18.11 -1. LJO +0. 33
1992 18.08 18.13 18.00 +0, LJLJ +0. 71
2212 18.58 18. LJO 18.35 +1. 2LJ +0. 27
221LJ 18.59 18. LJO 18.35 +1. 29 +0. 30

AVERAGE: 1. 66 % 2. 08 %

TABLE 1: COMPARISON OF LEAK-OFF GRADIENT PREDICTION METHODS

0 7~----~--------------------~----~----~

o LEAK OFF TEST

• LOST CIRCULATION 6
500 E
'c.
Cll

.:;:: 5
.,.:
1000 I o z
I w
d. C3 4
E u::
LL
-£ w
1- PORE PRESSURE 0
c. 1500
u
w 3
Q z
...J 0
...J
w i=.
3l: 2000 :3w 2
c:
c:
0
u 1
2500

SAND~':'? 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
3000 ~:. ·:: ':.
10 12 14 16 22 24 PORE PRESSURE GRADIENT, kPa/m
.PRESSURE GRADIENT, kPa/m

FIGURE 2 CORRELATION COEFFICIENT

FIGURE 1 ANALYSIS OF FRACTURE DATA

SPE 16 6 9i

419
 0 0
o LEAK OFF TEST
• LOST CIRCULATION

500 500

HORIZONTAL HOLE

1000 1000

E E
£ £
1;: 1500 PORE PRESSURE 1-
0.. 1500
w w
c c
...J ...J
...J ...J
w w
== 2000 2000
==

2500

PRESSURE GRADIENT, kPa/m PRESSURE GRADIENT, kPa/m

FIGURE 3 FRACTURE GRADIENTS FOR FIGURE 4 FRACTURE GRADIENTS FOR

VERTICAL HOLE INCLINED HOLE

PRESSURE GRADIENT, kPa/m

10 12 14 16 18 20

o LEAK OFF POINT

KICK OFF POINT
500
FRACTURE GRADIENTS FOR:

WELL , VERTICAL
PROFILE 1 HOLE
'•, 1
1000 \
··············
...................... ,-JI
E ·................... . ~~:2,
:r:~ '.::.·.::: .·.·. ·.:: .·. ·.·.: .·.. \
1- PORE PRESSURE I
0.. 1500 I
w I
c
...J
\-:.-:,
...J \
w I
2000 I
\
== \
\
\
\
2500 't".)
\
\
\
\
\
\
3000
0 1000 2000 3000
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE, m

FIGURE 5 APPLICATION TO DEVIATED WELL

SPE 16 6 9~
420