Pore Pressure Prediction

Applying the Four Zones Method

before and during Drilling

Selim S. Shaker

4 zones instead of 2
Shaker GR ILD ΔT Fertl
2015 10 30 50 0 1 2
Zone 1976
50 100 150 200
3 s

Normal
Hydrostatic
Pressure
Normal

Hydrodynamic

Transition
Abnormal

Pressure
(Over)

Geopressured
 What is the 4 zones method novelty ?

1. Avoid analysts and software computation pitfalls

2. Geology – hydrodynamic of the 4 zones (A,B,C and D)

3. The very shallow zone (A) is the only normally pressured

4. Zone (B) is where Dehydration (up-flow) takes place. The Compaction trend
(CT) is limited to this zone. CT is replacing the conventional NCT , since Zone
B is Not Normally Pressured.

5. Zone C is the top pressure ramp and coincide with MFS.

6. Zone D is the geopressured zone.

7. Effective stress theorem applying in zone C and D only.

8. Can be Export to any PPP software in-put

OCS-29517-MS • Pore Pressure Prediction before and during Drilling Applying the Four Zones Method. S. Shaker

PPP pitfalls
Negative slope of the MPP Using the hybrid PP plot

Source is redacted

OCS-29517-MS • Pore Pressure Prediction before and during Drilling Applying the Four Zones Method. S. Shaker
Breaking the Compaction Trend Applying the ES theorem from top to bottom ??

TOG

Factious Under- pressure zones

Sources are redacted

Negative slope on MPP and Excessive Overbalance Mud (4 ppg)

 Vi - PPP Transformation Model for 4 zones
Predicted pressure (psi) from seismic velocity
Separate Four zones
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000
0
Zone A

Zone B
5000

Zone C

10000 Zone D
Depth (ft) SS

MW (offset
15000 well) psi
Hydrostatic

OB
20000

25000

30000

35000

Predicted pore pressure (psi) from seismic velocity

Four zones vs. Conventional NCT
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000
0
Zone A

Zone B
5000

Zone C

10000 Zone D
Depth (ft) SS

Conventional
15000
methods
MW (offset well)
psi
Hydostatic
20000

OB

25000

30000
Correlation between PPP
using 4 z (CT)
35000
vs. 2 z (so called NCT)
 4 zones Prediction Model Calibration with LWD (sonic)
SP ΔT (shale)µs/ft
-30 20 70 170
0 0

5000 5000

10000 10000

15000 15000

Software is one size fits all

However
Drilling takes place
In diverse Geological Settings

OCS-29517-MS • Pore Pressure Prediction before and during Drilling Applying the Four Zones Method. S. Shaker