IADC/SPE

IADC/SPE 19995

Plotting Sonic Logs To Determine Formation Pore Pressures and

Creating Overlays To Do So Worldwide
R.R. Weakley, Chevron Services Co.
SPE Member

Copyright 1990, IADC/SPE Drilling Conference.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1990 IADC/SPE Drilling Conference held In Houston, Texas, February 27-March 2, 1990.

This paper was selected for presentation by an IADC/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 or the International Association of Drilling Contractors and are subject to correction by the author(s).
The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position of the IADC or SPE, its officers, or members. Papers presented at IADC/SPE meetings are subject to publication
review by Editorial Committees of the IADC and SPE. 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 BACKGROUND
The determination of formation pore Porosity at a given depth is related to the
pressures from log derived properties is a overburden load above. The higher the overburden,
highly used and accepted practice in the Gulf of the lower the porosity. At the same given depth
Me xi co. Such determinations in other parts of and overburden, if abnormally pressured, the
the U. S. and the world have generally been porosity would be higher than for normally
very difficult, if not impossible, in many pressured rock. For the same pore pressure
instances. Failure to do so, in most cases, has increase to be seen at this depth in a 1ower
led to extreme drilling difficulties or overburden environment, we waul d see a greater
unsuccessful wells. Much of the time, high porosity increase with respect to a normally
pressure shale sections have been misinterpreted pressured rock accompanying it. Thus, the
as chemically sensitive formations requiring overburden load directly affects formation
exotic mud chemistries and resulting in needless porosity. This in turn affects the relative
excessive expense. spacing between pore pressure trend lines in an
overlay. Since the overburden varies from place
We have developed a technique for the to place, the trend line spacing varies with it.
determination of formation pore pressures from This leads to the need for area specific pore
sonic log trends which is universally pressure overlays.
applicable. This approach has been utilized in
numerous locations around the world with great The trend line spacings can be developed
success. The process will be demonstrated in through determination of the pore pressure
detail and several examples of results thus exponents in the Eaton equations (1). Developing
achieved from wells around the war l d will be an overlay simplifies the pore pressure
presented. determination process. Here 1i es the need for
the determination of the pressure equation
In conjunction with this pore pressure exponents and the development of an overlay
determination process, a simple means of specific for each area.
creating a pore pressure overlay to interpret
the data will be demonstrated. This aids in
speed of determinations and simplifies the ana- CREATING PORE PRESSURE OVERLAYS
lysis somewhat.
Pore pressure overlays for any parameter
Before an estimation of anticipated pore plotted can be simply developed via the Eaton
pressures to be seen in a proposed drilling equations and one known pressure point,
prospect can be made, determinations of actual preferably two, in a well in the area. Tha
pore pressures seen in offset wells is overburden gradient should also be known, and
essential. These pore pressure determinations this can be determined through integration of a
are therefore essential to the efficient an bulk density log from a well in the area.
successful drilling of a well, and this
technique enables one to make them.

703
 PLOTTING SONIC LOGS TO DETERMINE FORMATION PORE PRESSURE
2 AND CREATING OVERLAYS TO DO SO WORLD WIDE
The Eaton equations need be rearranged into
two formats for overlay development. In figure
1, we have rearranged the Eaton pressure
equation for plotting resistivity. Here the
equation is displayed in solving for the
pressure exponent ( x ), and observed values of
resistivity ( Ro ) . Rearranging the Eaton
pressure equation for plotting interval transit
time appears in figure 2.
Investigating the effect the pres~ure
exponent has on the trend line spacing for
resistivity results in figure 3. Note, that for
a given pore pressure, the 1ower the exponent,
the greater the spacing. The same analysis for
interval transit time appears in figure 4.
Again, the lower the exponent, the greater the
spacing.
The process of creating an overlay first
requires solving for the pressure exponent. This
is done by p1otti ng the 1og data of an offset
well in which we have a known abnormal pressure
point. From this we can determine a normal trend
line for the parameter plotted. This normal
trend line is extrapolated to the depth of the
known abnorma 1 pressure point to determine the
normal value of this parameter. We have the
observed value of the parameter associated with
this abnormal pressure point from the log. The
overburden gradient is determined through
integration of the density log. We have
everything but the exponent and this is obtained
through the equation.
The remainder of the overlay creation
process appears in figure 5. At a given depth,
we assume the pore pressure to be abnormal
va 1ues in 1 PPG increments and so 1ve for the
observed value of the parameter of interest.
These observed va 1ues associ ated with the
respective increments of pore pressure are
p1otted and trend 1i nes are drawn through them
para 11 e1 · to the norma 1 trend 1i ne estab 1i shed.
Thus, we have created a pore pressure overlay.
TECHNIQUE FOR PLOTTING SONIC LOGS
The first step is in determining lithology
tops. This is done by displaying the gamma ray
and sonic logs in a one inch equals one thousand
foot scale. In compressing data like this, a
smoothing function need be app 1i ed to avoid a
blur of data. Lithology tops are then determined
by picking the points where either the gamma ray
or sonic shows a change in the genera 1 trend.
This process is illustrated in figures 6 and 7 ,
with lithological tops indicated with the dark
horizontal lines. The wells utilized in these
two figures are in Norway and Indonesia
respective 1y. We will i 11 ustrate the process on
the Indonesian well.
The gamma ray and sonic are then displayed
in a one inch equa 1s one hundred foot sea 1e.
Again smoothing may be required. The 1i tho logy
tops previously determined are translated to
this display. Sonic velocity trend lines are
704
SPE 19995
then drawn on the sonic 1og with respect to the
shale readings within lithological sections as
illustrated in figure 8. The sonic velocity trend
lines are then drawn on semilogrithmic paper
honoring lithology tops as in figure 9.
These lithology tops become recalibration
points in this process. In this, the sonic
velocity trend in one lithological section is
traced. The velocity trend is recalibrated by
shifting the tracing over at the lithology
change, joining the last value of interval
velocity in the last lithological section with
the first value in the next. This results in a
continuous relative interval velocity profile as
in figure 10.
For this well we have a known formation pore
pressure at 3800 feet of 10.6 PPG equivalent mud
weight. We integrate the bulk density 1og and
determine the overburden gradient. We now have
what we need to solve for the pore pressure
· exponent and create an overlay for the area. This
has been done as previously described in the
creation of pore pressure overlays in figure 11.
Determination of pore pressure for all formations
can now be read directly from the overlay. This
has been done with results graphically displayed
in figure 12. Note that in the i nterva 1s which
appear to have been drilled under balanced,
extreme difficulties with shale sloughing were
encountered. A11 the formations encountered
lacked permeability. Also note, that at total
depth, when permeability was encountered, the mud
weight had to be raised to exceed the pore
pressure determined.
As previously mentioned, two pressure points
are preferred to insure accuracy. In figure 13 we
have a recalibrated sonic velocity trend line for
a well offshore California. In this well we have
two known abnormal pressure points. At 4900 feet
we have an 11.2 PPG and at 5900 feet we have a
12.4 PPG pore pressure in mud weight equivalents.
We solve for the exponent at 4900 feet where we
have the 11.2 PPG. Using the exponent derived, we
so 1ve for pore pressure at 5900 feet where we
know the answer. As can be seen in figure 13 we
get a pore pressure of 12.34 using the exponent
in the Eaton pressure equation. Thus we have
conf"i dence 1n the estab 1i shment of our norma 1
trend line for this well and the determination of
the pore pressure exponent for this area.
Again we can now create an overlay for use in
all wells in the general area. By assuming values
of abnormal pressure in increments of one PPG we
solve for observed values of sonic velocity
utilizing the rearranged Eaton equation for sonic
velocities as in figure 14. The overlay can be
applied to the recalibrated sonic velocity trend
to determine pore pressures for all formations as
in figure 15. Note we had an additional known
pressure point of 8. 5 PPG at 9050 feet which
falls appropriately on the overlay.
SPE 19995 R. R. WEAKLEY 3

ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT POINT

Resistivity
It is important to recognize which side of
the sonic log trend lines need be drawn. In many • To solve for the exponent.
instances, it may be necessary to change from
one side to the other upon crossing 1i tho 1ogy
tops. In figure 16, we have picked lithology
tops for a well in the Gulf of Mexico. We find
Gp = G0 - [Go -Gn] ( :: l X

in this well, from close examination of the

sonic response with respect to the shales, that Gp - G0 = -[Go -Gn] ( :: (
between the depths of 9300 and 10400 feet, it
becomes necessary to switch from plotting trend
lines on the right to the left side of
the sonic as illustrated in figure 17. Gp .. Go =( Ro
l
X
In this Gulf Coast well, if we use the
regionally averaged pore pressure exponent of 3 -[Go- Gn] To
in the pore pressure equation, we determine pore
pressures to be a bit high as in figure 18. If
we determine an area specific exponent and
overlay for this well as described, we obtain LOG [Gp -Go]= LOG ( .!L )"
better accuracy as illustrated in figure 19. Gn -Go Rn

EXAMPLES OF RESULTS
The technique has been used on numerous
LOG [Gp -Go]
Gn .. Go
= X LOG ( .!L
Rn
l
wells around the world with great success. Some
examples appear in the figures to follow. Figure
20 represents the results for a Gulf of Mexico
well in 2300 feet of water. In figure 21 we have
another Indonesian well . Figure 22 captures a
well in Liberty County Texas. A well offshore
X = LOG [:: : :: J
Scotland appears in figure 23. The results for
another well offshore Norway appears in figure
24. LOG ( :
0
n
l
CONCLUSIONS • To solve for a required R0 given the exponent.
1. Pore pressure determinations are possible
from sonic velocity trends world wide.
2. The key in successfully determining
formation pore pressures is in accurate
location of lithology tops.
3. Creation of area specific overlays greatly
simplifies and aids in this pore pressure
determination process.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS _
Ro- Rn
[Gp - G0
G .G
]Yx
The author wishes to express appreciation to n- o
Chevron Services Co. for its permission to
publish this paper. Fig. 1-Resistivity pressure equation.

705
 SPE
19995
• To solve for the exponent:

Gp = G0 - [Go -Gn] ( ~:: r

• To solve for a required ~:::. ,.n given the exponent:

Gp- G0 ]
[ Gn-Go
lf: Mn
b.'l"o

Fig. 2-lnterval transit time pressure equation.

1000

2
2000 GP = G0 • [Ga • Gn] ( :: ) 1. Gulf Coast

GP = Go • [oo • Gn] ( ...!!.2...) x New Area

3000 An

• It at 7000". Am = .915, G0 = .9237, K1 = .755

4000 Gp = 12 PPII (.624) l A0 = .6

5000 X = LOG [Gp • G0

Gn • Go
Jj /LOG ( _.!!L )
I An

X = LOG [624 •. 923~ /LQG ( ...:!_

.468 •. 923~ I
)
6000 I.915
X = .993

•lfat7000', Gp= 12ppJ1 &A 0 = .4

X= -.182/LoG(-it5)
)(=.50&

• If at 7000', Gp = 12 PPI lo A0 = .8
9000
x = •. u2jLoG (-Tts)
X = 3.12
10,000 • If at 7000', X = 1.2, A0 = ?

11,000
_ [~]Vx
Ro- Rm Gn • Go

Ro = .915 [624 •. 923~ Vu

12,000 4&8 •.923~
R0 =.&55

13,000 • If at 7000', Gp = 12 PPII & A0 = 1.1

14,000
X = ·.182/LOG (.J:L)
.915
X = ·2.276

Fig. 3-Reslstlvlty exponents.

706
 0 ~------------------------~----------------------~ 0 r---------------------------------------------~--~
Older: Younger
f).Tn
1000 I .. 1000

~:: }
3 Once the exponent is known, assume pore
GP = Go - [Go - Gn] ( Gulf Coast pressures at a specified depth and solve
2000 2000
for R0 required at that depth
GP = G0 - [Go - Gn] ( ~:: }x New Area
• If at 10,000', R0 = 1.17, G0 = .9469, X = l.O
3000 3000 For PP = 10.0 PPG (.52) PPG, R0 = ?
• If at 7000', t.Tn = 94.5, G0 = .9237, K8 = .755
Gp = 12 PP.I (.624) l t.To= 130 _ [Gp - G0 ] 1/X
4000 4000 Ro- Rn - -
Gn -Go

x =LOG[~] /LOG(~)
t.T
G0 -G 0 0 .52 - .9469]
1
/1
5000 5{)00 7
R0 = 1.1 [ .468 - .9169
X = -.1821 LOG ( ~~: ) Determin the · R0 = 1.043
Normal Trend line

·:,,I
6000 ·····X= 3 6000 • For PP = 11.00 PPG (.572)
X= 1.314 for normally 1
.572 - .9469] /1

y•' 07 y.
pressured, normally : R0 = 1.17
[ .468- .9169
compacted section
7000 I PP = 1~0 PPG :_
• If at 7000', Gp = 12 PPI r. t.To = 220 7000 R0 = .916 ,

.....
Cl 8000 •. X~ ,:3~~1~ : /" ~ :559
X = -.182 I LOG ( ~!: ) 8000
• For PP = 12.00 PPG (.624)
1
624 - .9469] /1
..... 7
X = .559 R0 = 1.1 [ .468 - .9169

, .. .!...: .: ... lx = 1.314 Pick an arbitrary R0 = .789

9000 9000
•llat7000',x= 3,.::\T 0=? depth such as 10,000 :

..................
• For PP = 13.00 PPG (.676)

uT 0 =
t.Tn
/' , 676 - .9469]
= 1.17 [ .468-
1
/1
10,000
]tfx 10,000 , R0
Gp -G 0
[ Gn -Go 4121110 ~\: R0 = .662
.9169

11,000
u T 0 = 94.5 I f:624 - .9237] 1/3 11,000 • For PP = 14.00 PPG (.728)
Draw parallel lines,
1 l468 - .9237 through these points, . R0
7
728 - .9469] /1
= 1.1 [ .468 - .9169
1

12,000 12,000 to the Normal Trend line

uTa = 108.6 R0 = .535
• If at 7000', Gp = 12 PPI r. .::\T 0 = 80 • For PP = 15.00 PPG (.78)
13,000 13,000 1
.78- .9469] /1

I I LOG ( :~ 9 5 7
: : x = -.182 ) R0 = 1.1 [ .468 - .9169
: ___ . . . .·..........
14,000 R0 = .408
14.000 X = -2.516
ETC. m
-o
15,000
:'I 15,000 ~.
fT1
.2 .4 .6 .8 1.0 2 4 6 8 10.0 20 40 60 80 100.0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1.0 2 4 6 8 10.0 20 40 60 80 100.0 ~

....0
Fig. 4-lnterval transit time exponents. Fig. 5-Creating overlays. ...0
~
VI
 SPE 1 9 9 9 5

ORISMTH
-----.100 240-----------40 DTISMnt

1" 1000'

GR2SMnt
-----100

Fig. 6-Picklng lithology tops. Fig. 7-Picklng lithology tops.

- N ~ .... ""c,a,...oom ...

g
N
g
~
g
....
g g gggg
In w ,... .......
I
!

1000
1- !
:

\.
I

2000 ----- --------- - ------ .:~.

3000
:
4000 ·- -- ·--------· .. ·
I
..........

I
1.. :
i

I I i
:I

5000 ~-
i!: f I
I
~

i 'I i

6000 -- - .. ' ·___ .L\_ - __ __

, ~
,_ ...

7000 -----.---- liiJ ~ -- I

-~
=
1" 100' Sonic Plot

! :/1 i
Trends Racallbratad

8000
i i
1 \Y-i-----f--+ Across Litholop
Changes & Ch1n111
In Log Runs
l !
i I 11/15188
9000 -----:
I
I
10000
j i ! I Ill
Fig. B-Veloclty trends. Fig. 9-Velocltlea within lithologies.

708
 0':. :::: :'1 ~ ~ m~~=~

1000

2000

t5512-.850]
3000
LOG M72-:85
3000
X= -1.409
LOG (~)
246
. 4000 4000
For i>Tn
"''o=
[G p. Go r/X
5000 5000 ~
199
"''o=
ep - .85r099

~01
6000 .4472-.85

For: .!!! i>To

7000 9.0 1" =100' Sonic Plot
7000
10.0
Trends Recalibrated 11.0 Trends Recalibrated
Across Lithology 12.0 Across Lithology
8000 ··-·-·· c-~-._;.-····----+-t-i--H'-i---- ....• c-,r-'-1 Changes r. Changes BODO Changes r. Changes
In Log Runs In Log Runs

11/15/88
9000 9000

10000 10000
Fig. 10-Recallbrated velocity trends. Fig. 11-Developlng the area specific overlay .

. r-34_.5_6
1000
0

-----n
Predicted Po. re Pres. sure Fr.om
Sonic Log ~· -·· r -
I
13 3/8" Csg.
::1 . .
2000

3000
·r·
!
I

I
J __
i
::II
5000
@ 4900' G0 - .735 PSI/Ft
@ 5900' G0 - .758 PSI/Ft
G ~8.5PPG = .422 PSI/Ft
11
11.2PPG = .582 PSI/Ft

- Known Pressure Point LOG [Gp. Go]

4000
10.6 ppg at 3800'
.~ 5/8" Ca •
6000 I X=
Gn·Go

LOG(~)
5000 7~00 I i>To

I 82 • .735J
~
8000
LOG--
6000
9000 I X=
422 • .735

7000
10000 I LOG(+)

6.077

8000 .----:--+-- 11000

; • Predicted Pore Pressure

i i• Actual Mud Weight I 12000
9000 -~----·------·-----+'-----+-----1

10000
8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Predicted Pore Pressure & Actual Mud Weight (PPG)
Fig. 12-Pore pressure vs. mud weights. Fig. 13-Checklng the pressure exponent.

709
 ~-3_"-.5_6_7_8_9_!0_2_3__4_5_&_7_8_910 ' ~-3_4_5_6_7_8_9_!0_2_,_'--'!....'_,_._.i,

1000 I 1000 I
I
Creating Overlay Applying Created

2000 I 1" = 1000'

2 cycle semi-log
2000
Overlay to Sonic
Log Trends

I 9/17/88

:II
5000
@ 5900'1 G0 = .758 PSIIFI 3000

4000

5000
I
I • 11.2 Known I
I

I 44.5 I • 12.4PPG Known I

I
6000 6000

7000 I ~p • .758J .165

l422 • .758 7000 I q
8000 I ll.To =45.6 8000 I
9000 I
47
49.1
51.8 9000 I • 8.5PPG Known

I 56.2
66.3
I :I
,_l
10000
10000

11000 I 110001 d

-----------
Fig. 14-Pore pressure overlay.
,_L ______j Fig. 15-Pore pressure determination.

Decision when
to shift from
reading shale
velocities on
right side to
left side of
sonic log
approx. ±
10400' was
chosen

Fig. 16-Picklng lithology tops. Fig. 17-Veloclty trends.

710
 SPE 19 9 9 5

--------.-.-l
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
-------"--l
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Pore Pres Sonic

Using Reg. Avg.
Expon 3.0

Fig. 18-Uslng regionally averaged exponent. Fig. 19-Uslng area specific exponent.

8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

0.0 ------------------------------~

1000

2000

§
-= 3000

::I ~ 13-318: CSG Ft. at 3393'

Q
c;
u
t:
ID 4000
>

:I10~
ID
2
1-
9-5/8" CSG. Ft. at 4853'
5000

Mud Weight
I ' T -1
6000
Pore Pressure

::L_.._. _:_~L-•,_·L__' TJ
l_
Fig. 20-Deepwater example.
12.0 14.0 16.0
Pore Pressure (Sonic) & Actual Mud Weight (PPG)
Fig. 21-lndoneslan example.
18.0 20.0

711
 SPE 1 9 9 9 5

8000 2000

9000 3000

10000 4000

11000 5000

12000 - ---~-----~-------~--------------+-- -··-t --- 6000 -i--~----;--~---1 --T--1--j---

i i iMw~
13000 7000
----+--_: I H J · I Ujed . ---:--+_i
14000 · -t----+---1-----~
--~~ I : : -t' 8000
i !

; ;
! I

15000 ------ - ... _, ____ 1_______; _____ ~---·----·- -------- :__ 9000 I ·---:---·---- -----··--..-....-·---·-·

10000

11000
1---'--+--11--1

-Pore Pres -
I
t -;-----t---'-~-
1

~
1
1

..
,
1
1

I I i : .
!
J
J

MW Used -.--:---
:
!
1
'
t
r
---

12000 .l.r~o~ic -""!'

____ --- -- ;_·----i-----l----l---j----(---j---
1

I
) 1
I
:_
•
:
:
1
1 !
I
I. !I ;
I

JT-r-~-·tll-rt-
13000

14000
Fig. 22-Eaat Texaa example. Fig. 23-North Saa example.

---:-.-.--.--l
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

I
I

Fig, 24-Norway example.

712