Assignment #3 PE313 Drilling and Well Design Name:

Overburden, Hydrostatic and Fracture Pressure

1- What is the effect of compaction on pore pressure and overburden stress?

2- Compute the normal formation pressure expect at a depth of 5,500 ft for these areas:
West Texas, US gulf coast, California, Rocky Mountains, Anadarko basin.
Hint! Use the water densities from the lecture handouts.
3- Compute the vertical overburden stress at 5500 ft with an overburden gradient of 22
lb/gal.
4- For the Gulf of Mexico, compute the vertical overburden stress at 5500 ft with an
overburden gradient of 22 lb/gal where the water depth is 1000 ft.
5- How is the overburden pressure being changed with water depth?
6- Plot the 5 LOT tests and calculate the LOP point for all 5 tests.

7- For the LOT data in question 6 the mud weight used was 11 lb/gal down to 2500 ft and
14 lb/gal after 2500 ft. Calculate the fracture mud weight for all depths in question 6.
8- Determine the fracture gradient with a kick margin of 0.3 ppg.