Formation Pressures and Hydrostatics

In work, engineers use a variety of conversion factors and constants to calculate the various pressures
and gradients (and to convert between them) involved in drilling wells. The most common is 0.052. A
column of fresh water 1” square and 12” tall will exert a pressure of 0.433 psi/ft: P = 62.4 lb/ft3 = 0.433
psi/ft 144 (in2 per ft2 ) So, a fluid column of 8.33ppg (fresh water) exerts a pressure of 0.433psi/ft \ a
column of any fluid of any density will exert a pressure of 0.433 = 0.0519 psi/ft per ppg 8.33 The metric
equivalent (for use with specific gravity and metres) is 1.421