Overpressure

Prediction, Detection and Consequences

Training course

Module 1
Introduction, basic concepts and mechanisms

Basic concepts

Key Terms
Overpressure Pore pressure Overburden Hydrostatic pressure Fracture pressure Normal pressure Underbalance Under pressure

Overpressure
Subsurface pressure that is abnormally high, exceeding hydrostatic pressure at a given depth. Abnormally high pore pressure can occur in areas where burial of fluid filled sediments is so rapid that pore fluids cannot escape, so that the pressure of the pore fluids increases as overburden increases. Drilling into overpressured strata can be hazardous because overpressured fluids escape rapidly, so careful preperation is made in areas of known overpressure.

Pore pressure
Pore pressure is the pressure of the fluid contained in the pore spaces of sediments or the rocks. It is also called formation pressure

Overburden
Overburden pressure at a given depth is the pressure exerted by the weight of the overlying sediments. Offshore the depth of the sea and height of the air gap are also included.

Pressure Definitions
Overburden Stress

S P

S P sV
S = Overburden stress P = Pore pressure

sv = Effective vertical
stress

Hydrostatic pressure
Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of a static column of fluid. It is a function of the height of the column and the fluid density only

Fracture pressure
A formation can be made to fracture by the application of fluid pressure to overcome the least line of resistance within the rock structure. Normally fractures will be propagated in direction perpendicular to the least principal stress. Which of these three stresses is the least can be predicted by the fault activity in the area.

Rock Stress in the Earth

Vertical and Horizontal Components
V
Vertical Stress Horizontal Stress

H1

H2

Horizontal stress is typically 1/3 of vertical stress

Normal pressure
Also referred to as Normal Formation Hydrostatic Pressure. If no barriers occur to prevent the free movement of fluids within a formation, then it is reasonable to assume that the pore fluid will be homogeneous through all formations from the surface down. In offshore wells the normal pore fluid is therefore expected to be the local sea water.

Origins of Formation Pressure

Pore Pressure

Water Migrating to Surface

The pressure of the naturally occurring fluids within the earth. Normal formation pressure is equal to the hydrostatic pressure of formation water at the vertical depth of interest. Pore pressure gradients can be Normal (0.433 - 0.465 psi/ft) Abnormal (> 0.465 psi/ft) Subnormal (< 0.433 psi/ft)

Transition Shale

Examples of different normal pressures

EMW - PPG Fresh water (land wells)
North sea Mediterranean

Gradient psi/ft 0.433

0.452 0.458

EMW - SG 1.00
1.04 1.06

8.33
8.66 8.80

Underpressure
Any pressure which is less than the local normal pressure is deemed to be underpressure. Commonly Underpressure is caused by depletion due to production.

Underbalance
Underbalance is of far more importance than overpressure during drilling operations. This occurs where the pore pressure is greater than the mud pressure. The resulting pressure imbalance provides a driving force which can cause fluids to flow from the formation into the well bore, or for the walls of the well to be pushed into the hole. The result is a fluid influx or stuck pipe.

Problems caused by Underbalance

Hole collapses
Hole problems can indicate Underbalance (or indeed Overbalance)
Loss of circulation loss of hydrostatic Torque and drag increases Stuck pipe working pipe during well control may induce loss of circulation Gas cut mud or contamination by H2S or CO2 can lead to loss of well control

Leak-Off Test
Measures Horizontal Stress
Pump Off Leak-off Initial Shut-in Pressure Minimum Horizontal Stress (Sb)

Fluid Compression 0 Pressure 10 Shut-in Time (Minutes) Record every minute for 20 minutes or until pressure stabilizes. 20

Linear Increase

Pre-existing Fractures Opened by ECD

Volume Pumped (litres)

Pressure Gradients
Pressure Gradient = Density (ppg) x 0.052
Useful Gradients to Remember Substance Fresh Water Sea Water Formation Water Overburden Weight 8.33 ppg 8.6 ppg 8.9 ppg 19.2 ppg Gradient 0.433 psi/ft 0.445 psi/ft 0.465 psi/ft 1.0 psi/ft

Pressure Gradient is the rate of change of pressure with depth

Pressure Gradients
Pressure Gradient = Density (ppg) x 0.052 0.052 is a conversion constant used to convert ppg to a gradient The units of 0.052 are psi/ft/ppg Fresh water has a gradient of 0.433psi/ft 0.433 / 0.052 = 8.33 8.33ppg is the density of fresh water

Hydrostatic Pressure Formula

PHYD = MW x FT x 0.052 This can be rearranged to: EMW = PHYD / (FT x 0.052)

Pressure calculations always use True Vertical Depth and NOT Measured Depth

Hydrostatic Pressure Constants

PPG x FT x 0.052 = PSI
SG x FT x 0.433 = PSI SG x MT x 1.420 = PSI PPG x MT x 0.171 = PSI

Hydrostatic Calculation - Question

What is the overbalance at the bottom of a well at 7493 ft TVD, with a MW of 9.5 ppg and a pore pressure of 3592 psi? Give results in EMW ppg, psi/ft and SG

Hydrostatic Calculation - Answer

Given EMW = PHYD / (FT x 0.052) Then for pore pressure EMW ppg = 3592 / (7493 x 0.052) So pore pressure = 9.22 ppg EMW As MW = 9.5 ppg the overbalance is 0.28 ppg EMW Given PPG x FT x 0.052 = PSI Then overbalance in PSI = 0.28 x 7493 x 0.052 = 109 PSI And finally, given Pressure Gradient = Density (ppg) x 0.052 So 0.28 x 0.052 = 0.0146 psi/ft

Mechanisms of Overpressure

Key Terms
Hydrocarbon Reservoirs Aquifiers Disequilibrium Compaction Charged Sands Aquathermal Pressuring Clay Diagenesis Tectonics Diapirism

Hydrocarbon Reservoirs
In sealed reservoir rocks such as lenticular reservoirs, dipping formations, and anticlines, formation pressures normal for the deepest part of the zone will be transmitted to the shallower end, where they will cause abnormal pressure conditions.

Hydrocarbon Reservoirs
Pressures from the deepest part of the reservoir are transmitted to the shallowest.

D1

D2

Pressure in Reservoir Top

PHYD = (D2 x Pf) ((D2-D1)Pg) Where PHYD = Pressure at reservoir top (psi) Pf = Water fluid gradient (psi/ft) Pg = Gas gradient (psi/ft) D2 = Depth of bottom of reservoir (ft) D1 = Depth of top of reservoir (ft)

Pressure in Reservoir Top - Question

Given the following scenario: Pg = 0.14 psi/ft Pf = 0.45 psi/ft D2 = 5500 ft D1 = 5000 ft What is the pressure at the top of the reservoir in ppg EMW?

Pressure in Reservoir Top - Answer

Given: PHYD = (D2 x Pf) ((D2-D1)Pg) Then PHYD =(5500 x 0.45) ((5500 5000) 0.14) P = 2405 psi To convert to psi use: EMW = PHYD / (FT x 0.052) EMW = 2405 / (5000 x 0.052) = 9.25 ppg EMW

Aquifers
In most instances an aquifer is a shallow sand which outcrops on nearby mountains at an elevation appreciably higher than that of the well. Water entering at the outcrop influences the pressure encountered in the well-bore. Although this pressure is essentially hydrostatic, it gives the illusion of geopressure because of the increased column height.

Aquifers

Disequilibrium Compaction
Also referred to as Undercompaction or Sedimentary loading. Rapid deposition of sediments (with respect to geological time) can mean that fluid flow has been so restricted that it has not yet escaped.

Dewatering with Compaction

Normal formation pressure is equal to the hydrostatic pressure of formation water at the vertical depth of interest. As compaction occurs the strata is dewatered due to compression, water escapes to the surface

Water Migrating to Surface

Transition Shale

Disequilibrium Compaction

Ocean or River Bed

Normal Pressure Seal or Cap Rock Abnormally Pressured Zone Permeable Formation

Disruption in the balance or rate of sedimentation and rate of expulsion of pore water A seal traps the pressure

Charged Sands
High pressures can occur in shallow sands if they are charged by gas from lower formations.

Aquathermal Pressuring
Work by Kennedy & Holser (1966) first indicated that water heated in a closed vessel will increase about 125 psi/F. Thus a formation which is completely isolated can have pore pressure increased by 1000 psi as a result of only 8 F increase in temperature.

Clay Diagenesis
As montmorillonite alters to illite during clay diagenesis, inter-layer bound water is desorbed and becomes free water. Large volumes of water are released by this process, which can increase the pore fluid pressure. Note that the increased pore fluid pressure will eventually act against the diagenetic process, as the pressure causing expulsion of the fluid from the clay layers equilibrates with the pore fluid pressure. As a consequence, diagenesis is halted by overpressures.

Clay Diagenesis

Tectonics
Tectonic activity (earth movement) can modify the pressure profile and stress directions of a region through several distinct mechanisms. Either one or more of these mechanisms may act together in a region and seismic data or analysis of the depositional and structural history may predict their occurrence.

Tectonics - Uplift
Formations at depth which are normally compacted may be uplifted to a shallower depth. Should the original pressure be retained and part of the overlying strata eroded then abnormal pressure gradients will result, these are referred to as palaeopressures.

Tectonics - Uplift

Tectonics - Faults
Faulting may have many different effects on the distribution of pressure. Uplift of strata Movement of pressure along fault planes or associated fractures. Realignment of permeable and impermeable Zones

Pressure Distribution due to faulting

Diapirism
The upward movement of low density salt due to its buoyancy can disturb the normal layering of sediments, producing pressure anomalies. Overpressured zones often occur due to the faulting and folding actions associated with diapirism. Additionally, the salt may act as an impermeable seal preventing lateral dewatering of clays.

Diapirism

Why Monitor Pore Pressure?

More effective well planning. Maximum ROP with minimum mud weight. More economical selection of casing points. Minimum trouble from lost circulation and kicks. A better understanding of local geology and drilling problems.

Mud Weight and Formation Pressure

Standard drilling practice is to have the mud weight as close as possible to balance with formation pressure. Reasons for this are:
To minimise the risk of lost circulation. To minimise the risk of differential sticking To minimise formation damage. To maintain an optimum ROP.

End of Module Summary -Key Terms

Overpressure Pore pressure Overburden Hydrostatic pressure Fracture pressure Normal pressure Underbalance Under pressure
Hydrocarbon Reservoirs Aquifiers Disequilibrium Compaction Charged Sands Aquathermal Pressuring Clay Diagenesis Tectonics Diapirism