HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE

Hydrostatic pressure is defined as the pressure exerted by a column of fluid.

HP = g x ρf x D
HP = hydrostatic pressure g = gravitational acceleration
ρf = average fluid density D = true vertical depth or
height of the column

In the Imperial system of units

HP (psi) = 0.052 x ρf (ppg) x D (ft)
Hydrostatic pressure gradient is given by:
HG (psi/ft) = HP (psi) / D (ft)
 HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE

1 Calculate the hydrostatic pressure for the following wells:

a. mud weight = 9 ppg, hole depth = 10100 ft MD

(measured depth), 9900 ft TVD (true vertical depth)
b. mud gradient = 0.468 psi / ft, hole depth = 10100 ft
MD
(measured depth), 9900 ft TVD (true vertical depth)
 OVERBURDEN PRESSURE
• The overburden pressure is defined as the pressure exerted by the total
weight of overlying formations above the point of interest.

• The total weight is the combined weight of both the formation solids (rock
matrix) and formation fluids in the pore space.

• The density of the combined weight is referred to as the bulk density (ρb).

σov = 0.052 x ρb x D

σov = overburden pressure (psi)

ρb = formation bulk density (ppg) D = true vertical depth (ft)
 OVERBURDEN PRESSURE
A useful equation for calculating the overburden gradient
under conditions of varying lithological and pore fluid density is given by:
σovg= 0.433 [(1 – φ)ρma + (φ * ρf)]

(the factor 0.433 converts bulk density from gm/cc to psi/ft)

As a gradient (EMW) in ppg:

σovg= overburden gradient, psi/ft φ= porosity

ρf= formation fluid density, gm/cc ρma= matrix density, gm/cc
OVERBURDEN PRESSURE
 OVERBURDEN PRESSURE
CONVERSION
• To convert densities from gm/cc to gradients in psi/ft
Gradient (psi/ft) = 0.433 x (gm /cc)
• To convert from psi/ft to ppg,
Density (ppg) = gradient (psi/ft) / 0.052

2. Calculate the overburden gradient for the following:

Formation type: sandstone, density = 2.65 gm/cc
Formation water: 1.03 gm/cc
For porosities 5%, 20% and 35%.
 EFFECT OF WATER DEPTH ON
OVERBURDEN GRADIENT
• In offshore operations, the depth of the sea (length of the water column)
determines the overburden gradient.

• The overburden gradient is reduced due to water being less dense than
rock and for a given height.

• The hydrostatic head caused by water is less than that caused by any
rock.

• Hence, offshore wells will have lower overburden gradient near the
surface
.
 OVERBURDEN PRESSURE
OVERBURDEN GRADIENT CALCULATIONS FOR OFFSHORE WELLS
3. Determine the overburden gradient at various depths for the
following offshore well:
Water Depth= 500 ft
RKB/MSL= 65 ft
Specific gravity of sea
water= 1.03 gm/cc
Rock density= 1.9 gm/cc
from seabed to
1000ft, and
2.1gm/cc from
1000-
30
00
ft
 Understand About Formation Pressure
Formation pressure is the pressure of fluid contained in pore space of rock
and there are 3 categories of the formation pressure which are normal
pressure, abnormal pressure and subnormal pressure.
 PORE PRESSURE
PORE PRESSURE
• Pore pressure is defined as the pressure of the fluids in the pore spaces of
the rock.
NORMAL PORE PRESSURE
• Normal pore pressure is equal to the hydrostatic pressure of a column of
formation fluid extending from the surface to the subsurface formation
being considered
ABNORMAL PORE PRESSURE
• Abnormal pore pressure is defined as any pore pressure that is greater
than the hydrostatic pressure of the formation fluid occupying the pore
space.
SUBNORMAL PORE PRESSURE
• Subnormal pore pressure is defined as any formation pressure that is
less
Normal Pressure:
Normal pressure is the hydrostatic of water column from the surface to the
subsurface formation.  It can be simply stated that normal pressure is equal
to hydrostatic pressure gradient of water in pore spaces of  formations on
each area. The concentration of salt in water affects the normal pressure.
Higher salt concentration in water, higher specific gravity of water will be.
Therefore, the normal pressure can vary from slightly salt 0.433 psi/ft (8.33
PPG) to highly concentrated salt 0.478 psi/ft (9.2 PPG) based on salt
concentration in water. Table 1 demonstrates the average normal pressure
gradient based on several areas.
 CAUSES OF ABNORMAL PORE
PRESSURE
• Generally, the abnormal pressure zones are good reservoir which oil
companies are looking for. This kind of pressure has the highest
potential leading to a well control problem. Abnormal pore pressure
is developed as a result of a combination of geological, geochemical,
geophysical and mechanical process

 DEPOSITIONAL EFFECTS
 DIAGENETIC PROCESSES
 TECTONIC EFFECTS
 STRUCTURAL CAUSES
 THERMODYNAMIC PROCESSES
 ABNORMAL PORE PRESSURE
EVALUATION
There are basically three methods for detecting and measuring pore
pressure:

1. Mud logging methods: includes measurements of drilling

parameters and evaluation of drill cuttings and gas levels at
surface

2. Measurement While Drilling, logging while

drilling and wireline logging methods

3. Direct methods: DST(Drill Stem Test), production tests and

RFT(Repeat formation Tester)
 RATE OF PENETRATION
Drill bits break the rock by a combination of several processes including: Compression
(weight-on-bit), shearing (rpm) and sometimes jetting action of the drilling fluid.
The speed of drilling is described as the rate of penetration (ROP) and is
measured in ft/hr.
The ROP is affected by parameters namely: Weight On Bit (WOB); Revolutions Per
Minute (RPM); bit type; bit wear; hydraulic efficiency; degree of overbalance; drilling
fluid properties, hydrostatic pressure and hole size.
If all parameters affecting ROP are held constant whilst drilling a uniform shale sequence
then ROP should decrease with depth.
• Limitations of ROP

ROP is affected by changes in WOB, RPM, bit type, hole size, bit wear, hydraulics, mud
parameters and lithology
Experimental work has shown that the effect of increasing pore pressure on ROP is
limited to a differential pressure of 500 psi. However, when the overbalance is
greater than 500 psi,ROP shows little change over large changes in differential
pressure.
 OVER BALANCE /CHDP

The difference between the mud hydrostatic pressure and pore pressure is
called the overbalance or "Chip Hold Down Pressure (CHDP)".

This overbalance prevents formation fluids from entering the wellbore

while drilling.
 D-Exponent
• The D Exponent basically attempts to correct the ROP for changes in
RPM, weight on bit and hole size.
• The D exponent is the culmination of the work of Bingham (1965)
and
Jordan and Shirley (1967)

d= D Exponent, in d-units ROP= penetration rate (ft/hr)

RPM= rotary speed (rpm) WOB= weight on bit (lbs.)
B= diameter of the bit, inch
The d-exponent evaluates the drillability of a particular formation, and as
porosity decreases with depth, drilling will become proportionally more
difficult, resulting in an increase in the exponent.
• As the overpressured zone
is encountered the
formation becomes less
dense and have
will higher a
porosity
normally pressured than
rock at a
the same depth.

• The decrease in rock

strength results in a greater
rate of penetration and
hence a reduction in dc
exponent.
 D-EXPONENT

4 Calculate the d exponent for the following

well B = 12.25"
WOB= 50,000 lb
RPM = 80
ROP=30 ft/hr
 MODIFIED D-Exponent
• A further modification of the D exponent was proposed by Rehm et
al., who attempted to correct the D Exponent for the effect of
changes in mud weight.

dc= corrected D Exponent (dimensionless)

NPP= normal pore pressure gradient (ppg)
ECD= equivalent circulating density (ppg)
 PORE PRESSURE CALCULATION
FROM DC EXPONENT DATA
• Eaton Method
• Record the value of the normal trendline dc (dcn) and observe dc (dco)
at the depth of interest.
• Record the overburden gradient from the overburden plot at the depth
of interest.
• Use the following formula to calculate pore pressure:

• PP= Pore pressure (ppg)

• σov= Overburden (ppg)
• Pn= Normal pore pressure gradient (ppg)
• dco= Observed value of dc at depth of interest
• dcn= Normal trendline value of dc at depth of interest
 PORE PRESSURE CALCULATION
FROM DC EXPONENT DATA
• Ratio Method

where
• PP= Pore pressure (ppg)
• Pn= Normal pore pressure (ppg)
• dco= Observed d exponent
• dcn= Normal trendline value of d exponent
 PORE PRESSURE CALCULATION
FROM DC EXPONENT DATA
5. PORE PRESSURE FROM D EXPONENT

Using the Eaton Method, calculate the pore pressure at depth

12000 ft given: (refer to Figure for trend)

dcn (from normal trend) = 1.5 d-units

dco (from new trend) = 1.1 d-units
Overburden gradient = 19 ppg
Normal pore pressure in area = 9 ppg
 LIMITATION OF D-Exponent

• It can only be used to calculate pore pressures in clean shales or

clean argillaceous limestones.
• Large increases in mud weight cause lower values of dc.
• dc exponent values are affected by lithology, poor hydraulics, type of
bit, bit wear, motor or turbine runs and unconformities in the
 MWD & LWD
• SONIC LOGS
• The sonic log measures the transit time (Δt) for sonic wave to travel through
the formation from transmitter to receiver.

• The sonic speed is reduced by presence of fluids in the formation

pores and their volumes (porosity)

• The sonic tool records the sound travel time ΔT (µsec/ft), which is the
time
taken by sound wave to travel through 1 ft. of the formation.

• In a shale sequence showing a normal compaction profile (and therefore

normal pressure); the transit time should decrease with depth due to the
decreased porosity and increasing density.

• Abnormally pressured shales tend to have higher porosity and lower density
than normally pressured shales at the same depth. Hence the travel time
values will be higher.
 MWD & LWD
• SONIC LOGS
• Pore pressure can be
calculated at the point of
interest using the following
Eaton equation:

PP =Pore pressure (ppg)

σov =Overburden (ppg)
Pn =Normal pore
pressure (ppg)
tn =Normal pore pressure trendline t value at depth of interest
 PORE PRESSURE CALCULATION
FROM DC EXPONENT DATA
6. Pore Pressure From Sonic Logs

A sonic log was run in a well at 8000 ft. The normal transit
time (Δtn) for this depth is 110ms and from logs (Δt0) is 130
ms.
Calculate the pore pressure at 8000 ft if the overburden
pressure is 7,500 psi. Normal pore pressure gradient is
0.465psi/ft.
 MWD & LWD

• The key difference between LWD and MWD tools is that LWD data
are recorded into downhole memory and retrieved when the tools
reach the surface,

• Whereas MWD data are transmitted through the drilling fluid by

means of a modulated pressure wave (mud pulsing or fluid pulse
telemetry) and monitored in real time at the surface.

• After drilling, LWD tools are retrieved and the data are
downloaded from each tool to a computer which then undergo
further processing and analyses by the onboard logging scientists.
 MWD & LWD
• RESISTIVITY LOGS
• The basic theory relies upon shale
resistivity increasing with depth in
normally pressured shale as the
porosity decreases.
An increasing porosity, and thus higher
pore water content, is indicative of
abnormally pressured shales and
will result in lower resistivity.
The magnitude of the abnormal pore
pressure can be calculated
using an Eaton type equation
 MWD & LWD
• FORMATION DENSITY LOGS
• A density logging tool consists of a radioactive source which bombards the
formation with medium energy gamma rays. The gamma rays collide with
electrons in the formation resulting in scattering of the gamma rays. The
degree of scattering is directly related to the electron density and therefore
the bulk density of the formation.

• When entering a zone of abnormal pore

pressure, a decrease in shale bulk density
values from the normal compaction
trendline is observed.
 DIRECT MEASUREMENTS OF PORE
PRESSURE
• REPEAT FORMATION TESTER (RFT) DATA
• A RFT is a wireline tool used to sample fluid formation and formation
pressure. The tool is lowered into the well to a producing zone. By opening
a value, fluid is allowed to flow into the tool. As the fluid is flowing, the
formation fluid pressure is also measured. The pressure is used to
calculated formation permeability. The repeat formation tester is run on an
open hole.

• DRILL STEM TEST (DST) DATA

• DST is a method of testing formations for pressure and fluid. A Drill stem
with a packer is run and set just above the zone to be tested. The packer is
set and a DST valve is opened to allow the reservoir to communicate with
the inside of the drillstem. The drillstem is run with several pressure gauges.
The purpose of the pressure gauges is to record the downhole pressure
during the sequence of flow and shut in periods that comprise the DST.