1

PETE 411
Well Drilling
Lesson 21
Prediction of
Abnormal Pore Pressure
2
Prediction of
Abnormal Pore Pressure
Resistivity of Shale
Temperature in the Return Mud
Drilling Rate Increase
d
c
- Exponent
Sonic Travel Time
Conductivity of Shale
3
HW #11
Slip Velocity
Due 10-28-02
Read:
Applied Drilling Engineering, Ch. 6
4
Shale Resistivity
vs. Depth
1. Establish trend
line in normally
pressured shale
2. Look for
deviations from
this trend line
(semi-log)
5
EXAMPLE
Shale Resistivity
vs. Depth
1. Establish normal
trend line
2. Look for
deviations
(semi-log)
6
Shale Resistivity
vs. Depth
1. Establish normal
trend line
2. Look for
deviations
3. Use OVERLAY
to quantify
pore pressure
(use with caution)
Pore Pressure
(lb/gal equivalent)
16 14 12 10
9 ppg
(normal)
7
Shale Density , g/cc
D
e
p
t
h
,


f
t
8
Mud Temperature in flowline, deg F
D
e
p
t
h
,


f
t
9
Example
8.2 X
Why?
10
Example
8.8 X
Thermal conductivity, heat capacity, pore pressure...
11
P
HYD
- P
PORE
, psi
12
P = (P
2
- P
1
)1,000
Effect of Differential Pressure
13
Typical Drilling Rate Profiles - Shale
The drilling rate in a normally
pressured, solid shale
section will generally
generate a very steady and
smooth drilling rate curve.
The penetration rate will be
steady and not erratic
(normally pressured, clean
shale).
Shale
14
Typical Drilling Rate Profiles - Sand
The drilling rate in a sand will
probably generate an erratic
drilling rate curve.
Sands in the Gulf Coast area
are generally very
unconsolidated. This may
cause sloughing, accompanied
by erratic torque, and
temporarily, erratic drilling
rates.
Sand
15
Typical Drilling Rate Profiles - Shaley Sands
This is generally the most
troublesome type drilling rate curve
to interpret.
Many times this curve will look
similar to a solid shale curve that
is moving into a transition zone.
Shaley Sands
Note: This is a prime example why you should not base
your decision on only one drilling parameter, even
though the drilling rate parameter is one of the better
parameters.
16
Typical Drilling Rate Profiles
If you are drilling close to
balanced, there will probably
be a very smooth, (gradual)
increase in the drilling rate.
This is due to the difference
between the hydrostatic
head and the pore pressure
becoming smaller.
p
Transition Zone
Shale
17
Typical Drilling Rate Profiles
Transition Zone
Shale
As the pressure becomes
very small, the gas in the pores
has a tendency to expand which
causes the shale particles to pop
from the wall. This is called
sloughing shale.
The transition zone generally
has a higher porosity, making
drilling rates higher. In a clean
shale the ROP will increase in a
smooth manner.
p
18
Typical Drilling Rate Profiles
Note:
If you are drilling overbalanced in a transition it
will be very difficult to pick up the
transition zone initially.
This will allow you to move well into the
transition zone before detecting the problem.
19
Typical Drilling Rate Profiles
This could cause you to move into a permeable
zone which would probably result in a kick.
The conditions you create with overbalanced
hydrostatic head will so disguise the pending
danger that you may not notice the small
effect of the drilling rate curve change. This
will allow you to move well into that transition
zone without realizing it.
20
Determination of Abnormal Pore
Pressure Using the d
c
- exponent
From Ben Eaton:
2 . 1
cn
c
n
d
d
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
(

|
.
|

\
|
=
21
Where
trend normal the from onent exp d d
plot from ent expon d actual d
psi/ft gradient, stress overburden
D
S
psi/ft 0.465, or 0.433 e.g.,
area in gradient water normal
D
P
psi/ft gradient, pressure formation
D
P
c cn
c c
n
=
=
=
=

=
2 . 1
cn
c
n
d
d
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
|
|
.
|

\
|
(

|
.
|

\
|
=
22
Example
Calculate the pore
pressure at depth X using
the data in this graph.
Assume:
West Texas location with
normal overburden of
1.0 psi/ft.
X = 12,000 ft.
X
1.2 1.5
d
c
23
Example
From Ben Eaton:
psi/ft 5662 . 0
D
P
5 . 1
2 . 1
] 433 . 0 0 . 1 [ 0 . 1
d
d
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
2 . 1
2 . 1
cn
c
n
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
(

|
.
|

\
|
=
24
Example
lbm/gal 9 . 10
12,000 x 0.052
6794
EMW
psi 6794 000 , 12 x 5662 . 0 P
= =
= =
25
E.S. Pennebaker
Used seismic field data for the
detection of abnormal pressures.
Under normally pressured conditions the
sonic velocity increases with depth.
(i.e. Travel time decreases with depth)
(why?)
26
E.S. Pennebaker
Any departure from this trend is an
indication of possible abnormal
pressures.
Pennebaker used overlays to estimate
abnormal pore pressures from the
difference between normal and actual
travel times.
27
Interval Travel Time, sec per ft
28
Ben Eaton
also found a way to determine pore pressure
from interval travel times.
Example:
In a Gulf Coast well, the speed of sound is 10,000
ft/sec at a depth of 13,500 ft. The normal speed
of sound at this depth, based on extrapolated
trends, would be 12,000 ft/sec. What is the pore
pressure at this depth?
Assume: S/D = 1.0 psi/ft
29
Ben Eaton
From Ben Eaton,
psi/ft 0.6904
12,000
10,000
0.465] - [1.0 - 1.0
t
t
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P
3
0 . 3
n
n
=
|

\
|
=
|

\
|

\
|
=
( t 1/v )
30
Ben Eaton
From Ben Eaton
Note: Exponent is 3.0 this time,
NOT 1.2!
= (0.6904 / 0.052) = 13.28 lb/gal
p = 0.6904 * 13,500 = 9,320 psig
31
Equations for Pore Pressure Determination
2 . 1
c
c
n
normal d
calculated d
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P

=
2 . 1
n
obs
n
R
R
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P

=
ACTUAL
NORMAL
B
6
C
*
D 10
W 12
log
N 60
R
log
d
2 . 1
o
n
n
C
C
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P

=
0 . 3
o
n
n
t
t
D
P
D
S
D
S
D
P

=
32
Pore Pressure Determination
33
EXAMPLE 3 - An Application...
Mud Weight = 10 lb/gal. (0.52 psi/ft)
Surface csg. Set at 2,500 ft.
Fracture gradient below surf. Csg = 0.73 psi/ft
Drilling at 10,000 ft in pressure transition zone
* Mud weight may be less than pore pressure!
DETERMINE Maximum safe underbalance
between mud weight and pore pressure if well
kicks from formation at 10,000 ft.
34
Pressure, psi
D
e
p
t
h
,


f
t
Casing Seat
10,000
Mud Wt. Grad
= 0.52 psi/ft
FractureGradient
= 0.73 psi/ft
0.73 0.52 = 0.21 (psi/ft)
5,200
2,500
35
Example 3 - Solution
The danger here is fracturing the formation near
the casing seat at 2,500 ft.
The fracture gradient at this depth is 0.73 psi/ft,
and the mud weight gradient is 0.52 psi/ft.
So, the additional permissible pressure gradient
is 0.73 0.52 = 0.21 psi/ft, at the casing seat.
This corresponds to an additional pressure of
P = 0.21 psi/ft * 2,500 ft = 525 psi
36
Example 3 Solution contd
This additional pressure, at 10,000 ft, is also
525 psi, and would amount to an additional
pressure gradient of:
525 psi / 10,000 ft = 0.0525 psi/ft
This represents an equivalent mud weight of
0.0525 / 0.052 = 1.01 lb/gal
This is the kick tolerance for a small kick!
37
Problem #3 - Alternate Solution
When a well kicks, the well is shut in
and the wellbore pressure increases
until the new BHP equals the new
formation pressure.
At that point influx of formation fluids
into the wellbore ceases.
Since the mud gradient in the wellbore
has not changed, the pressure
increases uniformly everywhere.
38
Wellbore Pressure, psi
D
e
p
t
h
,


f
t
P
Casing Seat at 2,500 ft
Kick at 10,000 ft
Before Kick
After Kick and
Stabilization
525
525
39
At 2,500 ft
Initial mud pressure = 0.52 psi/ft * 2,500 ft = 1,300 psi
Fracture pressure = 0.73 psi/ft * 2,500 ft = 1,825 psi
Maximum allowable increase in pressure = 525 psi
At 10,000 ft
Maximum allowable increase in pressure = 525 psi
(since the pressure increases uniformly everywhere).
This corresponds to an increase in mud weight of
525 / (0.052 * 10,000) = 1.01 lb/gal
= maximum increase in EMW
= kick tolarance for a small kick size.
40
Wellbore Pressure, psi
D
e
p
t
h
,


f
t
P
Casing Seat at 2,500 ft
Kick at 10,000 ft
1,300 psi
1,825 psi
5,725 psi
5,200 psi
41
Wellbore Pressure, psi
D
e
p
t
h
,


f
t
P
Casing Seat at 2,500 ft
Kick at 10,000 ft
Before Kick
After Small Kick
and Stabilization
After Large Kick and Stabilization