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Introduction
The subject of many discussions and technical papers
in the last 20 years has been the prediction of the wellbore pressure gradients that are required to induce
or extend fractures in subsurface formations. The subject merits this attention because of the frequently
recurring problems that arise from an inability to
predict fracture pressure gradients.
Encountered in several common types of operations in the oil industry are problems associated with
the prediction of formation fracture pressure gradients. When wells are being drilled in both new and
old fields, lost circulation is often a very troublesome
and expensive problem. Complete loss of circulation
has been disastrous in some cases. Many times, such
disasters could have been avoided if techniques for
calculating fracture pressure gradient had been employed in the well plans, and if casing strings had been
set, and mud weight plans had been followed accordingly. In areas of abnormally pressured formations,
the prediction of fracture gradients during the wellplanning stage is extremely important. In fact, it is as
important as the prediction of formation pressure
gradients, which has received a great deal of attention
in recent years.
There are several published methods used to determine fracture pressure gradients. However, none of
these methods appears to be general enough to be
used with much reliability in all areas. In 1957, Hubbert and Willis published a classical paper that included the development of an equation used to predict
In arriving at a new method of predicting formation fracture gradients, it was found that
overburden load, Poisson's ratio for rocks, and pressure gradients vary with depth.
Although the method was developed specifically for the Gulf Coast, it should be highly
reliable for all areas, provided that the variables reflect the conditions in the specific
area being considered.
OCTOBER, 1969
1353
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(1)
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(2)
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200 400
1000 2000
50
100
300
300 600
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70
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NORMAL Rtsh)/OBSERVEO R(shl
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havior, until the abnormal pressure section is traversed. Then Pw/D may decrease as shown by the
other curves in Figs. 2 and 5.
Matthews and Kelly3 presented a fracture gradient
equation similar to Eq. 1. However, they introduced
the concept of a variable horizontal-to-vertical stress
ratio. Fig. 3 is a reproduction of their curves showing
the variable stress ratio as a function of depth for two
areas. Again one must assume that the overburden
o
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= 0.32
FRACTURE GRADIENT
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.8
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PRESSURE GRADI ENT - psllll
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0.3
0.4
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0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
OCTOBER, 1969
~=K{;)+~ .
(3)
A Revised Approach
1\ '~
\6
1.0
Throughout the remainder of this work, it is postulated that the assumotions leading to Eq. 1 are valid
and that all of the independent variables are functions
of depth. The problem is to determine the relationship
of overburden stress, pore pressure, and Poisson's
ratio with depth. Since it is accepted here that abnormal formation pressure gradients may be determined
from logs, that aspect of the problem is solved. The
next steps are to assume that the overburden stress
gradient is 1.0 psi/ft, then to solve Eq. 1 for the stress
ratio group
(4)
and to evaluate Eg. 4 with field data.
A great deal of data from the analysis of hydraulic
fracturing treatments in West Texas was published by
Crittendon. 6 These data were used to develop the left
curve of Fig. 4. It can be seen that for the producing
formations of the West Texas area, the assumptions
SjD = 1.0 and v = 0.25 are valid.
Data given by Costley were used to back-calculate
the middle Poisson ratio curve of Fig. 4. Note the
curvature of the trend of Poisson ratio vs depth for
the Gulf Coast area. This is caused by the sediments'
being younger and more compressible near the surface, but less compressible and more plastic with
depth. For this reason the curve approaches 0.5 as an
upper limit. This limit is the Poisson ratio of an incompressible material in the plastic failure environment.
Example results of fracture pressure gradient calculations using the middle Poisson ratio curve of Fig.
4 and Eq. 1 are included for comparative purposes.
These are shown by Curve 6 of Fig. 2 and Curve 4
of Fig. 5.
From the preceding calculations it becomes evident
that the variation of overburden stress with well depth
must be determined where formations are compressible, such as in the Gulf Coast area. A composite
group of density logs from many Gulf Coast wells was
,
I\.
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COAs~.1
GULF
VARIABLE
OVERBURDEN
'\\
OVERBURDEN
EQUALS 1.0psi/lt
SHALES
-LEGEND-
12
e-
WEST TEXAS
OVERBURDEN
EQUALS 1.0 psi 1ft
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POISSON'S RATIO - v
0.5
0.6
1356
2.
3.4.
16
0.2
4. FRACTURE GRADIENT
PRESENT METHOD
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3. F'RACTURE GRADIENT
MATTHEWS KELLY
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2. FRACTURE GRADIENT
HUBBERT WILLIS
v -0.25
i\
oo 8
9
I-
FORMATIONS
20
I. PRESSURE GRADIENT
FROM LOG
0.2
0.4
0.6
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1.2
1.4
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l\.,,UPPER LIMIT
OFALLD~A POINTS
18
2.6
20
0.70
0.75
0.80
0.85
0.90
0.95
1.00
1.05
1351
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OCTOBER, 1969 .
1359
Conclusions
In summary, several conclusions have been drawn.
1. In drilling well plans, well stimulation plans, and
secondary recovery plans, fracture pressure gradient
should be considered.
2. Poisson's ratio for rocks increases with depth in
the Gulf Coast area.
3. The Poisson's ratio trend, which can be backcalculated using field data, will not be exactly the same
for data from different areas.
4. In the Gulf Coast area, the average overburden
stress gradient does not equal 1.0 psi/ft, but instead
is about 0.85 psi/ft near the surface and increases
1360
Nomenclature
D = depth, ft
D i = equivalent depth of lowermost normally
pressured formation, ft
K i = matrix stress coefficient
Pw = wellbore pressure, psi
P = formation pressure, psi
S = overburden stress, psi
0' = net effective overburden stress, 0' = S - P,
psi
v = Poisson's ratio
Acknowledgments
I should like to express appreciation to the management of Continental Oil Co. for permission to publish
this paper. Special thanks are given to C. H. Hefner
for his preparation of the nomograph, Fig. 12.
References
1. Hubbert, M. King and Willis, D. G.: "Mechanics of Hy-
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM~CHNOWGY