Pore Pressure

Subtitle
Definition

▪ The magnitude of the pressure in the pores of a formation, known as

the formation pore pressure
▪ It is an important consideration in many aspect e.g
▪ Well planning and operation
▪ Casing design
▪ Mud weight selection
▪ Pipe sticking
▪ Well control
Formation Of Pore Pressure

▪ During a period of erosion and sedimentation, grains of sediment are

continuously building up on top of each other, generally in a water
filled environment
▪ As the thickness of the layer of sediment increases, the grains of the
sediment are packed closer together, and some of the water is
expelled from the pore spaces.
▪ However, if the pore throats through the sediment are
interconnecting all the way to surface the pressure of the fluid at any
depth in the sediment will be same as that which would be found in a
simple colom of fluid.
Formation Of Pore Pressure

▪ The pressure in the fluid in the pores of the sediment will only be
dependent on the density of the fluid in the pore space and the depth
of the pressure measurement
▪ it will be independent of the pore size or pore throat geometry.
▪ The pressure of the fluid in the pore space can be measured and
plotted against depth in PZ diagram
Formation Of Pore Pressure

▪ Calculate the hydrostatic pressure for the following wells:

▪ mud weight = 9 ppg, hole depth = 10100 ft MD (measured depth),
9900 ft TVD (truevertical depth)
▪ mud gradient = 0.468 psi / ft, hole depth = 10100 ft MD (measured
depth), 9900 ft TVD (true vertical depth)
P-Z diagram
P-Z diagram
Formation Of Pore Pressure

▪ The pressure in the formations to be drilled is often expressed in

terms of a pressure gradient.
▪ This gradient is derived from a line passing through a particular
formation pore pressure and a datum point at surface and is known
as the pore pressure gradient.
▪ The datum which is generally used during drilling operations is the
drillfloor elevation but a more general datum level, used almost
universally, is Mean Sea Level, MSL
▪ The gradient in above figure is straight line because its pores are
interconnecting
Formation Of Pore Pressure

▪ The pressure in the formations to be drilled is often expressed in

terms of a pressure gradient.
▪ This gradient is derived from a line passing through a particular
formation pore pressure and a datum point at surface and is known
as the pore pressure gradient.
▪ The datum which is generally used during drilling operations is the
drillfloor elevation but a more general datum level, used almost
universally, is Mean Sea Level, MSL
▪ The gradient in above figure is straight line because its pores are
interconnecting
Formation Of Pore Pressure

▪ The gradient of the line is a representation of the density of the fluid.

Hence the density of the fluid in the pore space is often expressed in
units of psi/ft.
▪ Most of the fluids found in the pore space of sedimentary formations
contain a proportion of salt and are known as brines.
▪ The dissolved salt content may vary from 0 to over 200,000 ppm.
▪ Correspondingly, the pore pressure gradient ranges from 0.433 psi/ft
(pure water) to about 0.50 psi/ft
Formation Of Pore Pressure

▪ In most geographical areas the pore pressure gradient is

approximately 0.465 psi/ft (assumes 80,000 ppm salt content) and
this pressure gradient has been defined as the normal pressure
gradient
▪ Any formation pressure above or below the points defined by this
gradient are called abnormal pressures
P-Z diagram
P-Z diagram
P-Z diagram
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).
▪ This pressure will have a significant impact on the pressure at which the
borehole will fracture when exposed to high pressures.
▪ The overburden pressure can therefore be expressed as the hydrostatic
pressure exerted by all materials overlying the depth of interest
σov = 0.052 x ρb x D
Overburden Pressure

▪ A useful equation for calculating the overburden gradient under field

conditions of varying lithological and pore fluid density is given by:
ρb = ρf x φ + ρm (1-φ )
▪ Since the matrix material (rock type), porosity, and fluid content vary with
depth, the bulk density will also vary with depth
▪ The specific gravity of the rock matrix may vary from 2.1 (sandstone) to 2.4
(limestone).
▪ Therefore, using an average of 2.3 and converting to units of psi/ft, it can be
seen that the overburden pressure gradient exerted by a typical rock, with
zero porosity would be
2.3 x 0.433 psi/ft = 0.9959 psi/ft
Overburden Pressure

▪ This figure is normally rounded up to 1 psi/ft and is commonly quoted

as the maximum possible overburden pressure gradient, from which
the maximum overburden pressure, at any depth, can be calculated.
▪ It is unlikely that the pore pressure could exceed the overburden
pressure.
▪ it should be remembered that the overburden pressure may vary
with depth, due to compaction and changing lithology, and so the
gradient cannot be assumed to be constant.
Overburden Pressure

▪ 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%.
▪ Solution
▪ For Sandstone
▪ For = 5% σovg = 0.433 x [(1 – 0.05)x2.65 + (0.05 x 1.03)] = 1.11 psi/ft
▪ For = 20% σovg =1.01 psi/ft
▪ For = 35% σovg = 0.90 psi/ft-
Overburden Pressure

▪ 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%.
▪ Solution
▪ For Sandstone
▪ For = 5% σovg = 0.433 x [(1 – 0.05)x2.65 + (0.05 x 1.03)] = 1.11 psi/ft
▪ For = 20% σovg =1.01 psi/ft
▪ For = 35% σovg = 0.90 psi/ft-
Abnormal Pore Pressure

▪ Pore pressures which are found to lie above or below the “normal” pore
pressure gradient line are called abnormal pore pressures
▪ These formation pressures may be either Subnormal (i.e. less than 0.465
psi/ft) or Overpressure (i.e. greater than 0.465 psi/ft).
▪ The mechanisms which generate these abnormal pore pressures can be
quite complex and vary from region to region.
▪ Abnormal pressure can be thought of as being made up of a normal
hydrostatic component plus an extra amount of pressure
▪ the most common mechanism for generating overpressures is called
Undercompaction and can be best described by the undercompaction
model.
Mechanism Of Abnormal Pressure

▪ The compaction process can be described by a simplified model consisting

of a vessel containing a fluid (representing the pore fluid) and a spring
(representing the rock matrix).
▪ The overburden stress can be simulated by a piston being forced down on
the vessel.
▪ The overburden (S) is supported by the stress in the spring (σ) and the fluid
pressure (p).
S=σ+p
S= Overburden stress
σ= Stress in the spring
P= fluid pressure
Abnormal Pore Pressure
Abnormal Pore Pressure

▪ In order for abnormal pressures to exist the pressure in the pores of a

rock must be sealed in place
▪ The seal prevents equalization of the pressures which occur within
the geological sequence
▪ The seal is formed by a permeability barrier resulting from physical or
chemical action
▪ A physical seal may be formed by gravity faulting during deposition
or the deposition of a fine grained material.
▪ The chemical seal may be due to calcium carbonate being deposited,
thus restricting permeability.
Subnormal Pore Pressure

▪ Subnormal pore pressures are encountered less frequently than

abnormal pore pressures and are often developed long after the
formation is deposited.
▪ Subnormal pressures may have natural causes related to the
stratigraphic, tectonic and geochemical history of an area, or may
have been caused artificially by the production of reservoir fluids.
▪ The Rough field in the Southern North Sea is an example of a
depleted reservoir with a subnormal pressure.
Origin Of subnormal Pressure Formation

▪ Thermal Expansion
As sediments and pore fluids are buried the temperature rises. If the
fluid is allowed to expand the density will decrease, and the pressure
will reduce.
Origin Of subnormal Pressure Formation

▪ Formation Foreshortening
▪ During a compression process there is some bending of strata
▪ The upper beds can bend upwards, while the lower beds can bend
downwards.
▪ The intermediate beds must expand to fill the void and so create a
subnormally pressured zone.
Origin Of subnormal Pressure Formation

▪ Depletion
▪ When hydrocarbons or water are produced from a competent
formation in which no subsidence occurs a subnormally pressured
zone may result.
▪ This will be important when drilling development wells through a
reservoir which has already been producing for some time.
▪ Some pressure gradients in Texas aquifers have been as low as 0.36
psi/ft.
Origin Of subnormal Pressure Formation

▪ Precipitation
▪ In arid areas (e.g. Middle East) the water table may be located
hundreds of feet below surface, thereby reducing the hydrostatic
pressures.
Origin Of subnormal Pressure Formation

▪ Potentiometric Surface
▪ This mechanism refers to the structural relief of a formation and
can result in both subnormal and overpressured zones.
▪ The potentiometric surface is defined by the height to which
confined water will rise in wells drilled into the same aquifer.
▪ The potentiometric surface can therefore be thousands of feet
above or below ground level
Origin Of subnormal Pressure Formation

▪ Epeirogenic Movements
▪ A change in elevation can cause abnormal pressures in formations
open to the surface laterally, but otherwise sealed
▪ If the outcrop is raised this will cause overpressures, if lowered it will
cause subnormal pressures
Origin Of Over Pressure Formation

▪ Incomplete Sediment Compaction

▪ Faulting
▪ Phase Changes during Compaction
▪ Massive Rock Salt Deposition
▪ Salt Diaperism
▪ Tectonic Compression
▪ Repressuring from Deeper Levels
▪ Generation of Hydrocarbons
Pore Pressure Problem

▪ The following pore pressure information has been supplied for the
well you are about to drill. Plot the following pore pressure/depth
information on a P-Z diagram :
DEPTH BELOW DRILLFLOOR PRESSURE
0 0
1000 465
5000 2325
8000 3720
8500 6800
9000 6850
9500 6900
Pore Pressure Problem

▪ Calculate the pore pressure gradients in the formations from surface; to

8000ft; to 8500ft; and to 9500ft. Plot the overburden gradient (1 psi/ft) on
the above plot. Determine the mudweight required to drill the hole section:
down to 8000ft; down to 8500ft; and down to 9500ft. Assume that 200 psi
overbalance on the formation pore pressure is required.
▪ If the mudweight used to drill down to 8000ft were used to drill into the
formation pressures at 8500ft what would be the over/underbalance on the
formation pore pressure at this depth?
▪ Assuming that the correct mudweight is used for drilling at 8500ft but that
the fluid level in the annulus dropped to 500 ft below drillfloor, due to
inadequate hole fill up during tripping. What would be the effect on bottom
hole pressure at 8500ft ?
Pore Pressure Problem

▪ What type of fluid is contained in the formations below 8500ft.

Overburden Pressure Problem

▪ 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
1000-3000 ft
▪ Calculate the overburden gradient of the formations:
▪ At seabed, 200 ft, 500 ft, 1000 ft and at 3000 ft below seabed.