ResGeo 202 Reservoir Geomechanics

Spring 2016, OpenEdX

Homework 2 Estimating the Onset of Overpressure
SOLUTIONS
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Part 1: Estimating the onset of overpressure
a. Plot porosity vs. depth.
b. Now calculate theoretical porosity assuming an exponential compaction trend.
c. Estimate the onset of overpressure see red stars as possible answers and range
of accepted depths below.

Part 2: Estimating the magnitude of overpressure

a. Compute pore pressure using the calculated porosity data.
b. Estimate the magnitude of overpressure.

Part 4: Answers to Homework 2 Questions

Question1: Answer the questions below on the concepts of overpressure in geologic
reservoirs. Choose the best possible answer of the available choices.
a. Which of the following is a mechanism of overpressure generation in geologic
reservoirs?
( ) Hydrocarbon maturation
( ) Mineral diagenesis
( ) Tectonic compression
(x) All of the above are possible mechanisms of overpressure generation.
Explanation:
All of the above are possible mechanisms of overpressure generation. Hydrocarbon
generation from thermal maturation of organic matter in source rocks creates volumetric
increases in pore fluids, and can thus lead to overpressure in geologic compartments or
low permeability reservoirs. Mineral diagenesis is often associated with dehydration
reactions, which can lead to overall volume increases of both the pore fluid and the rock
matrix itself, particularly in the case of clay minerals. Tectonic compression can create
overpressure by increasing the rate of compaction relative to the rate that fluids can flow
out of geologic reservoirs. See Lecture 3, Slide 19 for details.
b. Overpressure generation by disequilibrium compaction is most likely to occur in
which case?
( ) The rate of fluid flow exceeds the rate of compaction and porosity loss
(x) The rate of fluid flow is exceeded by the rate of compaction and porosity loss
( ) The rate of fluid flow is equal to the rate of compaction and porosity loss
Explanation:
The rate of fluid flow is exceeded by the rate of compaction and porosity loss. See
Lecture 3, Slides 21, 22 for details.
c. Which of the following is a problem with using compaction trends to estimate pore
pressure in geologic reservoirs?
(x) Observed hysteresis in compaction - effective stress trends
( ) Ambiguity in the results of porosity estimated by various wellbore logging methods
( ) Compaction of geologic sediments occurs through recoverable deformation only
Explanation:
Observed hysteresis in compaction - effective stress trends. The relationship between
porosity and effective stress during loading makes it difficult to infer pore pressure from
porosity during unloading. See Lecture 3, Slides 36, 37 for details.

d. Pressure reversals (that is, pore pressure decreases with increasing depth) can result
from:
( ) Drilling into a formation that was subjected to high tectonic compression
( ) Drilling into a formation that was produced by fast sedimentation
(x) Drilling into a less hydrologically isolated reservoir (that is, a reservoir that is
more drained during consolidation than the formations above)
Explanation:
Pressure dissipation rates are higher in reservoirs that are more permeable and less
hydrologically isolated causing them to be less subject to overpressure than less
permeable and/or hydrologically isolated reservoirs.
Question 2: Estimating the onset of overpressure
Use your plot comparing the theoretical and calculated porosities to estimate the depth of
the onset of overpressure in the GOM data set in ft.
Accepted range: 3668-6000
Question 3: Estimating the magnitude of overpressure
Use your plot comparing the theoretical and calculated pore pressures to estimate the
magnitude of overpressure at 11,000 ft in the GOM data set in psi.
=1597
Question 4: Estimating the pore pressure gradient
For calculation of mud weight, drillers are interested in the average gradient from the
surface to the depth of interest, which is pore pressure divided by the depth.
a. What is the average pore pressure gradient at 5700 ft in psi/ft? What is the
corresponding mud density in specific gravity (dimensionless; has no units) and
pounds per gallon (ppg)?

Pore pressure gradient in psi/ft = 0.66

Corresponding mud density in specific gravity = 1.53

Corresponding mud density in ppg = 12.69

b. What is the average pore pressure gradient at 8000 ft in psi/ft? What is the
corresponding mud density in specific gravity and pounds per gallon (ppg)?

Pore pressure gradient in psi/ft = 0.34

Corresponding mud density units of specific gravity = 0.79

Corresponding mud density in ppg = 6.54

c. Choose True or False to answer the following question: The smaller the mud
window the harder it is to figure out drilling parameters such as mud weight.
Ans.: True. It will be harder to utilize a mud weight that is larger than pore
pressure (so the well would not flow while drilling) yet smaller than Shmin (to
avoid fracing the well).
Solution data is available as a .CSV file (comma delimited text file).