Assignment #3 PE313 Drilling and Well Design                                 Name:
Overburden, Hydrostatic and Fracture Pressure
  1- The total overburden stress and pore pressure will be increased.
  2- Normal formation pressures at 5,500ft for required areas are:
      Pf = Normal pressure gradient * Depth.
     For West Texas, Pf = 0.433* 5500 = 2381.5 psi,
     For US gulf coast, Pf = 0.465* 5500 = 2557.5psi,
     For California, Pf = 0.439 * 5500 = 2414.5 psi,
     For Rocky mountains, Pf = 0.436* 5500 = 2398psi,
     For Anadarko basin, Pf = 0.433* 5500 = 2381.5psi.
  3- Overburden Stress; σ ob = 0.052*22*5500= 6292 psi.
  4- Overburden Stress; σ ob = (0.052*8.34*1000) + (0.052*22*4500) = 5581 psi.
  5- Both the overburden pressure decrease with water depth.
  6- The five Leak-off tests have been plotted as shown in figure (1) to determine the Leak-
     off pressure which is the point (still pump pressure) where the data deviate from the
     straight line.
                            1200
                                                  Leak-off Test                          1000 ft
                                                                                         2000 ft
                            1000                                                         3000 ft
                                                                                         4000 ft
                            800                                                          6000 ft
       Pump Pressure, Psi
                            600
                            400
                            200
                              0
                                   0   1      2       3        4        5     6      7
                                              Total Mud Volume Pumped
                                           Figure 1: Leak-off Test Results
                          Table 1: Leak-off pressure calculations
                              Depth       Pump Pressure (LOP)
                                ft                psi
                              1000                70
                              2000               109
                              3000               125
                              4000               570
                              6000               850
7- Leak-off test has been calculated from the pump pressures (LOP) by adding drilling
     mud hydrostatic pressure. These pressures are shown in table (1).
     -   The fracture gradient has been calculated and the kick margin is considered by
         subtracting (0.3) lbm/gal as shown in table (2).
                         Table (2): Fracture Gradient Calculations
                          Depth LOP MW LOT Frac. MW
                            ft   Psi lb/gal Psi  lb/gal
                          1000   70    11   642   12.3
                          2000 109     11   1253  12.0
                          3000 125     14   2309  14.8
                          4000 570     14   3482  16.7
                          6000 850     14   5218  16.7
8-
                  Table (3): Fracture Gradient Calculations with kick margin of 0.3 ppg.
                    Depth LOP       MW     Frac. MW Frac. MW. with
                                                      Kick Margin
                       ft    Psi    lb/gal   lb/gal      lb/gal
                     1000     70      11      12.3        12.0
                     2000    109      11      12.0        11.7
                     3000    125      14      14.8        14.5
                     4000    570      14      16.7        16.4
                     6000    850      14      16.7        16.4