Measuring and Using Shale Density to Aid in Drilling
Wells in High-Pressure Areas
W. A. BOATMAN, JR.
Abstract
Continuous bulk density tests on shale cuttings while
drilling have shown reverse anomalies in normal increase
in shale compaction. These reversals from normal density o
f shale indicate the entrance into abnormally high pore
pressure shale. Deviation numbers from the normal den-
sity can be used to calculate both accurate mud weights as
drilling proceeds and a more advantageous casing point in
deeper drilling.
Introduction
Myers and van Siclen were the first to publish work' to
demonstrate from actual shale density tests on drilling cut-
tings the anomalies in shale compaction with depth in the Trull
field, Matagorda County, Tex. They said that shale compaction
does not increase regularly with depth as pre-viously thought
by Athy2 and Hedberg.3 Also, sands associ-ated with reversals
in density possessed pressures consider-ably higher than
normal hydrostatic pressure. Dickinson' recognized this and
also stated that elevated interstitial fluid pressures were
principally caused by compaction where low shale
permeability prevented water from completely escaping.
Several paperss1' have recently been written on identi-fying
high-pressure shale zones from electrical surveys by using
resistivity, conductivity, sonic and density log data. Points
chosen from these logs for calculations must be from clean
shales without the masking influence of a cal-careous, silty or
sandy shale. Close proximity to sand bo-dies from which these
values are taken also affects the cal-culated points. These
lithological characteristics also affect the general trend line of
physical bulk-density analyses, although the fluctuations are
offset by the larger number of analyses consistently taken as
drilling progresses.
According to Rogers,' Shell Oil Co. uses a drilling rate
system of anticipating high-pressure shale zones by noting
trends toward increased penetration rates. This is confirmed
by resistivity and sonic logging.
Original manuscript received in Society of Petroleum
office
Narch 31, 1967. Manuscript approved f o r publication J u n e
rser was presented a t Spring Meeting of t h e Southern District,
of Production, American Petroleum Institute, held in New
Feb. 27-March 1, 1967. 0 Copyright 1967 American Institute of
Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc .
'References given a t end of paper.
N O V E M B E R , 1967
~~~~~oCNS)~X(NC
This article not only confirms Myers and van Siclen's
anomalies in shale compaction by bulk density measure-
ments, but also presents a field application for indicating the
presence of low-density, over-pressured shales while drilling
and predicting the approach to these dangerous zones. By
reducing the analysis time from approximatlly 15 hours to less
than 10 minutes, a continuous plot of den-sity trends may be
kept as close to the bit as the lag time of the mud column.
The main objective of this type of logging is safety, but
three functions emerge as being particularly important to a
cost-conscious industry.
1 . By setting casing into the over-pressured shale so that,
as mud weight requirements increase with depth, no open
hole having normal pressure will be exposed to the pos-
sibility of breaking down the formation. Proper use of shale-
density plots with other tools may often save a t least one
string of pipe.
2. As long as a normal trend of compaction is being plot-
ted, drilling should proceed with as light a mud as other
drilling indications deem prudent - the lighter the mud, the
faster the hole can be made.
3. When a low-density shale is penetrated, mud weight
requirements can be calculated from density plots. These mud
weights are based on interstitial fluid pressures and must be
increased according to hole size and swabbing effect of pipe
trips.
Although the presence of shale with abnormally low
densities has been noted throughout the Texas-Louisiana Gulf
Coast, wells selected for study were logged from Ca-meron to
LaFourche Parishes, La., and particularly off-shore.
Shale Density Analysis Procedure
Several approaches of analysis and instrumentation used at
the start of this work were subsequently discarded due to
weaknesses in methods or in poor field operations. Such
systems as liquid displacements, liquids graduated in spe-cific
gravity and even a scale based on Archimedes' prin-ciple gave
varying data depending on interfacial tension, gas trapped in
Engineers shale particles, temperature and irregular sample surfaces.
Also, the field use of many of these techniques was
8, 1967. P a - undependable. The bulk volume measure-ment was finally
Division
Orleans, L a accepted and proved reproducible to within less than 1 percent
ini in$: accuracy.

Fig. 1-Mercury pump used in determining bulk volume of s l d e
cuttings.
Regardless of analysis consideration, it was found that
preparing cuttings samples taken from the shale shaker proved
to be extremely important. For the analysis proce-dure,
approximately 1 qt of cuttings is taken from a spe-cified
interval every 10 to 30 ft, depending on drilling rate. Mud is
washed from the cuttings with a series of screens which
remove longer pieces and slivers of shale. The larger cuttings
may be sloughing or caving; compara-tive density data
showed the finer sizes to be much more consistent. Samples
caught on a No. 20 screen are dried on paper towels and then
blown with warm air until the sur-face water sheen reduces to
a dark, dull appearance. A sample weighing 25 gm is placed in
a small cup for a bulk volume measurement. The bulk of the
cuttings is measured in a high-pressure mercury pump (Fig. 1)
by the Kobe system on a Boyle's law principle. The pump is
machine calibrated to 0.01-cc increment displacement. A
DENSITY ( g m l c c )
Fig. 2-Typical density reversal into high-pressure shale zone.
30-lb pressure gauge is attached. Although mercury is used as
a displacement fluid to compress the air around the shale
cuttings, it never touches the sample.
With the scale marker on the pump backed off to the starting
reference point, an empty plastic sample cup is placed in the
chamber, which is then closed. The pump is screwed forward
until an exact reading of 24 Ib is reached on the pressure
gauge. A compression reading in cubic centimeters is taken
from the linear and vernier scales and captioned P,. Air
pressure is released and the pump is backed off to the starting
reference point. The cup is filled with prepared shale cuttings
and weighted in grams. Again the cup is placed in the top
chamber, which is then closed. The pump is screwed forward
again, compressing air in the chamber until 24 lb is reached on
the pressure gauge. A second compression reading in cubic
centimeters is taken from the vernier and linear scales and
captioned P,. The difference between P, and P, in cubic
centimeters gives the volumc of shale cuttings. A known weight
in grams divided by the volume in cubic centimeters gives
density. The usual shale sample weight is approximately 25 gm,
or about 2,000 individual shale chips. Total analysis time is 10
minutes.
Description
For the problem of defining high-pressure shales from
density measurements, it must be understood that data obtained
from shale cuttings are believed to be altered from the original
state. Consistent relative data are poss~ble only if alterations
caused by mud effects arc kept to a mini-mum. Intervals where
cuttings are retained in the mud sys-tem longer than a normal
lag-time period usually show some swelling, and become less
dense. These samples us-
CONDUCTIVITY (Millimhos)
i f 11
J O U R NAL O F PE T R O LE U M TECIINOLOGY
ually drop below the normal trend line and, if not noted, may
indicate that a high-pressure shale has been penetrat-ed.
Shales that tend to swell and disintegrate are normally
logged as gumbo and are unreliable indicators because they
have very low density. These shales will virtually wash away
in preparation, and the sample will have abnormally low
density.
The extreme fluctuation in most data through a normal trend
line, particularly higher density, is caused by lime or sand in
the shale or by the shale's proximity to sand bo-dies. These
dense, limy shales are reflected to some extent in electric log
resistivity curves. Sandy samples give some-what less dense
data than limy. Great care was taken to wash and screen all
sand grains from the shale cuttings; even then, shales
associated with sands abruptly increased in density. I t is the
author's opinion that shales are more dense when close to sand
bodies because more water has been squeezed out into the
sand bodies. Wallace," in his work on selecting electric log
points for calculating for-mation pressure, stated that silty or
limy shales or shales within 10 ft of a sand body should be
avoided. Obviously
these points would not give a true conductivity of the shale at
that depth.
These differences in density measurements in a normally
compacting shale section make it diffcult to establish a normal
line through the points if too thin a section has been measured.
Usually, by averaging densities a t 100-ft intervals, a
compaction trend becomes obvious and is trans-ferred to the
detail plot. Due to the normal density varia-tions found in a
section having multiple sand and shaly sand bodies, a
minimum of 1,000 ft is usually required for a thorough study.
Enough density points were plotted through this interval
length to establish definitely a re-liable compaction trend that
allowed an obvious identi-fication of low-density reversals.
Even when density rever-sals from the trend are not abrupt,
the lack of data fluc-tuation indicates a transition zone as
evidenced by the cleaner or purer shales usually found in these
sections. Sometimes due to poor timing, a much shorter zone
must be logged to set casing properly down through the top of
a high-pressure shale zone. From experience in South Lou-
isiana and its offshore areas, a brief logging interval that
produced a bulk density of 2.35 at 14,000 ft immediately

BULK DENSITY (gm/cc) RESISTIVITY ( ohms)

2 20 2 30 240 2 50 2 60 3 4 5 6 78910

-- I 0 8 €LOG CSG

N I T S --

-
- 1
-
18 4 - I
g 1 -----
-*---4
--
I
---- 17,000'

I-to
*
-
- c--- - ---
-L

+- - --
1
1 .
,
18,000'
3 4 5 6 78910
0 - 1 0 0 AVERAGESA-LOW DENSITY IN INTERVAL

Fig. 3-Mud weight calculations vs mud used and trip gas-shortnormal trcnd below low-density zone.

N O V E M B E R , 1967
caused concern and necessitated a review of the casing and
mud program. Without a comparative line of data, this 2.35
shale density figure must be free of gumbo char-acteristics and
ash. In logging short zones, the benefit of seeing what
alteration the particular type of mud and lag time have on the
shale is lost, even though at this depth a range of normal
density would be from 2.45 to 2.55 gm/cc in the area under
study.
Interpretation of Results
Typical Low-Density Reversal
In selecting wells logged for shale density, an attempt was
made to use as wide a variation of situations as possible
without reiteration. The well in Fig. 2 is typical of the deeper
density reversals. The fluctuation of density points from
11,000 to 13,500 ft is the result of shale character above the
base of the main sand development as discussed. The three
high readings at 13,300 ft were from a limy shale; this reading
is found at the top of a majority of high-pressure zones. This
vertical cap may be used as a marker when the entrance to the
low-density zone is trou-blesome.
An excellent correlation between bulk density and elec-tric
log conductivity is noted on the well in Fig. 2. The drop in
density was noted at the wellsite within 3 hours after drilling.
As the zone was penetrated, density points became more
constant as they proceeded below the trend line; the greater the
departure from the normal trend line, the higher mud weight
requirements. Gas from the mud seemed well within normal
limits, although an in-creased mud weight from 15.5 to 16.8 lb
was thought necessxy by the operator after monitoring 650
units of gas following the trip at 14,150 ft. With the casing set
into the shale section at 13,700 ft, no break down of the for-
mation was noted as the mud weight was ultimately raised to
17.3 Ib/gal.
mud weight required in pounds per gallon. As the well deepens
at 13,800 ft, the difference in the low density and the normal
line intersections is 0.17 gm/cc, which is 16.0 lb/gal. Note that
the calculated mud weights are from 0.3 to 1.3 lb below those
being used. As casing becomes smaller with sands present in
the open hole, the overbal-ance in mud weight is necessary.
The trip gas shows some high readings although these were
dissipated quickly after the swabbing effect of making a trip
was finished. At 17,180 h, a deviation of 0.37 gm/cc indicated a
mud weight of 18.6 lb/gal. It is felt that some overbalance was
present here as the trip gas indicated less than 10 units. However,
lack of sand development may be the reason for so little gas
evidence. The trend line is proceeding to a 2.80 den-sity, which is
not realist~c.In fact, the trend of shale com-paction at these depths
should theoretically be a slight curve diminishing in density with
depth.
In Fig. 2 at 14,050 ft the deviation from the normal line was
0.14 gm/cc, indicating a 15.4 lb/gal mud weight. Thls seemed
closely balanced, at least from the back-ground gas and trip
gas as well as the pressure calculated later from the electric
log by the oil company engineer. However, as the differential
increased between the mud used and that calculated from the
density chart, less back-ground gas and trip gas was in
evidence. The chart in Fig. 4 is an empirical calculation, based
on experience in South Louisiana, which seems to indicate near-
balance mud weights. It is important to establish a good, normal
com-paction trend from which the deviations are taken. It is
significant that the calculated mud weights are consistent from
within 0.3- to 1.2 lb/gal mud weight - the range is necessary to
establish some equilibrium in the varying hole conditions shown.
Short Logging Intervals
From the varying normal compaction slopes, calculating
mud weights is marginal in very short intervals where no

Kormal Shale Between

Two Abnormal Zones
The density plot in Fig. 3 was the only well logged that
seemingly had a normal zone between two higher-than-normal
pressure shales. Before a trend line could be established for
shale density logging only, persistent low readings caused
alarm in the first 700 ft. Mud weights were raised slightly, but
mud cutting and lower-than-nor-ma1 densities persisted.
Finally, the well was put on choke and 10.8 Ib/gal mud was
needed to quiet the kick. An electric log was run and the
accompanying shde resistivity plot confirmed the low shale-
density zone. Casing was set at 11,700 ft and mud weight was
raised substantially above minimum requirements.
Below casing, shale density showed a normal magnitude
and fell in a trend line increasing slightly with depth for 900
ft. The abrupt decrease in density at 12,500 ft, falling well
below the new trend line, pinpointed the major high-pressure
shale section. This was confirmed by the electric log's
showing an abrupt drop in resistivity as the density readings
had indicated. After casing was set, a full mud logging
laboratory was attached with gas detecting equip-ment.

Mud Weight Requirements

The mud weights calculated here are taken from the chart in
Fig. 4. The lowest density in the 12,500-ft inter-val of 2.38
gm/cc is 0.11 gm/cc less than the normal trend intersecting at
2.49 gm/cc. The 0.1 1 gm/ cc devia-tion is followed across the MUD WEIGHT REQUIREMENT (LBS/GAL)
chart until it intersects the mud weight curve. The reading Fig. 4-Density deviation chart for mud weight
taken below is the minimum requirement calculations.

J O U R KALO F PETH O LE U M TECHNO LOGY

established density trend has been found. The density log from
the well in Fig. 5 shows that no sooner did the den-sity
analys~sbegin than an abrupt drop was noted just below
11,800 ft. The shale was fairly clean and free of gumbo and
ash, and had not been in the hole longer than cuttings
previously tested. It is obvious that a reading of 2.31 gm/cc a t
11,800 ft was well below any normal trend line. The reversal
was called to the operator's atten-tion and several immediate
extra analyses confirmed the density drop. As hole was made,
the reversal was estab-lished and an electric log was run; the
accompanying resistivity plot was made to 11,800 ft showing
the low-resistive shale.
Three different trend lines from the closest wells in the
general area were plotted over these data for mud weight
calculations. These calculations varied from 14.6 to 15.8 lb/gal
at 11,800 ft where the 13.1-lb mud was holding a good
balance. Although high to normal gas readings In the mud
were present, at 12,290 ft the calculated mud weights were
much higher than weights actually used. Lack of sand in the
lowcr 150 ft surely prevented some mud cuttings and a
dangerous situation. Although our cal-culated mud
we~ghtsfrom a borrowed trend line seemed much higher than
those used, it is interesting to note that no electric log could be
run past 12,290 ft due to hole caving. Usually, low-density
shale zones can be recognized without good trend hnes, but
mud weights calculated from these are questionable.
BULK DENSITY (am/cc)
Fig. 5-Tdentifica~ion of high-pressure sl~alewith nu
NOVEMBER, 1967
Abrupt Changes in
Depositional Environment
F I ~6. shows an unusual dens~typlot. After a normal trend
line was established down through 9,900 ft, an abrupt density
reversal was logged. Although it was an abnormally h ~ g
hpressure, it was ev~dentthat our calcu-lation of mud weight
was too heavy in view of the arresting 12.0-lb mud. This
caused concern, and an electric log was run at 11,000 ft where
an obvious lower shale-resistive zone was noted. Also, from
paleontology, an abrupt change from Pleistocene to
Pl~oceneage formation was described at this density transition
zone. This well is unique in our logging experience, if
circumstances are correctly de-scribed, because the older
formation should be denser hut it showed a much higher
density deviation than was re-flected in mud welght
requirements. Also, a new trend line could be found, and
hydrostatic pressure seemed to be at equilibrium until another
abrupt decrease in density was lound at 11,950 ft. This second
reversal was preceded by 150 ft of limy, dense shalc, which
usually precedes these zones. This second reversal conformed
to the mud weight chart as to density deviation from the
second trend line. As can be seen at 13,500 ft, the chart called
for a 14.6-lb mud and the mud used was 14.9 to 15.2 Ib/gal.
The ac-companying shale resistivity plot follows these density
changes reasonably well.
Drilling Rate and Densities
The presence of dense, l ~ m yshale precedmg a great
SHALE RESISTIVTY-
AMPLIFIED SHORT NORMAL
true trend line and varying mud weight qlculations.
1I%i
majority of abnormal shale zones can be used in conjunc-tion
with drilling rate to prevent too deep a penetration in a
dangerous zone, which immediately demands an abrupt mud
weight increase. The copious use of lithological de-scriptions
of the cuttings helps negate altered samples such as gumbo
and those retained in the mud stream during a trip. These
descrlptionr are important in defining the ver-tical cap above a
troublesome shale. An excellent example of picking this limy
shale cap and, as densities go up, con-firming our position at
about 12,600 ft is shown in Fig. 7. The first sustained drilling
break noted in this section was circulated out a t
approximately 12,800 ft, and penetration was stopped until
these samples could be tested. As noted, the densities started
back abruptly with a slight increase in gas off bottom. At
12,830 ft with low density persisting, an electric log was run
confirming a low-resistive shale. Casing was set at this depth
using a 15.8-lb mud. The mud weight calculated was I . 1
Ib/gal less than seemed prudent to use since there was little
fear of breaking down the formation. As densities departed
from the trend line, more mud weight was used until it was 1.7
Ib/gal over that calculated at 13,230 ft. The drilling break
found under the limy cap was not an abrupt, spectacular break,
but it was discernible and increased slightly as it further
entered the high-pressure zone. The drilling break was found
using
a 14.0-lb mud that was close to balance. As Maurer' showed
on penetration rate, the less differential pressure on the
formation, the larger the crater made by the bit tooth. As pore
pressure of the shale increases, using the same mud weight,
larger craters are made, increasing drilling rate. However,
drilling break3 can be masked by constant mud weight
increases while looking for this type of indication.
Conclusions
1. Density reversals of normal shale cornpaction deti-nitely
indicate abnormally high interstitial fluid-pressure shales.
2. Reversals in density of shale cuttings can be corre-lated
to electric log low-resistive shale interpretations.
3. Lithological descriptions of the shale cuttings help
evaluate natural density fluctuations when seeking a ner-ma1
compaction trend.
4. Density of shale cuttings is decreased by excessive
exposure to water-base mud during trips.
5. A more accurate and desirable casing point can be found
with continuing shale-density plots.
6. When normal shale compaction trcnds persist, high mud
weights need not be used in areas of k n o ~ nhigh-
 BUL.K DENSITY (am/ccl FEET/ HOUR DRILLING TIME
MUD W T S 2 2 02 3 02 4 C2 5 0 50 30 10

10,500'
I TRIP GAS 10.500'
10 8
-.

I-
b4 B- -50--UNITS -- ---
-

1 SAND)' I 12.500'
1 0 UNITS
5 0 UNITS
1 I d""5 1 I L

140 UNITS CIRCULATED OUT 13.000

I I 1

Fig. 7-Identification of a p p r o a c h to high - pressure shale by drilling time

and density
eszure shale. Some over-balance seems prudent as corre-on
indicates close proximity to a transition shale. '.Use of shale
density deviations from the normal com-tion line can give a
close mud weight requirement file after high-pressure shales
have been penetrated. s empirically derived mud weight graph
is based on ~sityanalysis procedures described.
1. Although high-pressure shales may be recognized after
logging very short intervals, substituting trend lines borrowed
from the general area can give erroneous mud weight
requirements.
Acknowledgments
The author wishes to express his gratitude to the sev-eral oil
companies who in the beginning employed a theoretical and
untried wellsite service and whose co-operation helped
establish a practical drilling well aid. Also, thanks are
extended to those oil companies whose release of data, even
on a nonattributable basis, made this article possible.
increase.
Pressures in Gulf Coast Louisiana", Bull., AAPG (1953) 37, No.
2, 410-432.
5.Rogers, L.: "How Shell Detects High-Pressure E'o~mationson the
Gulf Coast", Oil and Gas J. (May 16, 1966) 264-266.
6.Wallace, W. E.: "Abnormal Subsurface Pressures Measured From
Conductivity or Resistivity Ilogs", Log Analyst, SPWLA (1965) I,
No. 4, 26-38.
7. Well Log Analysis Handbook, PGAC (1966) 18.
8. Maurer, W. C.: "How Bottomhole I'ressu~e Affects Penrtratiorr
Rate", Oil and Gas J. (Jan. 10, 1966) 61-65.
9.Foster, J. B. and Whalen, H. E.: "Estimation of Formation
Pressures From Electrical Surveys-Offshore Louisiana", J. Pet.
Tech. (Feb., 1966) 165-171.
10.MacGregor, J. R.: "Quantitative Determination of Reservoir
Pressures from Conductivity Log", Bull., AAPG (1965) 49, No. 9,
1502-1511.
3. Hedberg, H. D.: "The Effect of Gravitational Compaction 011 the
Structure of Sedimentary Rocks", Bull., AAPG (1926) 1 0 , No.
11, 1035-1072.
4. l)ivliinion, C.: "Geological A s p ~ ; t s of Abnonnal Reservoir

References
1. Myers, H. L. and van Siclen, I). C.: "Dynamic Phenomena
of Scdiment Compaction in Matogorda County, Texas", Trans.,
Gulf Coast Assn. Geol. Soc. (1964) XIV, 241-252.
LAthy, L. F.: "Density, Porosity and Compaction of Sedimcn-tary
Rocks", Bull., AAPG (1930) 14, 1-24.
11. Timko, D. J.: "Practical Application of Log Calculated Pres-sures
as an Aid to Solving Drilling Problems", Log Analyst, SPWLA
(1965) VI, No. 3, 37-54.
12. Murray, A. S. and Cunningham, R. A.: "Effect of Mud
Column Pressure on Drilling Rates", Trans., AIME (1955) 204,
196-204.

13. Eckel, J. R.: "Effect of Prrswre on Rock Drillability",

Trans., AIRfE (1958) 213, 1-6.
14. Cunningham, R. A. and Eenink, J. G.: "Laboratory Study
of Effect of Overburden, Formation and Mud Column Pressurei
on Drilling Rate of Pelmeable Formations", Tran~., AIMF:
(1959) 216, 9-17.
15. Garnier, A. J. and van Lingen, N. H.: "Phenomena
Aficct~rig Drilling Rates at Depth", Trclns., AIME (1959) 216,
232 239
16. van Lingen, N. H.: "Bottom S~aveng~ng-A Ma~of I'ac to!
Go\
crning Penetration Rates", 3. Pet. Tcr h (Frb., 1962) 187***196
EDITOR'SNOTE: A P l C l U K E A N D BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 01.
W. A ROATMANJR. ., APPEAR O N PAGE1484.