Pore Pressure Prediction Methods Course Description A predrill estimate of formation pore pressure is a key requirement for successf

ul exploration and drilling. During the exploration phase, knowledge of the spat ial distribution of formation pressures can be used to develop fluid migration m odels, to study the effectiveness of seals, and to rank prospects. During the dr illing phase, a pre-drill pore pressure estimate allows the appropriate mud weig ht to be selected and the casing program to be optimized, thus enabling safe and economic drilling. This course will cover the fundamental principles of pore pr essure modeling and application to oil field problems. The basic concepts used i n pore pressure prediction will be presented, and methods for estimating pore pr essure using log and seismic data will be explained and discussed. The discussio n will focus on deriving a calibrated pore pressure model from seismic velocitie s. This implies calibration with offset well data in order to derive a calibrate d velocity-to-pore pressure transform. The different data types used for optimal model calibration will be presented. The rock physics basis underlying such tra nsforms is discussed, and their application to pore pressure modelling is illust rated using several examples from the Gulf of Mexico. By understanding how the p re-drill pore pressure model is built, and what kind of calibration data is nece ssary, the course participant will get a sense of how to update and re-calibrate the model in real time while drilling. The following topics will be addressed: Processes responsible for abnormal pressure, Methods of pore pressure prediction and detection, Data requirements and how to deal with data gaps, Model calibrat ion, Advantages and disadvantages of seismic and resistivity based pore pressure prediction, Real time updating and uncertainty analysis. Level Advanced Learn More Audience Exploration and development geologists, petrophysicists, geophysicists, drilling engineers, completion engineers and reservoir engineers who need an essential u nderstanding of the impact of pore pressure on drilling, wellbore stability, and reservoir management. Prerequisites Basic understanding of drilling, geology and geophysics. f risks associated with drilling operations. Basic understanding o

Course Schedule 1 Introduction. Geological occurrence and processes responsible for abnormal press ure (disequilibrium compaction, fluid expansion, smectite/illlite transformation , hydrocarbon generation). Definitions and importance of pore pressure in explor ation and drilling. Drilling problems related to pore pressure. State of stess i n the Earth - fundamentals, measurements and modeling. The concept of effective stress. Pore pressure prediction and detection. Seismic-based methods. Resistivi ty-based methods. Basin modeling approach. Evaluation of the different methods. 2 Data audit, data requirements and how to deal with data gaps. Overview of data t ypes necessary for real time monitoring and model updating. Estimation of stress es: Density and the calculation of vertical stress. Practical exercise on vertic al stress determination. Pore Pressure and Fracture Gradient - modelling and pre diction. Loading and Unloading and how it relates to different pore pressure mec hanisms.. Fracture gradient, formation integrity and leak-off tests for calibrat ion of minimum horizontal stress.. Relation between pore pressure and fracture g radient. Practical exercise on determination of minimum horizontal stress. Influ ence of pore pressure on wellbore instability.

3 Advanced methods: Impact of faults on pore pressure prediction. Uncertainty, rea l-time updating and how real time updating reduces uncertainty ahead of the bit. Sub-salt pore pressure prediction. Impact of pore pressure on reservoir geomech anics - depletion and stress changes. Compaction and subsidence.