Subsurface Pressure

Stress vs. Pressure

Units of pressure = force/area 33 psi = 33 pounds per square inch
Metric Units = Pascals = N/m2 =kg/(m . s2) 145 psi = 1 Mpa = 106 Pascals

Lithostatic stress/ hydrostatic stress

Stress/pressure
What is the difference? Pressure - Scalar quantity Stress - Tensor quantity
Lithostatic stress Tectonic stress Fluid Pressure -Hydrostatic -Hydrodynamic

Lithostatic Stress
Due to load of overburden Magnitude of stress components is the same in all directions
gravity

Pressure/stress gradients

22 to 26 Mpa/km 1 psi/ft depth 10 Mpa/km 0.43 psi/ft

Lith= .g.z
density

Comparison of vertical and horizontal stresses

World Stress Map

Overpressure

Shale Porosity vs. Depth Curve

Pore pressure in the Monte Cristo Field (Texas)

=41.73 e z/8197 ft =41.73 e z/2498 m

Schmoker and Halley, 1982

Engelder and Leftwich, 1997

Well 1

Well 2

Well 3

Sand A

Reservoir Compartments

Characteristics of Overpressure Zones

Under-compacted shale Low density, low sonic velocity Rapid Drilling Rate Low Thermal Conductivy, high T Low Salinity

Sand B

Sand C

Controlling Reservoir Pressure

Blow Out Preventers

Formation Tester Schlumberger

Drill Stem Test

Drill Stem Test Pressure Results

Reservoir Pressure Return to Mud Pres.

Initial Reservoir Pressure Leduc Fields, Alberta (Canada)

Open Valve Initial Shut In

Pre-Flow (~1 hour)

Flow Leduc #1 Gas flare

Hydrodynamic System

Phase Behavior of Oil and Gas

Supercritical fluid Liquid Critical point Pressure Gas

Phase Behavior of Gas-Oil Mix

Reservoir
Bubble Point Critical Point

Supercritical fluid

100% Liquid Pressure

75% 50% 25% Stock Tank

Separator

Liquid + Gas
5%

Gas

Temperature Supercritical: density like a fluid, viscosity like a gas Temperature

Phase Behavior of Wet Gas or condensate

100% Liquid
75%

Reservoir conditions
25% 50%

Gas

Separator

Temperature

= .g.z Hydrostatic gradient = 0.43 psi/ft or 1 Mpa/km Lithostatic gradient= 1 psi/ft or 25 MPa/km Ovepressure forms in undercompacted rocks Pressure gradient defines reservoir compartments Artesian aquifers can produce anomalous P Methods to control P during drilling Hydrodynamic resrvours lead to tilted oil-water contacts Physical state of hydrocarbons depends on P-T regime Bringing oil to the surface cools and depressurizes it

Summary

Pressure