PETE 355: Homework #1: Due Feb 1st by 11:59 pm.

**Show your work for all questions**

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Question #1
Compute the overburden stress at a depth of 10,000 ft using the average porosity data given
in the table below. Consider an exponential relationship between porosity and depth.
Assume an average grain density of 2.60 g/cc and a fluid density of 1.07 g/cc.

Sediment Average
Thickness Porosity
(ft) (frac.)
0 0.43
1,000 0.38
2,000 0.35
3,000 0.32
4,000 0.29
5,000 0.27
6,000 0.24
7,000 0.22
8,000 0.2
9,000 0.18
10,000 0.16
11,000 0.15
12,000 0.14
13,000 0.13
14,000 0.12
15,000 0.11
16,000 0.1
17,000 0.098
18,000 0.092
19,000 0.085
20,000 0.079
Question #2
A popular relation between rock bulk density (𝜌𝑏 ) and sonic velocity seems to be that of
Gardner et al. (1974). When using the sonic transit time (∆t), which is the reciprocal of the
sonic velocity, the relation takes the following form:

0.25
 10 6 
 b  0.23 
 t 
where bulk density is given in g/cc and ∆t is in sec/ft.

An offshore well is to be drilled in a water depth of 4,200 ft. The air gap is 50 ft. Using
Gardner relation, the sonic data from the table below and the middle Riemann sum, please
plot the equivalent overburden gradient (ppg) with depth (ft).

For the 4,250 ft – 6,234 ft interval with no data available, consider an average bulk density of
16.5 ppg. Also consider the seawater density equal to 8.6 ppg.