Pressure Data for Exploration Success

This course is predominately exercise driven and is designed to help students develop the link between theory and practice. Extensive use is made of data from areas such as the North Sea, SE Asia and the Gulf of Mexico to identify lateral drainage and hydrodynamic reservoirs and to evaluate seal breach risking.

Course Content

Introduction to Pressure Data (Shale vs. Reservoirs)

• Pressure-depth plots
• Pressure gradients & transition zones
• Hydrostatic gradient
• Drilling indicators of overpressure

Shale-based Pressure Interpretation

• Normal Compaction Trends
• Disequilibrium compaction
• Eaton’s Ratio method and Equivalent Depth method

Lateral drainage & hydrodynamics

• Sand vs. shale pressure: Lateral drainage
• Regional overpressure mapping
• Common hydrocarbon gradient
• Structurally complex reservoirs

Hydrodynamics Theory

• Conventional hydrodynamics
• Static vs. Dynamic systems
• Unconventional hydrodynamics
• Hydrodynamic model
• Tilted hydrocarbon/water contacts

Effects of Hydrodynamic Flow on the Petroleum System

• Hydrodynamic spill point mapping
• Data required
• Conclusions

Seal Breach Risking – Theory

• Top seal leakage - mechanisms
• Seal capacity

Key Inputs for the Workflow

• Overpressure categories
• Aquifer vs. hydrocarbon seal capacity
• Overburden as least stress
• Salt affected overburdens
• Fracture pressure summary
• Pore pressure-stress coupling
• Fracture pressure algorithm

Seal Breach Risking

• Effect of depth & overpressure
• Seal capacity vs. column height
• Seal breach risking at top reservoir
• Seal breach risking- intra seal
• Column height vs. seal capacity?

Effective Stress Mapping

• Objectives
• Data required
• Seal capacity mapping
• Protected traps
• Key messages

Who should attend?

This course is designed for geoscientists who routinely use pressure data and wish to broaden their understanding and ability to analyse and interpret a variety of pressure data types within a geological framework. It is recommended that participants attend our Pressures and Overpressure in the Subsurface, a similar pressure-related course or have a good working knowledge of oilfield practices and pressure prediction.

This course is held over 2 days.