Pore-pressure Prediction in Overconsolidated Shales

Abstract

Several of the existing pore pressure estimation methods are based on establishing a normal compaction trend curve with depth. The rationale is that as fine grained sediments are buried with depth the increase in overburden stress compact the sediments therefrom the normal compaction curve can be developed. Common methods using a normal compaction trend as the basis is the equivalent depth method, or the Eaton ratio method which uses sonic, density or resistivity logs as inputs. When fluid overpressure develops caused by other sources than mechanical compaction, such as fluid mechanical entrapment, rock molecular transformation, migration or hydrocarbon generation, Bowers method can be applied. Bowers extended the above mentioned methods to calculate over pressure where sediments are unloaded during pore pressure build up. However, these methods require that you establish a normal compaction curve for sediments without overpressure. In many onshore basins, such as the Mid-Alberta basin, which has thick eroded sections and therefore the sediments are over-consolidated, it is not possible to establish a normal compaction curve. To be able to predict the pore pressure in over-pressured Mid-Alberta shales, we developed a pore pressure prediction method based on over-consolidation theory. We tested the method with sonic logs and the method gave promising results for establishing pore pressures in the over-consolidated Alberta basin.

Meeting Name

SPE Eastern Regional/AAPG Eastern Section Joint Meeting (2008: Oct. 11-15, Pittsburgh, PA)

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Alberta; Compaction curves; Consolidation theory; Equivalent depth; Fine-grained sediment; Hydrocarbon generation; Mechanical compaction; Molecular transformation; Over-pressures; Overburden stress; Pore pressure prediction; Ratio method; Resistivity logs; Sonic logs; Electric logging; Petroleum engineering; Sedimentology; Shale; Solar radiation; Structural geology; Oil-shales

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-1605606736

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2008 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Oct 2008

Link to Full Text

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