ResGeo 202 Reservoir Geomechanics, Spring 2017, Stanford Lagunita

Homework 1 – Calculating Overburden Stress

SOLUTIONS
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Part 1: Compute the overburden stress and overburden gradients

a. Plot density vs. depth for each dataset.
b. Divide the density profiles into 5 blocks.
c. Calculate the overburden stress.
d. Calculate the overburden gradient (overburden stress divided by depth).
Part 2: Compute porosity from density logs

a. Compute porosity assuming complete saturation and hydrostatic pore pressure.

b. Plot porosity vs. depth for each dataset.
Part 3: Answers to Homework 1 Questions

Question 1: Density Profiles

a. What is the logged density in the Barnett Shale well at 5800 ft depth in g/cc?
= 2.519 ± 0.01

b. What is the logged density in the Gulf of Mexico well at 5800 ft depth in g/cc?
= 2.156 ± 0.01

Question 2: Overburden Stress Profiles

a. What is the overburden stress in the Barnett Shale well at 5800 ft depth in PSI?
= 6381.9905 ± 638.19905

b. What is the pore pressure in the Barnett Shale well at 6000 ft depth in PSI?
= 2652.4502 ± 265.24502

c. What is the overburden stress in the Gulf of Mexico well at 5800 ft depth in PSI?
= 4553.2389 ± 455.32389

d. What is the pore pressure in the Gulf of Mexico well at 6000 ft depth in PSI?
= 2652.4502 ± 265.24502

Question 3: Overburden Stress Gradient Profiles

a. What is the overburden stress gradient in the Barnett Shale well at 5800 ft depth
in PSI/ft?
= 1.1003 ± 0.1103

b. What is the overburden stress gradient in the Gulf of Mexico well at 5800 ft depth
in PSI/ft?
= 0.78504 ± 0.078504

Question 4: Porosity Profiles

a. What is the porosity in the Barnett Shale well at 5200 ft depth (as a unitless
decimal, not as a percentage)?
= 0.043824 ± 0.00438

b. What is the porosity in the Gulf of Mexico well at 5200 ft depth (as a unitless
decimal, not as a percentage)?
= 0.30235 ± 0.03