AL Azhar University

Faculty of Engineering
Petroleum & Mining Dep. Oil Well drilling 1

Sheet 2

Predicting Formation Pressure Sheet

1- Use the following data to determine if a well can be drilled safely

to 15000 ft without incurring a kick or stuck pipe. Assume that the
formation pressures in the well to be the same as those in the offset
well.
New well
Casing setting depth = 11500 ft
Mud weight = 17 lb/gal
Maximum allowable differential pressure = 3000 psi

Offset Well
Shale Depth (ft) Shale
Depth (ft)
resistivity resistivity
5000 0.38 12300 0.27
7000 0.5 12600 0.26
9000 0.5 12900 0.23
9500 0.54 13200 0.42
10000 0.56 13500 0.6
10500 0.62 13800 0.76
10800 0.66 14100 0.78
11100 0.64 14400 0.65
11400 0.45 14700 0.5
11700 0.32 15000 0.4
12000 0.26

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 2- Calculate the required mud weights to drill each section of a well
using offset well data for control. Use a 0.3 lb/gal trip margin of
mud weight.

Section Interval (ft)

1 3500 - 10400
2 10400 – 12900
3 12900 – 14500

Offset Well
Depth (ft) Travel Time (µ Depth (ft) Travel Time
sec/ft (µ sec/ft))
3500 456 10400 120
4500 148 10800 122
5500 140 11200 126
6500 132 11600 129
7500 125 12000 123
8000 121 12400 122
8400 119 12800 119
8800 116 13200 106
9200 113 13600 105
9600 110 14000 101
10000 108 14500 98

3- The following values for the d-exponent were calculated on a well. Use
the associated mud weight to calculate the dc-exponent. Plot the d and
dc-exponent on linear coordinate paper. Where is the top of abnormal
pressure encountered? Can the d-exponent be used to detect the top of
abnormal pressure? Give the reasons for your answer. Assume the
normal formation pressure is equivalent to 9 lb/gal. Calculate the

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formation pressure each 500 ft interval below the entrance into
abnormal zone.

Mw Depth Mw
Depth (ft) d-exponent d-exponent
lb/gal (ft) lb/gal
7000 1.4 9 9750 1.55 11.1
7250 1.43 9 10000 1.49 11.1
7500 1.44 9 10250 1.55 13
7750 1.44 9.1 10500 1.55 13.5
8000 1.45 9.3 10750 1.55 13.5
8250 1.46 9.3 11000 1.54 13.5
8500 1.47 9.3 11250 1.57 14.1
8750 1.48 9.3 11500 1.6 14.1
9000 1.46 9.8 11750 1.6 14.1
9250 1.51 9.8 12000 1.65 14.9
9500 1.5 10.5

4- A well was drilled to 14500 ft with 16.8 lb/gal mud. A kick was
taken at 12200 ft with 13.3 lb/gal mud in the hole. The SIDPP was
350 psi and the SICP was 525 psi. What is the formation pressure
in lb/gal?