Post drill pore pressure prediction for geo-hazard assessment of offset wells in hamoru field

Abstract

Understanding the distribution and variation of subsurface formation pressure is key to preventing geohazards associated with drilling activities such as kicks and blow out. To assess and prevent such risk in drilling offset wells in the Hamoru field, prediction of pore pressure was done to understand the pressure regime of the field using well logs in the absence of seismic data. Two commonly used methods for formation pressure prediction; Bower’s and Eaton’s methods were adopted to predict pore pressure and determine the better of the two methods that will be more suitable for the field. The cross-plot of Vp against density disclosed that compaction disequilibrium is the prevalent overpressure mechanism. The prediction of Pore pressure with Eaton’s method gave results comparable to the acquired pressure in the field, typical of what is expected when compaction disequilibrium is the dominant overpressure mechanism. Since the result of Bower’s method over estimated formation pressure, Eaton’s method appears to be the better choice for predicting the formation pore pressure in the field. Analysis of the predicted pore pressure reveals the onset of overpressure at depth of 2.44 km. The formation pressure gradient ranges from 10.4 kPa/m to 15.2 kPa/m interpreted as mild to moderately over pressure.