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Pressures and Overpressure in the Subsurface

3 Day Course
Overpressure is found in most sedimentary basins, so understanding subsurface pressures and their effects on the hydrocarbon system is a key input into developing successful exploration strategies, efficient well planning and ensuring the safe and effective exploration and exploitation of petroleum reservoirs.

This course has been officially endorsed by the Geological Society of London.

Participants will learn:

  • How pressure data affects the safe and optimal exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon reservoirs
  • How to analyse pressure data
  • How to calculate overburden and fracture gradients
  • How to use industry standard techniques to predict pore pressures in the pre-drill environment

The course is designed for geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists and reservoir/drilling engineers who have an interest in, or need to utilise pressure data in their workflows, and wish to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between geology and overpressure. It also covers well planning, hydrodynamics and seal breach risk.

Course tutors:

The course is presented as a combination of PowerPoint based lectures and practical exercises, and familiarity with oilfield practices will be an advantage.

Detailed Course Overview
DAY 1
Introduction
  • The importance of pressure data
  • Understanding the system
  • Worldwide application
  • Viewing pressure data
Fundamentals of Pressure
  • Definitions & Units
  • Hydrostatic pressures & gradients
  • Lithostatic pressures & gradients
  • Fracture pressure & gradients
  • Sources & types of pressure data
  • Subsurface pressure analysis
  • Fluid pressure gradients & fluid contact
DAY 2
Mechanisms for Generating Overpressure
  • Disequilibrium compaction
  • Terzaghi’s Equation and a “shared overburden”
Pore Pressure Prediction
  • Pressure prediction workflow
  • Normal compaction trend analysis
  • Terzaghi’s principle
  • Eaton’s Ratio method
  • Equivalent Depth method
  • Bowers method
  • Seismic velocity based pressure prediction (an outline)
  • Basin modelling (an outline)
Reservoir vs. Shale Pressure
  • Lateral Drainage
  • Lateral Transfer
Secondary Mechanisms
  • Fluid volume increase
  • Load transfer
  • Recognising secondary mechanisms
DAY 3
The Use of Drilling Data
  • Why use drilling data?
  • What to look for
Well Planning
  • What is a well plan?
  • Why do we need a well plan?
  • Elements of a well plan
  • Low, Expected & High cases
  • Pre-drill vs.Real-Time
Overpressure & the Hydrocarbon System
  • Seal breach mechanisms
  • Seal capacity, seal breach & column height
  • Protected traps
  • Reservoir quality
  • Migration
  • Hydrocarbon maturation
Mapping Overpressure
  • Compartmentalization
  • Vertical & lateral seals
Hydrodynamics
  • Variable hydrocarbon-water contacts
  • Tilted contacts
  • Gravity vs. drainage-driven hydrodynamics
  • Effect on reserves
Sign Up for this Course
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Prior to the course, Ikon Science will be in touch regarding payment and details of all course attendees.

Course Terms and Conditions
1. Ikon Science shall provide, at its cost, comprehensive training course materials comprising PowerPoint slides, worksheets, trainer notes and case notes as required for the relevant Ikon Science training course described above (the “Course”) and in sufficient numbers for all attending participants (the “Materials”). Such Materials are to include exercises and case studies as well as a selection of relevant articles (where available) that may be of use to facilitate further understanding of the subject matter.
2. The individual attending the training course (the “Attendee”) acknowledges and agrees that all intellectual property in the Materials belongs exclusively to Ikon Science or third party providers thereof (where applicable) and the Individual shall not acquire any express of implied interest therein. The Attendee shall not (i) copy or otherwise reproduce the Materials, (ii) use the Materials for commercial purposes or otherwise than for the direct purpose of completing the Course, or (iii) sell, lease, transfer, publish or otherwise make available or disclose the Materials or any part thereof (whether orally, in writing or in electronic form) to any third party (including any other person, company or any employee, officer or agent of the Attendee.
3. Ikon Science shall provide one (1) suitably skilled and experienced trainer who shall deliver the Course in a professional manner and otherwise in accordance with the objectives, target audience and outline set out in this letter.
4. This Course booking form must be signed by: (i) an authorised signatory of the company being invoiced for the Course (“Company”); or (ii) by the Attendee if prior payment has been made on a personal basis and in advance.
5. This contract for the provision of training is governed by English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England & Wales.
6. In the event that the Company issues a purchase order to Ikon Science which relates to training for a specified number of Company personnel in the use of Ikon Science software as specified therein, Ikon Science hereby grants to Company a non-exclusive, non-transferable licence for each such personnel to use the relevant software (“Training Licence”) provided by Ikon Science in connection with the such training (“Training Licence”) solely for such training purposes and for no commercial or other purposes whatsoever. Training Licence shall be installed by Company on such equipment as Ikon Science shall specify and, unless otherwise agreed in writing, each Training Licence shall expire seven days after its date of issuance. Save as aforesaid, Ikon Science’s standard software licence terms which are not inconsistent with the terms of this paragraph shall apply to all Training Licences granted hereunder.
7. All prices quoted are net of all relevant taxes (including VAT).
8. If full payment is not made on booking, it shall be required within thirty (30) days of the invoice date.
9. The Attendee or Ikon Science may cancel or postpone the training course by written notice to the other. In the event that the Attendee cancels the course up to thirty (30) days prior to the course taking place Ikon Science will refund in full any fee paid in respect of the training course. If cancellations are requested by the Attendee between 30 and 14 days prior to the agreed training course commencement date, Ikon Science reserves the right to retain 50% of the full fee. If such cancellation by the Attendee is made less than 14 days prior to the training course commencement date, the Attendee will forfeit the fee in full.
10. If a request for postponement of the training course is received at least 14 days prior to the course taking place, the Attendee and Ikon Science shall work together in good faith to agree alternative dates for the training course. For the avoidance of doubt, if the request is received within 14 days of the training course commencement date Ikon Science is under no obligation to agree an alternative date and the Attendee will forfeit their fee in full.

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