Fracture gradient prediction:an overview and an improved method

The fracture gradient is a critical parameter for drilling mud weight design in the energy industry. A new method in fracture gradient prediction is proposed based on analyzing worldwide leak-off test(LOT) data in offshore drilling. Current fracture gradient prediction methods are also reviewed and compared to the proposed method. We analyze more than 200 LOT data in several offshore petroleum basins and find that the fracture gradient depends not only on the overburden stress and pore pressure, but also on the depth. The data indicate that the effective stress coefficient is higher at a shallower depth than that at a deeper depth in the shale formations. Based on this finding,a depth-dependent effective stress coefficient is proposed and applied for fracture gradient prediction. In some petroleum basins, many wells need to be drilled through long sections of salt formations to reach hydrocarbon reservoirs.The fracture gradient in salt formations is very different from that in other sedimentary rocks. Leak-off test data in the salt formations are investigated, and a fracture gradient prediction method is proposed. Case applications are examined to compare different fracture gradient methods and validate the proposed methods. The reasons why the LOT value is higher than its overburden gradient are also explained.

Revisiting fracture gradient:Comments on“A new approaching method to estimate fracture gradient by correcting MattheweKelly and Eaton's stress ratio”

A study performed by Marbun et al.[1]claimed that“A new methodology to predict fracture pressure from former calculations,MattheweKelly and Eaton are proposed.”Also,Marbun et al.'s paper stated that“A new value of Poisson's and a stress ratio of the formation were generated and the accuracy of fracture gradient was improved.”We found those all statements are incorrect and some misleading concepts are revealed.An attempt to expose the method of fracture gradient determination from industry practice also appears to solidify that our arguments are acceptable to against improper Marbun et al.'s claims.

Integrated Approach to Pore Pressure and Fracture Pressure Prediction Using Well Logs: Case Study of Onshore Niger-Delta Sedimentary Basin

This study investigated the cause of identified zones of overpressure in some selected wells in a field in the Niger Delta sedimentary basin. Two models were used each for predicting pore pressure and the corresponding fracture pressure using well log and drilling data. Shale lithology in Niger Delta is massive and characterized by high pore pressure;hence shale compaction theory is utilized in this study. The petrophysical data were evaluated using Ikon’s Science Rokdoc software. The two major pore pressure prediction techniques employed are the Eaton’s and Bowers’ models while the Eaton’s fracture pressure model and the Hubbert and Willis fracture pressure prediction models were utilized for fracture prediction. The density and sonic logs were used respectively to generate the shale trend and the shale normal compaction trend used for the prediction. The wells studied showed disequilibrium compaction of sediment to be the major mechanism that gave rise to overpressure in the Niger Delta. Clay diagenesis and fluid expansion were also observed as the secondary overpressure generation mechanism in well X-1. This secondary overpressure mechanism was observed to start approximately at depths of 10,000 ft (TVD). The top of overpressure and the pressure range in the wells studied varied from 6000 to 11,017 ft (TVD) and 1796.70 to 5297.00 psi respectively. The Eaton’s model under-predicts pore pressure at the depth interval where unloading mechanism is witnessed. Since the study revealed presence of secondary overpressure generation mechanism, Bowers model was observed to be the most reliable pore pressure prediction model in the area.

Impact toughness of a gradient hardened layer of Cr5Mo1V steel treated by laser shock peening

Laser shock peening（LSP） is a widely used surface treatment technique that can effectively improve the fatigue life and impact toughness of metal parts.Cr5Mo1 V steel exhibits a gradient hardened layer after a LSP process.A new method is proposed to estimate the impact toughness that considers the changing mechanical properties in the gradient hardened layer.Assuming a linearly gradient distribution of impact toughness,the parameters controlling the impact toughness of the gradient hardened layer were given.The influence of laser power densities and the number of laser shots on the impact toughness were investigated.The impact toughness of the laser peened layer improves compared with an untreated specimen,and the impact toughness increases with the laser power densities and decreases with the number of laser shots.Through the fracture morphology analysis by a scanning electron microscope,we established that the Cr5Mo1 V steel was fractured by the cleavage fracture mechanism combined with a few dimples.The increase in the impact toughness of the material after LSP is observed because of the decreased dimension and increased fraction of the cleavage fracture in the gradient hardened layer.