Pressures and Overpressure in the Subsurface
Three-day training course

Course description

The principal objective of the course is to teach participants how pressure data relate to the safe and efficient exploration and exploitation of petroleum reservoirs.

Overpressure is experienced in most sedimentary basins where reservoirs are associated with fine-grained lithologies (such as shales), in particular at depths of 2.0km or greater below sea-bed.

Recent advances in the understanding of overpressure, in particular the magnitude of overpressure resulting from each of the main mechanisms under realistic basin conditions, gives improved confidence in estimating pore pressures.

The course teaches participants:

•  Pore pressure prediction - methods and limitations
•  Recognition of abnormal pressures and principal causes
•  Influences of abnormal pressures on trap integrity, sealing capacity, reservoir quality and maturation/migration efficiency in petroleum systems

Course content

•  Overpressure: worldwide context, origins and mechanisms
•  Pressure data and data display - use of pressure vs. depth/mudweight plots
•  Determination of fluid gradients
•  Pore pressure prediction - seismic, wireline, drilling and modelling methods,  strengths and weaknesses, limitations and pitfalls
•  Influence of overpressure on the petroleum system (trap integrity, reservoir  quality, source rock maturation and petroleum migration)
•  Relationship between overpressure, seals and column heights
•  Compartmentalisation of overpressured reservoirs - fault and seal  characteristics
•  Overpressure in deep water, including well design issues

Case studies used in the course are mainly from the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, and South East Asia basins plus other classic overpressured basins such as South Caspian Sea, West Africa, Trinidad and mid-Norway.

Training instructor

The training courses we offer are instructed by the Managing Director of GeoPressure Technology, Dr Richard Swarbrick and Dr. Rick Lahann.

As a world expert in oilfield pressures, Richard is also an instructor for the Geoscience Training Alliance and the AAPG Continuing Education Program.  Dr. Rick Lahann is an independent consultant with a long-term relationship with GeoPressure Technology. He has 23 years experience with ConocoPhillips, was responsible for fluid and fracture pressure prediction and drilling support for many international wildcat wells

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Who should attend

This training course is designed for geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists and reservoir/drilling engineers with an interest in overpressure and high-pressure reservoirs, i.e. anyone who wants to understand overpressure and to know about the tools to predict it ahead of the bit. A familiarity with oilfield practices will be an advantage.

How to apply

To apply for the course, contact us directly:

GeoPressure Technology Ltd
Mountjoy Research Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3SW
United Kingdom
Tel/Fax +44 (0) 191 334 2191