Page 83 - Origin and Prediction of Abnormal Formation Pressures

64 G.V. CHILINGAR, J.O. ROBERTSON JR. AND H.H. RIEKE III

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal subsurface formation pressures are encountered throughout the world and
are produced by a variety of different mechanisms, which may be physical, chemical, or
a combination of the two. In many cases, the pressure increase is due to the inability of
water to escape from the compacting sediment. Thus, the interstitial water must carry
an additional load. There are disagreements among investigators regarding some of the
mechanisms that could explain the origin of abnormal pressures. Recent developments
in drilling, seismics and well-logging are helping to resolve many of the disputed
mechanisms.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Allen, D.R. and Chilingarian, G.V., 1975. Mechanics of sand compaction. In: G.V. Chilingarian and K.H.
Wolf (Eds.), Compaction of Coarse-Grained Sediments, I. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 43-77.
Anderson, R.V.V., 1927. Tertiary stratigraphy and orogeny of the northern Punjab. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 38:
665-720.
Athy, L.F., 1930a. Density, porosity and compaction of sedimentary rocks. Bull. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.,
14(1): 1-24.
Athy, L.F., 1930b. Compaction and oil migration. Bull. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., 14(1): 25-35.
Avchyan, G.M. and Ozerskaya, M.L., 1968. Regularity in consolidation of sedimentary rocks with depth.
Izv. Akad. Nauk. Ser. Geol., 2:137- ! 41.
Bebout, D.G., 1976. Subsurface techniques for locating and evaluating geopressured-geothermal reservoirs
along the Texas Gulf Coast. Proc. 2nd Geopressured/Geothermal Energy Conf, The University of Texas,
Austin, Feb. 23-25, II, pp. I-16.
Berner, R.A., 1980. Early Diagenesis: A Theoretical Approach. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ,
241 pp.
Bogomolov, Y.G., 1967. Geotemperature regime. Bull. Int. Assoc. Sci. Hydrol., 4: 86-91.
Brandt, H., 1955. A study of the speed of sound in porous granular media. Trans. Am. Soc. Mech. Engr., 77:
479-485.
Brown, K.E., 1967. Gas Lift Theory and Practice. The Petroleum Publishing Co., Tulsa, OK, 924 pp.
Burst, J.F., 1969. Diagenesis of Gulf Coast clayey sediments and its possible relation to petroleum migration.
Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull., 53(1): 73-93.
Carslaw, H.S. and Jaeger, J.C., 1959. Conduction of Heat in Solids, 2nd ed. Oxford Univ. Press, London,
510 pp.
Chilingarian, G.V., Donaldson, E.C. and Yen, T.E, 1995. Subsidence Due to Fluid Withdrawal. Develop-
ments in Petroleum Science 41, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 498 pp.
Clark Jr., S.E, 1961. A redetermination of equilibrium relations between kyanite and sillimanite. Am. J. Sci.,
259:641-650.
Dickey, P.A., Shiram, C.R. and Paine, W.R., 1968. Abnormal pressures in deep wells of southwestern
Louisiana. Science, 160:609-615.
Dickinson, G., 1953. Reservoir pressures in Gulf Coast, Louisiana. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull., 37: 410-
432.
Donaldson, E.C., 1980. Underground disposal of brines from geopressured reservoirs. Proc. 73rd Annu.
Meet., Am. Inst. Chem. Eng., Washington, DC, Nov., 30 pp.
Dunoyer de Segonzac, G., 1964. Les argiles du Cr6tac6 Sup6rieur dans de bassin de Douala (Cameroun):
Problbmes de diagenbse. Bull. Serv. Carte Geol. Alsace-Lorraine, 17(4): 287-310.
Evans, D.M., 1966. The Denver area earthquakes and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal disposal well. Mt. Geol.,
3(1): 23-36.
Fertl, W.H., 1976. Abnormal Formation Pressures. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 382 pp.