Geopressure research
and pore pressure prediction

GeoPOP (Geosciences Project on OverPressure) is a multi-disciplinary research group investigating overpressure in sedimentary basins, funded by the hydrocarbon industry.

Fluid pressures above the hydrostatic are common in sedimentary basins throughout the world and the excess pressure is known as overpressure. Abnormally high fluid pressures in sedimentary basins can be caused by several different mechanisms. These include gravitational loading by the rapid burial of sediments where the overburden has low permeability; loading by tectonic compressive stress; gas generation; and diagenetic dehydration of clay minerals. The amount of overpressure that develops depends on many parameters and must be modelled as a dynamic process. In recent years, the need for accurate pore pressureprediction in the hydrocarbon industry has grown as exploration wells are drilled to deeper targets. The cost of an individualexploration well in deep water can be over 100 million dollars, so it is essential that wells are planned to reach their objectives efficiently without compromising on safety.

The GeoPOP research consortium comprises three linked themes to improve pore pressure prediction and estimation in mudrocks, to reduce uncertainty in those predictions, and to improve reservoir quality prediction in sandstones.