Abnormal Pressure Distribution of Tertiary age formations in Middle & South Iraqi Oil Fields

Prediction of formation pore pressure gradient is a very important factor in designingdrilling well program and it help to avoid many problems during drilling operations such as lostcirculation, kick, blowout and other problems.In this study, abnormal formation pressure is classified into two types; abnormal highpressure (HP) and abnormal low pressure (LP), therefore any pressure that is either above orbelow the hydrostatic pressure is referred to as an abnormal formation pressure.This study concerns with abnormal formation pressure distribution and their effect ondrilling operations in middle & south Iraqi oil fields. Abnormal formation pressure maps aredrawn depending upon drilling evidence and problems.Three formations are considered as abnormal formations in the region of study, theseformations geologically existed in Tertiary age and they from shallower to deeper are: LowerFars, Dammam and Umm Er Radhuma, Formations. The maps of this study referred to eitherhigh formations pressure such as (Lower Fars and Umm Er Radhuma) or the low formationspressure such as (Dammam) in middle and south of Iraq. Finally these maps also suggested andshowed the area, where no field is drill until now, which may behave as high, low and normalformation pressure for every formation understudy.