Hydrostatic Pressure

From mud weight and depth.

Mud weight (ppg)

True vertical depth (ft)

—

psi = ppg × 0.052 × TVD

Use true vertical depth (TVD), not measured depth, for hydrostatic pressure in deviated or horizontal wells.

Formulappg × 0.052 × TVD

10 ppg @ 10,000 ft5,200 psi

12 ppg @ 10,000 ft6,240 psi

Hydrostatic pressure in a well

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a column of drilling fluid at a given depth. It is what holds back formation fluids and prevents a blowout. The formula is psi = mud weight (ppg) × 0.052 × true vertical depth (ft).

Always use true vertical depth (TVD), not measured depth — in a horizontal well the long lateral adds measured footage but no extra vertical column, so it adds no hydrostatic pressure.

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