This workshop proposal arises from that meeting. Overpressures are observed around the world where there has been recent and rapid sedimentation of fine-grained strata. While there is broad agreement that overpressures exist and that rapid sedimentation is sometimes responsible, there is disagreement as to the precise details of how overpressure is generated and how fluids migrate in overpressured formations. For example, some authors propose that overpressure begins at the sea floor while others argue that this is not possible because sediments near the sea floor are so porous that the permeability is high enough to bleed off any pressures present. Perhaps the greatest debate focuses on understanding the the actual permeability of these mud-rocks.
Flow is anisotropic and can be focussed along high permeability layers and along fault planes.
An understanding of pressure and permeability distribution will provide insight into how fluids migrate in sedimentary basins and into how they are expelled at the sea floor. By understanding how and where geopressures form, we can begin to understand the hydrologic cycle. In turn this effects other earth behavior. For example, overpressures control the location of seeps, positions of slope failure, etc. Understanding the origin, mechanisms, and processes of overpressure is extremely important to the petroleum industry.