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Hydrostatic pressure of a fluid column

Pressure of a column of drilling or kill fluid at a true vertical depth, and its gradient (equivalent density).

Formula
P = ρ · g · Hg = 9.80665 m/s²

In a shut-in well the surface pressure adds to the hydrostatic pressure; while circulating, the annular pressure loss adds (see ECD).

Source: Hydrostatic equation

Inputs

You can change a field's unit: the value is converted to the formula's units automatically.

ρ
H

In a deviated well, the vertical depth, not the measured depth.

Unit converter for this formulaDensity and °API · Length · Pressure · Pressure gradient and equivalent density
Metric
  • kg/m³850
  • g/cm³0.85
  • t/m³0.85
  • rel. (water 4 °C)0.850024
US field units
  • lb/ft³53.0638
  • lb/gal (ppg)7.09359
  • SG (60/60 °F)0.850837
  • °API34.8068

°API and SG refer to the density at 60 °F (15.6 °C) relative to water at 60 °F, relative density to water at 4 °C. The oil's thermal expansion between the measurement temperatures is not included. °API = 141.5 / SG − 131.5.

All units
Result
PHydrostatic pressure
Fill in all fields
  • GPressure gradient

More in Pressures and drilling fluid

Results are engineering estimates from standard formulas; for design decisions check them against the codes, project documents and specialists' calculations. The formulas carried over from the original set are unchanged, and their errors are described in the notes.