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[](https://www.slb.com/en/) [Energy Glossary](https://glossary.slb.com/en/) Menu En - [English](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/h/hydrostatic_pressure) - [Español](https://glossary.slb.com/es/terms/h/hydrostatic_pressure) Search [Log In](https://glossary.slb.com/en/login) [Contact](https://www.slb.com/contact-us/general-contact?&nor=14) # Explore the Energy Glossary Look up terms beginning with: - [\#]() - [a]() - [b]() - [c]() - [d]() - [e]() - [f]() - [g]() - [h]() - [i]() - [j]() - [k]() - [l]() - [m]() - [n]() - [o]() - [p]() - [q]() - [r]() - [s]() - [t]() - [u]() - [v]() - [w]() - [x]() - [y]() - [z]() # **hydrostatic pressure** **1\. n. \[Geology\]** The normal, predicted [pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/p/pressure) for a given depth, or the pressure exerted per unit area by a column of freshwater from sea level to a given depth. Abnormally low pressure might occur in areas where fluids have been drained, such as a depleted [hydrocarbon](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/h/hydrocarbon) [reservoir](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/r/reservoir). Abnormally high pressure might occur in areas where burial of water-filled sediments by an [impermeable](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/i/impermeable) [sediment](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/s/sediment) such as [clay](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/c/clay) was so rapid that fluids could not escape and the [pore](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/p/pore) pressure increased with deeper burial. **See related terms:** [abnormal pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/a/abnormal_pressure), [absolute pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/a/absolute_pressure), [formation pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/f/formation_pressure), [fresh water](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/f/fresh_water), [geopressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/g/geopressure), [geopressure gradient](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/g/geopressure_gradient), [hydraulic head](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/h/hydraulic_head), [hydrostatic head](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/h/hydrostatic_head), [normal pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/n/normal_pressure), [overpressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/o/overpressure), [pore pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/p/pore_pressure), [reservoir pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/r/reservoir_pressure), [underpressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/u/underpressure)  Pressure versus depth plot. **2\. n. \[Drilling\]** The force per unit area caused by a column of fluid. In US [oilfield](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/o/oilfield) units, this is calculated using the equation: P=MW\*Depth\*0.052, where MW is the [drilling fluid](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/d/drilling_fluid) density in pounds per gallon, Depth is the true vertical depth or "[head](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/h/head)" in feet, and 0.052 is a unit conversion factor chosen such that P results in units of pounds per square in. (psi). **See related terms:** [circulation loss](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/c/circulation_loss), [hydrostatic head](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/h/hydrostatic_head), [kick](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/k/kick), [shut-in bottomhole pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/s/shut-in_bottomhole_pressure), [shut-in pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/s/shut-in_pressure), [true vertical depth (TVD)](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/t/true_vertical_depth)  Diagram of hydrostatic head and hydrostatic pressure. **3\. n. \[Drilling Fluids\]** The [pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/p/pressure) at any point in a column of fluid caused by the weight of fluid above that point. Controlling the hydrostatic pressure of a [mud](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/m/mud) column is a critical part of mud engineering. Mud weight must be monitored and adjusted to always stay within the limits imposed by the drilling situation. Sufficient hydrostatic pressure (mud weight) is necessary to prevent an influx of fluids from downhole, but excessive pressure must also be avoided to prevent creation of hydraulic fractures in the [formation](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/f/formation), which would cause lost [circulation](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/c/circulation). Hydrostatic pressure is calculated from mud weight and [true vertical depth](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/t/true_vertical_depth) as follows: Hydrostatic pressure, psi = 0.052 x Mud Weight, lbm/[gal](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/g/gal) x True Vertical Depth, ft. (To convert to SI units, 1.0 psi = 6.9 kPa.) **See related terms:** [equivalent circulating density](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/e/equivalent_circulating_density), [kill-weight fluid](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/k/kill-weight_fluid), [lost circulation](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/l/lost_circulation), [mud balance](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/m/mud_balance), [mud program](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/m/mud_program), [mud weight](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/m/mud_weight), [pressurized mud balance](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/p/pressurized_mud_balance), [spotting fluid](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/s/spotting_fluid) [](https://glossary.slb.com/en/) [Privacy](https://www.slb.com/en/privacy) [Terms of Service](https://www.slb.com/en/terms-of-service) © 2026 Schlumberger Limited. SLB 50.48 2.50 Share This [LinkedIn]() [Facebook]() [Email]() ## Sign In to Access Premium Content To download this file you first sign in to your Schlumberger account. 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**3\. n. \[Drilling Fluids\]** The [pressure](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/p/pressure) at any point in a column of fluid caused by the weight of fluid above that point. Controlling the hydrostatic pressure of a [mud](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/m/mud) column is a critical part of mud engineering. Mud weight must be monitored and adjusted to always stay within the limits imposed by the drilling situation. Sufficient hydrostatic pressure (mud weight) is necessary to prevent an influx of fluids from downhole, but excessive pressure must also be avoided to prevent creation of hydraulic fractures in the [formation](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/f/formation), which would cause lost [circulation](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/c/circulation). Hydrostatic pressure is calculated from mud weight and [true vertical depth](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/t/true_vertical_depth) as follows: Hydrostatic pressure, psi = 0.052 x Mud Weight, lbm/[gal](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/g/gal) x True Vertical Depth, ft. (To convert to SI units, 1.0 psi = 6.9 kPa.) **See related terms:** [equivalent circulating density](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/e/equivalent_circulating_density), [kill-weight fluid](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/k/kill-weight_fluid), [lost circulation](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/l/lost_circulation), [mud balance](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/m/mud_balance), [mud program](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/m/mud_program), [mud weight](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/m/mud_weight), [pressurized mud balance](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/p/pressurized_mud_balance), [spotting fluid](https://glossary.slb.com/en/terms/s/spotting_fluid)