Lithostatic Pressure
Lithostatic Pressure is also known as Geostatic Pressure, Overburden pressure, Confining Pressure, Vertical Stress, Total Stress. It’s defined as the pressure exerted by weight of rock and fluid in the rock on the formation layer at the point of interest. The equivalent density of the combined weight is referred to as the bulk density (ρb). Lithostatic Pressure is normally estimated as average 1 psi/ft but varies from basin to basin depending on matrix density of rocks.