Reservoir Characterization

Integrated Reservoir Study

DATA
MANAGEMENT

RESERVOIR
CHARACTERIZATION

STATIC
MODEL

Data Flows

DYNAMIC
MODEL

Work Flows

Reservoir Characterization
RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION
Petrophysical Results Interpreted Logs & Marker Picks
Regional
Geological
Model

Structural
Model
Interpreted
Geophysical
Model

Depositional
Model

Statistical
Model of
Production &
Pressure Data

Pore
Systems
Model

Objectives of Structural Assessment

Determine the reservoir geometry and size
Establish fluid contacts
Assess trapping mechanisms
Determine the timing of trap formation
Determine height of oil/gas column
Evaluate fracture controls on reservoir
Permeability anisotropy
Coning
Enhanced recovery
Assess in-situ stress

Cross Section Of A Petroleum System

(Foreland Basin Example)

Geographic Extent of Petroleum System (Sedimentary Basin)

O
Stratigraphic
Extent of
Petroleum
System

Pod of Active
Source Rock
Petroleum Reservoir (O)
Fold-and-Thrust Belt
(arrows indicate relative fault motion)
(modified from Magoon and Dow, 1994)

Essential
Elements
of
Petroleum
System

Overburden Rock
Seal Rock
Reservoir Rock
Source Rock
Underburden Rock
Basement Rock
Top Oil Window
Top Gas Window

Sedimentary
Basin Fill

Extent of Play
Extent of Prospect/Field
O

Data Sources for Defining Structure

Well Logs
- GR-Resistivity
- Imaging Logs (FMI, etc.)
- Dip Meter Logs
Seismic Data
- 2D Surveys
- 3D Surveys
Other Data
- Gravity and Magnetic Surveys
- Cores
- Outcrop Analogs
- Surface Mapping (Satellite Imagery)
- Well-Test Data

Resolution of Different Types of Data

Cores
<1 m to >1 m
Logs
10 cm to 1.0 m
Seismic
10 m to 50 m

Well-Log Correlation

Stratigraphic Cross Section

Reservoir Determination

Gross Thickness, Net Sand, and Net Pay

Net-to-Gross Determination

Significance of Faults in Reservoirs

Compartmentalization
Barriers to Fluid Flow
Conduits for Fluid Flow
Juxtaposed Layers

Seismic Section with Log Ties

Checkshots
Vertical Seismic
Profiles (VSP)
Geophysical
Well Log

Modified from Weimer and Davis,1996

Synthetic
Seismograms

Structural Cross Section

Structure Contour Map

(Depth-Converted from Seismic Time)

Think About What You Map

2D Seismic
Lines

Map made from well data and mis-tied 2D seismic lines

(modified from Jones and others, 1986)

Map Produced From East-West Lines

(modified from Jones and others, 1986)

Map Produced From North-South Lines

(modified from Jones and others, 1986)

Final Corrected Map

Data merge applied shows details from both previous

maps no misties
(modified from Jones and others, 1986)

Stochastic Modeling of Surfaces

To assess uncertainty in pore volume or reservoir performance

predictions requires adding uncertainty to the gridded surface
elevations.
Characteristics of the uncertainty
essentially zero at the well locations
varies smoothly away from the wells
variance depends on the quality of the seismic and the distance
from the wells
Uncertainty at wells is 0

Uncertainty increases away from wells

Products of Structural Studies

2-Dimensional
- Structure-Contour Maps
- Structural Cross Sections
- Fault-Plane Maps
3-Dimensional
- Structural Models of Surfaces
(Fault Planes and Horizons)
- Volume Models
- Fracture Orientation and Distribution

Structure Map and Cross Section

Net Pay Map Determination

A)

C)

C)
Is there
structural
heterogeneity
in the
field?

Fault-Plane and Layer Visualization

Data derived
from a variety
of sources
- Seismic
- Well Logs
- Etc.

Reservoir Layers and Fault-Bound

Compartments
Fault
Compartment

Porosity Grid in a Structural Framework

Fluid Level Boundaries on 3-D Data

Not Interpreted

Interpreted

Modified from Brown,

1996

Fault