STAUBER, DOUGLAS A., HYWEL UPSHALL, and JEFF APP, BP Exploration, Houston,TX

Abstract: Pompano, Stepping off the Edge in the Gulf of Mexico

The Pompano upper Miocene reservoir is a channel system draped over a plunging anticline. Seismic imaging reveals a core channel complex with confining levees and broad overbank wings. Whole-cores and well-logs show that the seismically resolved channels in the core are composites of hundreds of thin flows. The seismic channels form a three-dimensional, interconnected network with numerous examples of erosive contact. But, because of the thin bedding, the degree of hydraulic connectivity between the channel segments was not known prior to development, and the number of wells required was uncertain. The reservoir has been developed from two structures, the Pompano platform and a sub-sea template in 1800 ft of water 3.5 miles to the Southeast. Up to 19 wells were contemplated for the development if connectivity was a problem, and wells were placed on production as drilled: no pre-drilling. Reservoir pressure measurements for all wells drilled after production began showing depletion by amounts consistent with the distance from, expected connectivity to, and amount of production from neighboring wells. All penetrated channel segments appeared to be connected to the channel network. This evidence of connectivity halted development drilling at 13 wells, with the expectation of draining the reserves. A time-lapse seismic survey was acquired after 2 years of production to ensure that the reserve expectation was being met, and that no significant channel segments remained undrained. The time-lapse seismic fulfilled its objective, and is revealing details of the connectivity that would be difficult to determine from traditional well monitoring.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90923@1999 International Conference and Exhibition, Birmingham, England