--> Abstract: Integrated Methodology for Developing Deltaic Reservoirs with Horizontal Wells; Prudhoe Bay Field, Alaska, by T. Love and M. May; #90911 (2000)

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Abstract: Integrated Methodology for Developing Deltaic Reservoirs with Horizontal Wells; Prudhoe Bay Field, Alaska

LOVE, TRACY, BP Exploration Co. Ltd., Anchorage, AK; MIKE MAY, BP Exploration Co. Ltd., Anchorage, Anchorage; JERRY SIOK, BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc, Anchorage, AK

In the up dip gravity drainage area of the Prudhoe Bay Field, long term oil production has left a thin light oil column at the base of a thick reservoir sequence overlain by an expanded gas column. The deeper reservoir targets are in deltaic deposits where maximum standoff to gas can be achieved and wells produce at competitive gas oil ratios.

Some areas of Prudhoe Bay (NE C-pad) were perceived as a high risk for drilling new wells by applying conventional reservoir and fluid descriptions. However, using multiple closely spaced well penetrations (i.e. plugbacks) and the resulting horizontal well, detailed distributary channel geometries can be recognized and applied when planning additional infill wells. Using this deterministic mapping technique, a geologic model over NE C-pad was developed which has been targeted successfully.

The production rate and ultimate recovery of a well is related to geologic properties which have been qualitatively correlated with seismic acoustic impedance based lithology prediction. Analysis of horizontal wells completed in the distributary channels in NE C-pad reveal trends in both production and lithology that can be used to predict a new well's performance.

Optimizing well placement, production, and well costs are the keys to economically developing the continually reducing target sizes. By integrating production data with geologic and geophysical data, a methodology has been established for 1) selecting and high-grading targets, 2) designing and geosteering well trajectories and 3) predicting well performance and ultimate recovery.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90911©2000 AAPG Pacific Section and Western Region Society of Petroleum Engineers, Long Beach, California