--> Abstract: Quantification of Reservoir Heterogeneity in 50-Meter-Thick Estuarine Point Bar Facies—McMurray Formation, Syncrude North Mine, Alberta, by Thomas Nardin, Howard R. Feldman, John P. Irish, Dave Jennette, and Dave Heyser; #90039 (2005)

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Quantification of Reservoir Heterogeneity in 50-Meter-Thick Estuarine Point Bar Facies—McMurray Formation, Syncrude North Mine, Alberta

Thomas Nardin1, Howard R. Feldman2, John P. Irish3, Dave Jennette4, and Dave Heyser5
1 Under Contract with Imperial Oil Resources, Calgary, AB
2 ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Houston, TX
3 Imperial Oil Resources, Calgary, AB
4 University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
5 Syncrude Canada Ltd, Fort McMurray, AB

The McMurray Formation represents a world class bitumen resource with an estimated 900 billion barrels in place. Large-scale estuarine point bars comprise one of the high-quality reservoir types amenable to thermal recovery processes. However, reservoir performance data indicate that steam chamber growth, steam-oil ratios and recovery efficiencies are particularly sensitive to mudstone heterogeneity.

Mudstone thickness, frequency and strike and dip bed length distributions in point bar IHS (inclined heterolithic stratification) facies were established from Syncrude mine exposures tied to cores. Mine faces were captured using GPS calibrated LIDAR images, photo draped laser scans that enhance the 3D visualization and quantitative analysis of outcrop stratigraphy. These data were integrated with logs from 852 closely spaced wells to develop a predictive model for large-scale estuarine point bars (10 sq km x 50 m thick). Rendering the well log curves as 3D seismic data facilitated stratigraphic interpretation.

Facies associations, organized within a stratigraphic hierarchy of bar elements, form the foundation for quantification of reservoir heterogeneity. The results of the study show that, after correcting for outcrop bias, mean mudstone lengths in some IHS facies are longer than typical horizontal well spacing and steam chamber widths (~100m). These facies are likely seals to steam chamber growth. Mudstones in clast-associated IHS facies are an order of magnitude shorter and are baffles to steam rise.

Quantitative mudstone distributions, keyed to facies, form the basis for improved: 1) prediction of steam chamber growth and reservoir performance, 2) reservoir models and simulations, and 3) development and well planning.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005