--> Abstract: Effective Basin Modeling for Pore Pressure Analysis; #90063 (2007)

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Effective Basin Modeling for Pore Pressure Analysis

 

Williams, Kenneth E.1, Arkady G. Madatov2 (1) Knowledge Systems, Inc, Houston, TX (2) Murmansk State Technical University, Murmansk, Russia

 

An effective basin geopressure modeling (EBM) concept for geopressure simulation is introduced that is several orders of magnitude more rapid than conventional full-scale 3D grid-based modeling with no loss in resolution or accuracy of the pore pressure analysis.

 

The EBM hydrodynamic modeling approach is based on the identification of the interrelationships between the various processes involved in the development, maintenance and dissipation of overpressures. In addition to use in pre-drill pressure prediction, the modeling also allows real-time updating of pressure predictions based on new information acquired during drilling operations. The EBM approach has been thoroughly tested and used in pre-drill pressure predictions for over 150 wells, and for real-time updating of more than 50 of those wells.

 

Reduction of model parameters to a minimal but sufficient number of key variables allows significant simplification of the background earth model. For example, the largest uncertainty in pressure modeling is the permeability of the shale sealing compartment units. EBM uses a specific surface area parameter directly related to permeability and adjustable in calibration. Therefore the EBM calibration strategy is based on the use of well data inversion. The relevant solution is numerically stable within the range of reasonable model parameters and grid properties.

 

The EBM concept incorporates both 1D and 2D approaches to overpressure modeling through geologic time and is shown to be effective in accounting for the main overpressure generating mechanisms, including 3D pressure communication phenomena.

 

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California