--> Abstract: Compartmentalization Prediction in Marginal Marine Deposits: Sequence Stratigraphic-Based Insights from 3-D Reservoir Modeling Studies, by R. Bruce Ainsworth; #90078 (2008)

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Compartmentalization Prediction in Marginal Marine Deposits: Sequence Stratigraphic-Based Insights from 3-D Reservoir Modeling Studies

R. Bruce Ainsworth
Australian School of Petroleum, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Reservoir connectivity is one of the major subsurface uncertainties in the evaluation and development of many oil and gas fields. Poor reservoir connectivity may lead to a high degree of reservoir compartmentalization, resulting in large capital investments being required to extract hydrocarbons or low hydrocarbon recovery factors. An understanding of, and an ability to predict the range of potential downside reservoir connectivity scenarios is therefore an important aspect in determining the optimal well layout for any field development plan or brown field optimisation project.

In order to sensibly assess connectivity, a marginal marine reservoir succession must be stratigraphically subdivided. Sequence stratigraphic subdivision down to the parasequence-scale allows the definition of shale-bounded reservoir flow units. Since the connectivity issue is a complex, three-dimensional problem, 3D reservoir modeling techniques offer the optimal route to assess any potential relationships between parameters and hence allow one to forward model or predict reservoir connectivity.

Reservoir connectivity trends in marginal marine depositional settings are to some degree predictable since they can be directly related to depositional and stratigraphic trends and to position in sequence stratigraphic hierarchies. Incorporating seismically interpreted and probabilistic, sealing sub-seismic faults into 3D models indicates that for low sealing fault densities, depositional architecture is the controlling factor on reservoir connectivity. At a critical sealing fault density, the major control becomes structural architecture.

This work addresses these connectivity uncertainties via a sequence stratigraphic-based, 3D reservoir modeling approach and details techniques that can be utilized to predict potential ranges of reservoir compartmentalization scenarios.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas