Extending The Boundaries Of A Mature Oil Field With The Aid Of 3D Seismic Imaging: A Study Of The South Belridge Field, San Joaquin Valley, California

Abstract

The South Belridge field is one of the most prolific producing fields in California. Since its discovery in 1911, the field has produced over 1.5 BBLs of oil. As production declines due to depletion, reserve additions become vital to maintain the commerciality of such a field. In this study, we look to the flanks of the Belridge anticline using well log and production data in addition to 3D seismic imaging. This allows for the identification of prospects for reserve replacement in order to extend the producing boundaries of the field. The study has focused primarily within the shallow Pliocene-Pleistocene interval of siliciclastic, primarily heavy oil, reservoirs within the Tulare, San Joaquin and Etchegoin formations. 3D volume interpretation yielded seismically identified geobodies for additional evaluation and correlation to existing step-out wells on the flank of the Belridge anticline. Geobody extractions of the 3D data and integration with hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs observed in the well data provide the ability to map the spatial extent of potential prospects found within this un-developed area.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90215 © 2015 Pacific Section AAPG Convention, Oxnard, California, May 3-6, 2015