Reservoir-Scale 3-D Sedimentary Modeling: Approaches and Impact of Integrating Sedimentology Into the Reservoir Characterization Workflow

Labourdette, Richard¹, Jo Ann Hegre², Patrice Imbert¹, Enzo Insalaco¹ (1) Total S.A, Pau, France (2) Total E&P UK plc, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Sedimentological cross-sections and maps contain most of the knowledge and concepts of sedimentologists. They represent the outcome of sedimentological studies, including available well data, seismic interpretation and especially sedimentological and environmen­tal concepts, incorporating all facies transitions and successions driven by high-resolution stratigraphic framework. They allow fine temporal and spatial scale sedimentological hetero­geneities to be identified.

Integrating fine scale sedimentological heterogeneity is an essential step in improving the precision and accuracy of static reservoir models and volumetric calculations. This paper demonstrates the quantitative impact of introducing sedimentological information on reservoir behaviour using GOSED, an in-house plug-in of the GOCAD software.

3D sedimentary models can provide valuable a priori information in the building of other models:

.     •3D sedimentological information can be integrated to constrain the a priori acousticimpedance model in geostatistical seismic inversion,

.     •Sedimentary models can be used as 3D templates for distributing diagenetic products at various sedimentological and stratigraphic scales,

.     •In cases where reservoirs can be adequately characterised by object-based techniques it is important to constrain the shape and distribution of objects by stratigraphic principals.  

The integration of fine temporal and spatial scale sedimentological information can have a strong direct and indirect impact on reservoir models. The quantitative impact this has on static reservoir properties, volumetric calculations, and their uncertainties is estimated through use of uncertainty tools.