Print this pageConducting A Field Study With GIS - Port Hudson Field, The Tuscaloosa Trend
BARRELL, KIRK A.
A GIS was utilized to integrate multi-discipline datasets and to overlay and construct the appropriate maps to determine the original and remaining reserves in the Tuscaloosa Formation at Port Hudson Field. A data table containing porosities, shale volumes, net sand, gross sand, water saturations, rock types, and net pays for sixteen reservoir units was imported into the GIS from a log analysis program. A 3-D seismic structural interpretation was also imported into the GIS. Structure maps were constructed on the top and base of each reservoir unit and incorporated the 3-D fault boundaries. The following sand maps were then constructed for each reservoir unit: gross sand, net effective sand, percent sand, and rock type distribution. The GIS enabled the geologist to quickly create maps on various porosity cutoffs by simply changing the data field name to be posted on the map. Multi-layer functionality allowed the geologist to overlay sand maps from multiple reservoir units to compare and contrast isopach patterns, orientation, and relationship with the location of faults and salt piercement. This functionality was also used to generate net pay maps by overlaying the structure maps, 3-D faults, and net effective sand map. The net pay contours were created as polygons which enables the GIS to automatically calculate areas for each net pay contour. These values were then pasted to a spreadsheet for volumetric calculation by the engineer. The mapped gas volumes were then compared to produced and estimated recoverable volumes. The efficiency, functionality, and time required to complete this field study was greatly enhanced by the utilization of GIS technology.