Abstract: New Geoscience Technologies: The Key to Profitably Finding and Developing Hydrocarbon Resources

Johnson, M.G. - Exxon Exploration Company

Technological breakthroughs in exploration and production combined with political changes are opening new and exciting frontiers in the deepwater Circum-Atlantic. Yet these opportunities require large capital and technology investments at a time when we are faced with relatively low oil prices and considerable uncertainty as to future price outlook. The key to Exxon?s recent success in the Circum-Atlantic has been a systems approach to applying new geoscience technologies to focus on areas with the highest potential, to significantly increase exploration drilling success, and along with refined work processes, to reduce exploration and field development cycle time and cost.

In the earliest phase of opportunity identification, crustal structure and continental margin evolution has been modeled using satellite gravity data, paleotectonic reconstruction and heatflow measurements. By then superimposing areas of maximum Neogene sedimentation on these crustal models the most attractive hydrocarbon systems are identified. This process is uniquely guided by technical experts using a vast database of global analogs.

Combined with these basin evolution models is the increased early use of 3D seismic data, acquired and processed with controlled amplitude and phase so as to optimize resolution. These data sets have been utilized to identify and map deepwater depositional systems, their fluid content and their attendant seals in a 3-dimensional structural framework.

Many of the prospective deep marine plays are characterized by reservoirs that consist of distributary, levee and/or highly sinuous channel fill in overall stacked channel complexes. Exxon?s broad deepwater acreage position has also allowed our geoscientists to ?calibrate their eye? in a global environment and develop proprietary models for the deposition, and ultimately connectivity, of these reservoirs. These geologic concepts are integrated with 3D seismic data through the use of proprietary volume interpretation techniques. This allows a rapid 3-D understanding of the entire depositional system, while seismic attributes cubes, calibrated to reservoir properties, are rendered and interpreted in volume space.

Predictive capability of both net reservoir and hydrocarbon type has been systematically refined so as to mitigate risk ahead of the drill bit. Well placements have been optimized and as a result our exploration drilling success rate has been 60% over the last two years.

Post discovery, early building of 3-dimensional reservoir models, integrated with 3D seismic and deepwater depositional models, is an integral part of the reservoir evaluation and allows geoscientists and engineers to test their depositional and flow models early in the process. These techniques allow all joint venture partners to reach early consensus on the appraisal and development of a discovery through a clearer ?picture? of the subsurface in a reduced time. They also allow for a substantial reduction in the number of appraisal wells required before field development commences.

This systems approach to the application of geoscience technologies has not only improved results, but has also enabled a reduction of costs and the cutting of cycle time from exploration to field development by up to 50%. As a result, Exxon is in a position to profitably develop discoveries in water depths well beyond those that conventional wisdom considers economic.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90933©1998 ABGP/AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil