--> Abstract: An Application Of 3-D Fluid Flow Basin Modeling To Estimate Oil Versus Gas Potential In The South Caspian Basin, by J. J. Sawlan, P. M. Frydl, and J. D. Cline; #90928 (1999).

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

SAWLAN, JEFFREY J.1, FRYDL, PAUL M.2, and CLINE, JOEL D.1
1Mobil Technology Company, Dallas, TX
2Mobil New Exploration and Producing Ventures, Dallas, TX

Abstract: An Application of 3-D Fluid Flow Basin Modeling to Estimate Oil Versus Gas Potential in the South Caspian Basin

The 3-D, 3-phase fluid flow capabilities of our proprietary basin simulator, Sextant, allow us to interpret petroleum systems in a dynamic sense and evaluate the interrelated processes of generation, expulsion, migration and accumulation. The principal objective of one of our fluid flow applications in the South Caspian was to assess the oil versus gas potential of an untested, offshore structure. However, before a basin simulation can be a reasonable proxy for an active petroleum system, the modeled results must be comparable to measured data.

Our simulation area included producing fields and the untested structure of interest. We first obtained reasonable agreement between our simulated volumes of oil and gas at two producing fields, Bakhar and Guneshli, with estimates of their original in-place volumes. We then leveraged these modeling results by extending our application to the untested Apsheron structure down-dip from the aforementioned fields.

The computed volumes of oil versus gas at Apsheron suggest that this structure is more oil-prone than we previously thought, based on conventional wisdom. Our fluid flow simulation also tells us that oil charging Productive Series reservoirs is primarily derived from the lower Maykop and that oil starts to accumulate in reservoirs during the last 3 million years before present. Our model also indicates that there is a strong lateral component of oil migration, once the oil reaches the Productive Series. A lateral oil migration fairway develops from Shakh Deniz to Bakhar and ultimately to the Apsheron Peninsula. This migration fairway remains active to present day and is consistent with the occurrence of billion barrel oil fields and active oil seepage in the onshore area around Baku.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90928©1999 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas