CLERK, COLIN, PHILIP WHITAKER, and GERARD SIMMS, Amoco Exploration and Production, Offshore Business Unit, New Orleans, Louisiana

Abstract: Optimizing Depletion of the King Field, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico - An Integration of Seismic Attribute Analysis, Cores, Outcrop Analogues, Geostratigraphic Modeling, and Reservoir Simulation

The King Field is located in Mississippi Canyon, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Four wells have been drilled to date during the exploration and delineation phase, with production and injection wells planned for drilling in 1999. First oil is anticipated in 2001.

The main reservoir sand is of Late Miocene age. Lateral and vertical heterogeneities identified by seismic amplitudes and AVO analyses have been confirmed by, and calibrated to logs and cores. At least two different styles of deposition are present, a lower massive sheet sand, and an upper sand which is more variable and probably channelized. Outcrop analogues from the French Alps, South Africa and West Texas were used to help construct a 3D geological model which was then input to the reservoir simulator.

Using the seismic attributes to constrain sand thickness, and the outcrop analogues to constrain sand geometry, several scenarios were run in the reservoir simulator. Results showed that for most outcomes immediate water injection would be required to maintain pressure and to maximize recovery. Modeling showed that having the ability to selectively inject and produce specific reservoir layers would minimize premature water breakthrough in the high permeability, thereby extending well life.This will be accomplished by installing remote controlled sliding sleeve completion systems.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90923@1999 International Conference and Exhibition, Birmingham, England