--> ABSTRACT: High-Resolution Reservoir Characterization: The Effectiveness of Multi-disciplinary Technologies in a Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Field, by Edward S. Meanley, George C. Schnerk, Douglas W. Jordan, Jerry W. Dickerson, and Bradley L. Bankhead; #90906(2001)

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Edward S. Meanley1, George C. Schnerk1, Douglas W. Jordan1, Jerry W. Dickerson1, Bradley L. Bankhead1

(1) VeritasDGC, Houston, TX

ABSTRACT: High-Resolution Reservoir Characterization: The Effectiveness of Multi-disciplinary Technologies in a Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Field

As the industry pushes into deeper water for hydrocarbon exploration, the importance of High-Resolution Reservoir Characterization (HRRC) has increased dramatically as project costs often exceed $1.5 billion. HRRC encompasses the 3-dimensional quantitative determination of reservoir limits, structure, volume, heterogeneity, and reservoir properties through the continuing iteration of petrophysics, geology, geophysics and reservoir engineering. This iteration results in the development of a reservoir simulation model, which will yield better forecasts of field performance.

The HRRC approach involves a thorough petrophysical, sedimentological, and stratigraphic analysis utilizing wireline logs, core or sample data, and seismic information in order to build a cohesive reservoir model. Seismic attributes calculated from the well log data are plotted against porosity to determine the seismic attribute(s) responsible for defining reservoir heterogeneity. Combining the geologic facies model with the seismic attribute determination and acoustic impedance (AI), and utilizing stochastic modeling techniques to interpolate the reservoir properties, a HRRC model is constructed and fluid flow simulated.

An example from the deepwater Gulf of Mexico utilizes the HRRC model that has recognizable geological trends (related to variations in porosity). Insertion of the HRRC model into a reservoir simulator results in a very close history match on the first iteration. Only minor adjustments are required to refine the history match. These results increase our confidence in using HRRC to locate infill wells or plan new field developments.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90906©2001 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado