First Gas after
40 Years – The Geophysical Challenges of the Saturn Gas Complex (Best of EAGE)
Elam, S.D.1 (1) ConocoPhillips, N/A, NJ
ConocoPhillips has held Block 48/10b
in the UK southern North Sea for some 40 years. The
first gas production from the Saturn field in this block was achieved in
September 2005. The main geophysical challenge of this block is to understand
the sub-salt wall structure of the Rotliegendes
reservoir. A variety of geophysical techniques have been applied, some of the
earlier methods are briefly reviewed. The main emphasis of this presentation is
the interpretation of the pre-stack depth migrated data and its subsequent
depth conversion, including a subjective method of removing the artifact
created under the salt water overhangs. The result of the recent horizontal
wells, together with the pre and post drilling interpretations are used to show
the limitations of the seismic reflection data to predict the details of the
reservoir structure beneath this salt wall. Finally, a brief review will be
made of the two previously stranded gas fields that will be developed using
these new Saturn facilities