--> Abstract: Reservoir Characterization Contributions to Develop Khurais Complex, the Largest Increment in Ksa - a Story of Success, by Khaled I. Al-Sheddi, Richard G. Hart, Mohd Raji X. Mat Yaacob, Muhammad X. Sher-Afzal, and Randall G. Demaree; #90105 (2010)

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AAPG GEO 2010 Middle East
Geoscience Conference & Exhibition
Innovative Geoscience Solutions – Meeting Hydrocarbon Demand in Changing Times
March 7-10, 2010 – Manama, Bahrain

Reservoir Characterization Contributions to Develop Khurais Complex, the Largest Increment in Ksa - a Story of Success

Khaled I. Al-Sheddi1; Richard G. Hart1; Mohd Raji X. Mat Yaacob1; Muhammad X. Sher-Afzal1; Randall G. Demaree1

(1) Reservoir Characterization, SAUDI ARAMCO, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

The Khurais complex is located in the central part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, about 250 km southwest of Dhahran and 80 km to the east of Riyadh. It consists of three main fields: Khurais, Abu Jifan and Mazalij. Khurais field is the largest among these fields, Approximately 90 km long and between 5 and 18 km wide. This is the second largest onshore oil field in the Kingdom preceded by Ghawar field. It was discovered in 1957, while Mazalij and Abu Jifan were discovered in 1972 and 1973, respectively.

One of the key aspects of the Khurais complex development plan is the proper selection of well locations. This presents three major challenges from the perspective of reservoir characterization, namely : the subsurface structure, reservoir quality and fluid contacts. New geophysical data recently acquired made a significant impact in defining the structural geometry and depth uncertainties required for well placement, and in identifying the fractured areas, which are most probable within the field’s boundaries. Full-fold 3D seismic data was integrated and interpreted over the entire complex to assist in this process.

Recent reservoir characterization studies have focused on defining reservoir quality variation in core data, well log data, seismic data, Image log analysis, facies mapping, gravity data and magnetic data. The product of these studies is a new fully-integrated conceptual model that contains facies distributions, reservoir quality indicees, fracture analysis, structural Analysis, detailed stratigraphic correlations and hydrodynamic information.

Reservoir characterization provided technical operations support during the development of this increment on a 24/7 basis spanning two years in time. A large number of wells were planed and maintained in multiple databases and more than 300 wells were geosteered and monitored with thousands of footage of reservoir contact.