Print this pageAAPG GEO 2010 Middle East
Geoscience Conference & Exhibition
Innovative Geoscience Solutions – Meeting Hydrocarbon Demand in Changing Times
March 7-10, 2010 – Manama, Bahrain
Volumetrics Analysis and Field Development Planning
(1) Drilling & Evaluation, Halliburton, Houston, TX.
The process of estimating hydrocarbon-volumes-in-place is usually based on a probabilistic approach that integrates whatever reliable and relevant data such as geologic/ geophysical interpretations, well log and core data is available. This approach makes use of the prior (statistical) knowledge of parameters such as prospect area, reservoir thickness, porosity and permeability - the intrinsic parameters. The result is a probability (or cumulative-probability) distribution for a range of volumes; companies typically report the 10%, 50% and 90% probable hydrocarbon volumes.
For field development purposes, we further exploit this approach to plan the exploitation by analysing which intrinsic parameters “dominate” along different parts of the S-curve, or in other words where to find the “quick wins” (pick the lower-hanging fruits first) and leave the more risky parts of the field for later.
The method comprises three steps: i) sensitivity analysis, ii) generating a range of scenarios and iii) generating a development-risk map for the field.
The method will be illustrated by results from an actual field development project.