Integrated Reservoir Characterization and Modeling of the Umm Gudair Minagish Oolite Reservoir, Kuwait

Abstract

For the optimal development of a large oil field, a reservoir characterization that integrates all the available geoscience and engineering data is very important. An example of this is the prolific, Umm Gudair field, Kuwait, which produces from the Early Cretaceous Minagish formation. The main reservoirs are oolitic grainstones and packstones interbedded with tighter wackestones, which act as baffles and barriers to fluid flow. A better description of the reservoir geology, in particular lithofacies, and petrophysical property heterogeneity was necessary for an accurate static model. The resultant model needed to be robust enough to guide reservoir management for optimal depletion. This was achieved through an understanding of the various lithofacies, their distribution, and their relationship with the petrophysical properties (porosity, permeability, and water saturation). These data, observations and interpretations guided the construction of a lithofacies model that could constrain petrophysical property distribution. Core descriptions of the Minagish provided data on the vertical distribution of the lithofacies and their petrophysical properties from special core analysis (SCAL). Integration of the core with depositional analogs allowed for the development of a conceptual depositional model. Lithofacies probability maps and models were constructed that were consistent with this geological understanding of the Minagish. These maps and models were utilized to model the lithofacies throughout the field with the geostatistical truncated Gaussian method. Petrophysical property distribution was by stratigraphic zone and guided by the lithofacies model. Tying the petrophysical property distribution to the lithofacies ensured a static model that was consistent with the geologic understanding of the reservoir.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90217 © 2015 International Conference & Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia, September 13-16, 2015