Seismic Carbonate Reservoir Prediction and Drilling Results, Offshore Nicaragua, Caribbean Sea

Abstract

Abstract

Offshore Nicaragua in the Mosquito Basin offers a frontier exploration area. Noble Energy, Inc. and partners conducted exploration studies from 2D seismic to 3D seismic to drilling from 2009-2013. A potential carbonate target was first identified on 2D. Once identified, extensive effort went into characterizing the carbonate as a drilling target and understanding both the petroleum system and reservoir potential utilizing 3D seismic. Seismic facies, gravity modeling, and acoustic properties were tied together with depositional models for two working hypothesis of reservoir conditions, depending on the age of sediments encountered. The two depositional models considered were a framework carbonate buildup and a carbonate shoal, with the shoal model was favored based on the anticipated age of the buildup. Paraiso Sur #1 was drilled to test the carbonate build-up in late 2013. This was the first well in the offshore Caribbean of Nicaragua drilled in 30 years. Drilling results were very close to the prognosis in terms of depth, thickness (>500m), porosity (average 19%), age (Eocene), and depositional environment-- a shoal was encountered. Despite the excellent match of reservoir and depth structure to well prognosis, only residual oil was encountered. The primary failure mechanism appears to have been either migration or seal.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90260 © 2016 AAPG/SEG International Conference & Exhibition, Cancun, Mexico, September 6-9, 2016