Deepwater Channel Trajectory Controls on Resultant Reservoir Connectivity

Abstract

Deepwater channel systems can host significant petroleum and hydrological resources and be used as repositories for carbon capture and sequestration applications. They can form unique stratigraphic stacking patterns by undergoing differing degrees of the following morphodynamic processes: incision, lateral migration and aggradation. This 3D movement of an active channel over geological time can be considered its channel trajectory and it is shown this is an important influence on its resultant stratigraphic architecture and hence reservoir connectivity. We forward model the resultant stratigraphy arising from an active channel taking three different trajectory styles using process based modeling software. We then assess the static connectivity and potential compartmentalization in each case. We also hypothesize dynamic connectivity issues that may arise from a simple injector/producer well pairing. There is potential for early water breakthrough through highly permeable channel lag zones if they are suitably interconnected.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90323 ©2018 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 20-23, 2018