Structural Interpretation and 3-D Modelling of Complex Fold-thrust Belt Structures: P1 Papua New Guinea Analogue for 3D Modelling of Sub Andean Foldbelt Gas Fields in Bolivia

Abstract

Two case studies from the Papuan Fold Belt are presented to illustrate the benefits of an integrated workflow that has been applied to field development in Bolivia. The first study shows a well drilled largely on a single poor-moderate quality seismic line that was a failure due to drilling a thrust repeat. It was subsequently determined that modelling of aerogravity data and regional balanced and restored sections would have alerted the geologists to the likelihood of a thrust repeat and greatly increased the pre-drill risk for the well. The second study shows integration of surface geology, balanced sections, poor quality seismic data, gravity modelling, sandbox modelling and finite element modelling that led to drilling a successful well and new discovery. The same techniques are now being used to delineate the field in 3D with appropriate geostatistical variation. Similar methods have successfully been applied in a full field development study of several large gas fields southwest of Santa Cruz - Bolivia in the Andean foothills (part 2).

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90326 © 2018 AAPG Latin America & Caribbean Region, Optimizing Exploration and Development in Thrust Belts and Foreland Basins. Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, June 6-8, 2018