Lecture 15
Headlines:
Alpha Wildcat Finds Thick Oil Zone!
Block 7
Discovery Well
Salt Diapir
Bonanza Basin
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Block 8
L 15 Beyond Exploration
Our Exploration Flowchart
Identify Opportunities
Acquire Seismic Data Interpret Seismic Data Management Approved Wildcat Well
Capture Prime Areas
Process Seismic Data Assess Prospects
Wildcat Drilled
Success
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Our Assessment Results
Alpha Prospect Main Compartment - Risked
1.0
100
0.8
Gas Only
Economic Minimum
62 % COS
0.6 0.4
Gas Cap & Oil Leg Oil Only
0.2
51 % Chance of Finding More Than the Economic Minimum
0.0 0
100
200
300
400
500
Million Oil Equivalent Barrels
62% Chance to find any hydrocarbons 51% Chance to find 100 MBOE 5% Chance to find 400 MBOE
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Congratulations! A Huge Success
Alpha Prospect
Block 7
YOUR exploration well on the Alpha prospect discovered an estimated 325 MBO
Salt Diapir
1.0
Discovery Well
Alpha Prospect Main Compartment - Risked
100 Economic Minimum
Bonanza Basin
Block 8
0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 0
Gas Only Gas Cap & Oil Leg Oil Only
62 % COS
100
200
300
400
500
Million Oil Equivalent Barrels
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Whats Next?
Exploration would drill one or two confirmation wells to verify there is enough HCs to make some money (Value > Costs) If results continue to be good, the FIELD would pass on to Development or Production people
Identify Opportunities Acquire Seismic Data
Capture Prime Areas Process Seismic Data
Drill Wildcats
Success
Interpret Seismic Data
Assess Prospects
Confirmation Well
Uneconomic Success
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L 15 Beyond Exploration
Delineation Well
Alpha Prospect
Block 7
6 Months later
Delineation Well
A delineation well is completed to the NE
An OWC is found at 4500 m the same depth as in the discovery well The porosity is slightly better 26% versus 23% in the discovery well
Discovery Well
Salt Diapir
Bonanza Basin
Block 8
The delineation well has confirmed enough oil to merit field development EUR now set at 348 MBO
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FWS 06
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G&G in Development
Exploration has drilled a discovery and a delineation well. The ultimate recover for Alpha is estimated to be 338 MBO, which greatly exceeds the economic threshold of 100 MBO
Questions:
Can we refine our picture of the distribution of oil at Alpha? Is the reservoir a single unit, or is it segmented (separate regions to drain)?
How many wells and where should they be drilled?
What sort of facilities (platform?) will we need? How can we speed-up time to first oil? What uncertainties remain?
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We Need More Detail
Reservoir Map at the end of Exploration
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Reservoir Map at the end of Development
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Some Questions
#2 #3
Why did they drill well #3? #4
#1
Why did they drill well #4?
Where would you place well #5? Why?
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L 15 Beyond Exploration
Data for Development
We may need better quality data to address development needs
Data Used for Exploration
Data Reprocessed or Reshot for Development And Production
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G&G in Production
Production has begun at Alpha. The initial production rates are as expected.
Questions:
How should we manage the field so as to maximize our investments? Can we monitor how oil is being swept out of the reservoir? What about injection wells and enhanced recovery? Is there more oil in the vicinity either at deeper depths or in nearby traps? Can we build a computer model of the field that matches existing production data? If so, we can test future recovery with different drilling scenarios.
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Reservoir Simulation
Geologic Model
Oil Production
HISTORY MATCH
Actual in Blue Modeled in Red
Production Time
Reservoir Simulation
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The Value of G&G to an Oil Company G&G work is done to add HC reserves (volumes)
New discoveries More from discovered producing zones
Additional producing zones
Get the most reserves at the lowest cost
Invest in the right basins
Drill in the optimum locations
Correctly assess what can be recovered Avoid unnecessary wells
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Lets Fast Forward a Number of Years
The Alpha field has been producing for 5 years We want to maximize production
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A Geologic Model
An integration of all geologic, geophysical, petrophysical and interpreted or conceptual information about a reservoir into a single 3D numerical description of that reservoir
Geophysical Interpretation Stratigraphic Interpretation
Petrophysical Interpretation
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Structural Interpretation
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A Geologic Model
1m
Each cell can be populated with rock & fluid Properties:
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Facies Porosity Permeability Fluid Saturation Etc.
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Using a Simulation
History History
Rate Oil Oil Rate
Actual Modeled
Prediction Prediction
Oil Rate
ng illi R Dr EO fill In se ng Ca illi se Dr B aR EO fill In se Ca
Oil Rate
Oil Rate
Time Time (yrs) Time
Oil Rate
How do we use this information?
Field development planning Field production optimization Reservoir surveillance
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se Ba
Time
Time (yrs) Time
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In Summary The O&G Industry needs top-notch scientists and engineers to work on a vast array of problems The assignments are challenging, fast-paced, and multi-disciplined
Often your work is tested in the matter of months
Great Ideas + Good Science -> Success
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