EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF A MATURE BASIN SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION OF A PROCESS-DRIVEN MULTI-DISCIPLINARYTEAM APPROACH

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 562
Author(s):  
W. Ringhofer ◽  
H. Sperl
Keyword(s):  
New Technology ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Vienna Basin ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
High Pressure High Temperature ◽  
Drilling Technology ◽  
Integration Of Disciplines ◽  
Well Data ◽  
Clastic Reservoirs ◽  
Overthrust Belt

From the early 1940s until the mid-1980s, hydrocarbon exploration within Austria was focussed upon Tertiary clastic reservoirs within the Vienna Basin. From 1980 to the early 1990s, an increasing number of exploration wells were drilled for carbonate reservoirs within deep thrust anticlines in the Alpine overthrust belt. These were typically high pressure-high temperature wells, and as a result, technically challenging and expensive.In the early 1990s, after little success within the Alpine overthrust belt, the focus of Austrian exploration was switched back to the 'maturely' explored Vienna Basin. During this period, the integration of historical well data, reprocessed 2D seismic and newly acquired 3D seismic data, evaluated within a sequence stratigraphic framework, has facilitated the accurate placement of multi-target wells. Together with the application of new drilling technology, the result has been a dramatic increase in new field discoveries. The reserves size of exploration and appraisal targets, in accordance with the maturity of the basin, have been relatively small, but, as a result of well-developed infrastructure and low drilling costs, highly profitable.The drive for increased drilling success and cost reduction and the application of 'new' technology has demanded an even closer integration of disciplines including exploration, reservoir engineering, drilling and production engineering. This integration in turn has necessitated process driven management. Multi- disciplinary teams, working with key contractors in an incentivised environment, achieved risk reduction, increased exploration success and budget reductions. As a result successful exploration has revived the mature Vienna Basin.

Application of Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy for Delineating Mishrif Prospects in Western Onshore, Abu Dhabi, UAE

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subrata Chakraborty ◽  
Monica Maria Mihai ◽  
Nacera Maache ◽  
Gabriela Salomia ◽  
Abdulla Al Blooshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Seismic Sequence ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Oil Accumulation ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
Stratigraphic Analysis ◽  
Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy ◽  
Well Data ◽  
Seismic Reflectors ◽  
Sweet Spots

Abstract In Abu Dhabi, the Mishrif Formation is developed in the eastern and western parts conformably above the Shilaif Formation and forms several commercial discoveries. The present study was carried out to understand the development of the Mishrif Formation over a large area in western onshore Abu Dhabi and to identify possible Mishrif sweet spots as future drilling locations. To achieve this objective, seismic mapping of various reflectors below, above, and within the Mishrif Formation was attempted. From drilled wells all the available wireline data and cores were studied. Detailed seismic sequence stratigraphic analysis was carried out to understand the evolution of the Mishrif Formation and places where the good porosity-permeability development and oil accumulation might have happened. The seismic characters of the Mishrif Formation in dry and successful wells were studied and were calibrated with well data. The Mishrif Formation was deposited during Late Cretaceous Cenomanian time. In the study area it has a gross thickness ranging from 532 to 1,269 ft as derived from the drilled wells; the thickness rapidly decreases eastward toward the shelf edge and approaching the Shilaif basin. The Mishrif was divided into three third-order sequences based on core observations from seven wells and log signatures from 25 wells. The bottom-most sequence Mishrif 1.0 was identified is the thickest unit but was also found dry. The next identified sequence Mishrif 2.0 was also dry. The next and the uppermost sequence identified as Mishrif 3.0 shows a thickness from 123 to 328 ft. All the tested oil-bearing intervals lie within this sequence. This sequence was further subdivided into three fourth-order sequences based on log and core signatures; namely, Mishrif 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3. In six selected seismic lines of 181 Line Km (LKM) cutting across the depositional axis, seismic sequence stratigraphic analysis was carried out. In those sections all the visible seismic reflectors were picked using a stratigraphic interpretation software. Reflector groups were made to identify lowstand systems tract, transgressive systems tract, maximum flooding surface, and highstand systems tract by tying with the observations of log and core at the wells and by seismic signature. Wheeler diagrams were generated in all these six sections to understand the lateral disposition of these events and locales of their development. Based on stratigraphic analysis, a zone with likely grainy porous facies development was identified in Mishrif 3.0. Paleotopography at the top of Mishrif was reconstructed to help delineate areas where sea-level fall generated leaching-related sweet spots. Analysis of measured permeability data identified the presence of local permeability baffles affecting the reservoir quality and hydrocarbon accumulation. This study helped to identify several drilling locations based on a generic understanding of the Mishrif Formation. Such stratigraphic techniques can be successfully applied in similar carbonate reservoirs to identify the prospect areas.

scholarly journals Middle and late Badenian palaeoenvironments in the northern Vienna Basin and their potential link to the Badenian Salinity Crisis

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathias Harzhauser ◽  
Patrick Grunert ◽  
Oleg Mandic ◽  
Petra Lukeneder ◽  
Ángela García Gallardo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Vienna Basin ◽  
Seismic Surveys ◽  
Marine Mollusc ◽  
Potential Link ◽  
Glass Sponges ◽  
Sudden Appearance ◽  
Climate Transition

AbstractHydrocarbon exploration in the Bernhardsthal and Bernhardsthal-Sued oil fields documents an up to 2000 m thick succession of middle and upper Badenian deposits in this part of the northern Vienna Basin (Austria). Based on palaeontological analyses of core-samples, well-log data and seismic surveys we propose an integrated stratigraphy and describe the depositional environments. As the middle/late Badenian boundary is correlated with the Langhian/Serravallian boundary, the cores capture the crucial phase of the Middle Miocene Climate Transition. The middle Badenian starts with a major transgression leading to outer neritic to upper bathyal conditions in the northern Vienna Basin, indicated byBathysiphon-assemblages and glass-sponges. A strong palaeo-relief and rapid synsedimentary subsidence accentuated sedimentation during this phase. The middle/late Badenian boundary coincides with a major drop of relative sea level by about 200 m, resulting in a rapid shift from deeper marine depositional environments to coastal and freshwater swamps. In coeval marine settings, a more than 100 m thick unit of anhydrite-bearing clay formed. This is the first evidence of evaporite precipitation during the Badenian Salinity Crisis in the Vienna Basin. Shallow lagoonal environments with diverse and fully marine mollusc and fish assemblages were established during the subsequent late Badenian re-flooding. In composition, the mollusc fauna differs considerably from older ones and is characterized by the sudden appearance of species with eastern Paratethyan affinities.

scholarly journals Division of shale sequences and prediction of the favorable shale gas intervals: an example of the Lower Cambrian of Yangtze Region in Xiuwu Basin

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-195
Author(s):  
Zhuo Li ◽  
Kun Zhang ◽  
Yan Song ◽  
Zhenxue Jiang ◽  
Xiaoxue Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Silicon Content ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Concentration Distribution ◽  
Hydrothermal Activity ◽  
Effective Porosity ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
Excess Silicon ◽  
Rising Sea Level

Abstract It is a common method to use sequence stratigraphic theory to identify favourable intervals in hydrocarbon exploration. The Lower Cambrian shale of Well Jiangye-1 in Yangtze Region in Xiuwu Basin was chosen as the research object. The content of excess silicon of siliceous minerals in shale was calculated quantitatively, and the concentration distribution of Al, Fe, Mn showed that the excess silicon is of hydrothermally origin and the shale deposited in an environment with hydrothermal activity. Using U/Th values in the study, combined with lithology and logging data, in order to divide sequences of the Lower Cambrian shale in Yangtze Region in Xiuwu Basin. The result shows that the shale of the Lower Cambrian shale is recognized as 1 2nd sequence (TST-RST, TST = Transgressive systems tract; RST = Regressive systems tract) and then further subdivided into 5 3rd sequences (SQ1-SQ5). During the deposition of SQ2 and SQ3, hydrothermal activity was active, and their excess silicon content was generally above 20%-30%. Rising sea level and active hydrothermal activity were beneficial for the enrichment of siliceous minerals and organic matter. Based on the comparison of the reservoir parameters, it tells that SQ2 and SQ3 have relatively higher content of TOC, higher content of brittle minerals (such as siliceous minerals, carbonate minerals and so on), larger effective porosity and higher content of gas, which make it as the most favourable intervals of the Lower Cambrian in Xiuwu Basin.

scholarly journals Ground-Water Circulation in the Meade Thrust Allochthon Evaluated by Radiocarbon Techniques

Radiocarbon ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
A B Muller ◽  
A L Mayo
Keyword(s):  
Ground Water ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Water Circulation ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Flow Systems ◽  
Phosphoria Formation ◽  
Overthrust Belt

The Meade thrust, in southeastern Idaho, is a major element of the Western Overthrust Belt. The allochthon is of geo-economic importance both as a potential hydrothermal area and as the principal mining area within the Western Phosphate Field. To assist in the development of these two resources, an understanding of the regional ground-water circulation was sought. Geologic and hydrologic data from boreholes in this area are virtually nonexistent. Waterwell development in the area has not occurred because of the abundance of springs and only a few hydrocarbon exploration boreholes have been drilled. Thus, the problem lends itself to evaluation by isotope hydrologic and geochemical methods. Ten springs from within the thrust block and around its periphery were sampled for major ions, 2H/18O, and 14C/13C analysis. Data from these analyses and from field geologic evidence have identified two distinct flow regimes within the Meade thrust allochthon. Shallow flow systems lie above the impermeable Phosphoria Formation, usually within a few hundred meters of the surface. Most of the spring waters from this system are recent and cool. In all cases, they have mean subsurface residence times of less than a few hundred years. The deeper flow systems which lie below the Phosphoria formation are hydraulically isolated from the shallow system. Warm waters from these springs have 14C contents suggesting mean ground-water residence times on the order of 15,000 years. Although these waters could have circulated to as deep as 1900m, 2H/18O results show that high temperatures were never reached. There is no evidence to suggest that water from beneath the Meade thrust has contributed to the circulation in the allochthon.

Sequence stratigraphic controls on reservoir characterization and architecture: case study of the Messinian Abu Madi incised-valley fill, Egypt

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abdel-Fattah ◽  
Roger Slatt
Keyword(s):  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Nile Delta ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Incised Valley ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
Valley Fill ◽  
Body Distribution ◽  
Stratigraphic Framework ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

AbstractUnderstanding sequence stratigraphy architecture in the incised-valley is a crucial step to understanding the effect of relative sea level changes on reservoir characterization and architecture. This paper presents a sequence stratigraphic framework of the incised-valley strata within the late Messinian Abu Madi Formation based on seismic and borehole data. Analysis of sand-body distribution reveals that fluvial channel sandstones in the Abu Madi Formation in the Baltim Fields, offshore Nile Delta, Egypt, are not randomly distributed but are predictable in their spatial and stratigraphic position. Elucidation of the distribution of sandstones in the Abu Madi incised-valley fill within a sequence stratigraphic framework allows a better understanding of their characterization and architecture during burial.Strata of the Abu Madi Formation are interpreted to comprise two sequences, which are the most complex stratigraphically; their deposits comprise a complex incised valley fill. The lower sequence (SQ1) consists of a thick incised valley-fill of a Lowstand Systems Tract (LST1)) overlain by a Transgressive Systems Tract (TST1) and Highstand Systems Tract (HST1). The upper sequence (SQ2) contains channel-fill and is interpreted as a LST2 which has a thin sandstone channel deposits. Above this, channel-fill sandstone and related strata with tidal influence delineates the base of TST2, which is overlain by a HST2. Gas reservoirs of the Abu Madi Formation (present-day depth ∼3552 m), the Baltim Fields, Egypt, consist of fluvial lowstand systems tract (LST) sandstones deposited in an incised valley. LST sandstones have a wide range of porosity (15 to 28%) and permeability (1 to 5080mD), which reflect both depositional facies and diagenetic controls.This work demonstrates the value of constraining and evaluating the impact of sequence stratigraphic distribution on reservoir characterization and architecture in incised-valley deposits, and thus has an important impact on reservoir quality evolution in hydrocarbon exploration in such settings.

Pre-Messinian Petroleum Systems and Trap Style in the Offshore Western of Nile Delta; An Integrated Geological and Geophysical Approach

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Monir ◽  
Omar Shenkar
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Nile Delta ◽  
Lower Pressure ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Source Rocks ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Peak Oil ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Petroleum Systems ◽  
Well Data

ABSTRACT Exploration in the offshore Nile Delta province has revealed several hydrocarbon plays. Deep marine Turbidites is considered one of the most important plays for hydrocarbon exploration in the Nile Delta. These turbidites vary from submarine turbidite channels to submarine basin floor fans. An integrated exploration approach was applied for a selected area within West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) Concession offshore western Nile Delta using a variety of geophysical, geological and geochemical data to assess the prospectivity of the Pre-Messinian sequences. This paper relies on the integration of several seismic data sets for a new detailed interpretation and characterization of the sub-Messinian structure and stratigraphy based on regional correlation of seismic markers and honoured the well data. The interpretation focused mainly on the Oligocene and Miocene mega-sequences. The seismic expression of stratigraphic sequences shows a variety of turbidite channel/canyon systems having examples from West Nile delta basin discoveries and failures. The approach is seismically based focusing on seismic stratigraphic analysis, combination of structure and stratigraphic traps and channels interpretation. Linking the geological and geophysical data together enabled the generation of different sets of geological models to reflect the spatial distribution of the reservoir units. The variety of tectonic styles and depositional patterns in the West Nile delta provide favourable trapping conditions for hydrocarbon generations and accumulations. The shallow oil and gas discoveries in the Pliocene sands and the high-grade oils in the Oligo-Miocene and Mesozoic reservoirs indicate the presence of multiple source rocks and an appropriate conditions for hydrocarbon accumulations in both biogenic and thermogenic petroleum systems. The presence of multi-overpressurized intervals in the Pliocene and Oligo-Miocene Nile delta stratigraphic column increase the depth oil window and the peak oil generation due to decrease of the effective stress. Fluids have the tendency to migrate from high pressure zones toward a lower pressure zones, either laterally or vertically. Also, hydrocarbons might migrate downward if there is a lower pressure in the deeper layers. Well data and the available geochemical database have been integrated with the interpreted seismic data to identify potential areas of future prospectivity in the study area.

Technology in deep ocean drilling

1982 ◽  
Vol 307 (1499) ◽  
pp. 331-350
Keyword(s):  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Rock Strength ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Six Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Ocean Drilling ◽  
Well Design ◽  
Drilling Technology ◽  
Drilling Unit

This paper principally discusses deep-water drilling technology for hydrocarbon exploration, employing floating vessels and marine risers (connecting the seabed to the surface). This is a more exacting technology than is required for riserless drilling for sub-seabed sampling, such as used by the Glomar Challenger . A floating drilling unit is subject to six degrees of freedom and offhole translation. The corresponding impact upon drilling systems is examined, as well as the risk of unplanned offhole excursions, which requires the provision of vital well pressure containing systems at seabed level. Factors involved in well design are considered, including the effect of the seawater column above the seabed in reducing subsea rock strength. The paper emphasizes the importance of personnel, environmental data, and logistics to safe, pollution-free efficient drilling, and considers future costs and technology.

Feasibility Analysis of Reverse Sealed Testing String in HPHT Wells

2014 ◽  
Vol 556-562 ◽  
pp. 2761-2764
Author(s):  
Bao Kui Gao ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Xing Qin
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Axial Force ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Feasibility Analysis ◽  
Well Testing ◽  
Axial Deformation ◽  
High Pressure High Temperature ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Testing Design

To solve problems met in an offshore High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) well testing, a new technology is put forward—placing seal bore extension above permanent packer, and the upper landing tools being connected with seal bore extension through shear pins. This method gives a reverse position of seal bore extension compared with conventional way in which seal bore extension is below permanent packer. So, the feasibility must be considered. Two technological procedures, testing before cutting pins and testing after cutting pins, are discussed, and the highlight is on axial force and deformation of testing string at crucial moments. Results indicate that this new technology is feasible. Of the two technological procedures, axial force is the key factor when testing before cutting pins and axial deformation is the key factor when testing after cutting pins. Conclusions have been used in an offshore HPHT well testing design.

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