Integrated 1-D and 3-D Basin Modelling to Characterize the Deposition and Distribution of Asphaltenes Within Tar Zones from an Oil Field Offshore Abu Dhabi, UAE and Qatar

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Holloway ◽  
Ranald Kelly ◽  
Daniel Kay ◽  
Claire Gill ◽  
Masatoshi Ishibashi ◽  
...  

Abstract Increasing the recoverable reserves from oil fields by extracting from tar zones is becoming more desirable in the Middle East. One approach for improved definition of tar zones is to understand the factors which affected the deposition and distribution of asphaltenes within the target interval. In this paper we outline how integrated 1-D and 3-D basin modelling was used to identify the timing of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion from the Jurassic source rock to charge a prolific Jurassic carbonate reservoir formation of an oil field, offshore Abu Dhabi, UAE and Qatar. The source rock is modelled to be in the peak oil mature window today, with the onset of oil generation from the Cenomanian to the Turonian, depending on modelled and assumed source rock kinetics. The onset of oil expulsion was from the earliest Paleocene. Measured bulk fluid parameters in the reservoir formation have a significantly higher Gas-Oil Ratio (GOR) and elevated API gravity values when compared with predicted values. A possible mechanism to explain this discrepancy would be to invoke the contribution of higher GOR fluids from more mature source rocks within the fetch area of the field. Thermochemical sulphate reduction of anhydrite layers in the reservoir is predicted to have begun during the Eocene. Major uplift and erosion in the Oligocene and Mio-Pliocene significantly reduced reservoir pressure and temperature. This reduction in pressure and temperature is modelled to have caused precipitation of solids, gravity segregation and flocculation at the then oil-water contact, depositing the main tar zone and patchy tar in the reservoir beneath this zone as charge continued through time. We present a detailed review, interpretation and 3-D basin model; the first study of its kind conducted on this oil field. The 3-D basin model predicts the timing of the deposition and distribution of asphaltenes in the carbonate reservoirs of the studied field and demonstrate that local problems need to be understood in their regional context.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Ding ◽  
Zhiliang He ◽  
Dongya Zhu

<p>Deep and ultra-deep carbonate reservoir is an important area of petroleum exploration. However, the prerequisite for predicting high quality deep ultra-deep carbonate reservoirs lays on the mechanism of carbonate dissolution/precipitation. It is optimal to perform hydrocarbon generation-dissolution simulation experiments to clarify if burial dissolution could improve the physical properties of carbonate reservoirs, while quantitatively and qualitatively describe the co-evolution process of source rock and carbonate reservoirs in deep layers. In this study, a series of experiments were conducted with the limestone from the Ordovician Yingshan Formation in the Tarim Basin, and the low maturity source rock from Yunnan Luquan, with a self-designed hydrocarbon generation-dissolution simulation equipment. The controlling factors accounted for the alteration of carbonate reservoirs and dissolution modification process by hydrocarbon cracking fluid under deep burial environments were investigated by petrographic and geochemical analytical methods. In the meantime, the transformation mechanism of surrounding rocks in carbonate reservoirs during hydrocarbon generation process of source rock was explored. The results showed that: in the burial stage, organic acid, CO<sub>2</sub> and other acidic fluids associated with thermal evolution of deep source rocks could dissolve carbonate reservoirs, expand pore space, and improve porosity. Dissolution would decrease with the increasing burial depth. Whether the fluid could improve reservoir physical properties largely depends on calcium carbonate saturation, fluid velocity, water/rock ratio, original pore structure etc. This study could further contribute to the prediction of high-quality carbonate reservoirs in deep and ultra-deep layers.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-113
Author(s):  
Wisam I. Al-Rubaye ◽  
Dhiaa S. Ghanem ◽  
Hussein Mohammed Kh ◽  
Hayder Abdulzahra ◽  
Ali M. Saleem ◽  
...  

In petroleum industry, an accurate description and estimation of the Oil-Water Contact(OWC) is very important in quantifying the resources (i.e. original oil in place (OIIP)), andoptimizing production techniques, rates and overall management of the reservoir. Thus,OWC accurate estimation is crucial step for optimum reservoir characterization andexploration. This paper presents a comparison of three different methods (i.e. open holewell logging, MDT test and capillary pressure drainage data) to determine the oil watercontact of a carbonate reservoir (Main Mishrif) in an Iraqi oil field "BG”. A total of threewells from "BG" oil field were evaluated by using interactive petrophysics software "IPv3.6". The results show that using the well logging interpretations leads to predict OWCdepth of -3881 mssl. However, it shows variance in the estimated depth (WELL X; -3939,WELL Y; -3844, WELL Z; -3860) mssl, which is considered as an acceptable variationrange due to the fact that OWC height level in reality is not constant and its elevation isusually changed laterally due to the complicated heterogeneity nature of the reservoirs.Furthermore, the results indicate that the MDT test can predict a depth of OWC at -3889mssl, while the capillary drainage data results in a OWC depth of -3879 mssl. The properMDT data and SCAL data are necessary to reduce the uncertainty in the estimationprocess. Accordingly, the best approach for estimating OWC is the combination of MDTand capillary pressure due to the field data obtained are more reliable than open hole welllogs with many measurement uncertainties due to the fact of frequent borehole conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 206 ◽  
pp. 01017
Author(s):  
Yangbing Li ◽  
Weiqiang Hu ◽  
Xin Chen ◽  
Litao Ma ◽  
Cheng Liu ◽  
...  

Based on the comprehensive analysis of the characteristics of tight sandstone gas composition, carbon isotope, light hydrocarbons and source rocks in Linxing area of Ordos Basin, the reservoir-forming model of tight sandstone gas in this area is discussed. The study shows that methane is the main component of tight sandstone gas, with low contents of heavy hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons, mainly belonging to dry gas in the Upper Paleozoic in Linxing area. The values of δ13C1, δ13C2 and δ13C3 of natural gas are in the ranges of -45.6‰ ~ -32.9‰, -28.9‰ ~ -22.3‰ and -26.2‰~ -19.1‰, respectively. The carbon isotopic values of alkane gas show a general trend of positive carbon sequence. δ13C1 value is less than -30‰, with typical characteristics of organic genesis. There is a certain similarity in the composition characteristics of light hydrocarbons. The C7 series show the advantage of methylhexane, while the C5-7 series mainly shows the advantage of isoalkane. The tight sandstone gas in this area is mainly composed of mature coal-derived gas, containing a small amount of coal-derived gas and oil-type gas mixture. According to the mode of hydrocarbon generation, diffusion and migration of source rocks in Linxing area, the tight sandstone gas in the study area can be divided into three types of reservoir-forming assemblages: the upper reservoir type of the far-source type (upper Shihezi formation-shiqianfeng formation sandstone reservoir-forming away from source rocks), the upper reservoir type of the near-source type ( the Lower Shihezi formation sandstone reservoir-outside the source rock), and the self-storage type of the source type (Shanxi formation-Taiyuan formation source rock internal sand reservoir).


1987 ◽  
Vol 133 ◽  
pp. 141-157
Author(s):  
F.G Christiansen ◽  
H Nøhr-Hansen ◽  
O Nykjær

During the 1985 field season the Cambrian Henson Gletscher Formation in central North Greenland was studied in detail with the aim of evaluating its potential as a hydrocarbon source rock. The formation contains organic rich shale and carbonate mudstone which are considered to be potential source rocks. These are sedimentologically coupled with a sequence of sandstones and coarse carbonates which might be potential reservoir rocks or migration conduits. Most of the rocks exposed on the surface are, however, thermally mature to postrnature with respect to hydrocarbon generation, leaving only few chances of finding trapped oil in the subsurface of the area studied in detail.


The Rock–Eval pyrolysis and LECO analysis for 9 shale and 12 coal samples, as well as, geostatistical analysis have been used to investigate source rock characteristics, correlation between the assessed parameters (QI, BI, S1, S2, S3, HI, S1 + S2, OI, PI, TOC) and the impact of changes in the Tmax on the assessed parameters in the Cretaceous Sokoto, Anambra Basins and Middle Benue Trough of northwestern, southeastern and northcentral Nigeria respectively. The geochemical results point that about 97% of the samples have TOC values greater than the minimum limit value (0.5 wt %) required to induce hydrocarbon generation from source rocks. Meanwhile, the Dukamaje and Taloka shales and Lafia/Obi coal are found to be fair to good source rock for oil generation with slightly higher thermal maturation. The source rocks are generally immature through sub-mature to marginal mature with respect to the oil and gas window, while the potential source rocks from the Anambra Basin are generally sub-mature grading to mature within the oil window. The analyzed data were approached statistically to find some relations such as factors, and clusters concerning the examination of the source rocks. These factors were categorized into type of organic matter and organic richness, thermal maturity and hydrocarbon potency. In addendum, cluster analysis separated the source rocks in the study area into two groups. The source rocks characterized by HI >240 (mg/g), TOC from 58.89 to 66.43 wt %, S1 from 2.01 to 2.54 (mg/g) and S2 from 148.94 to 162.52 (mg/g) indicating good to excellent source rocks with kerogen of type II and type III and are capable of generating oil and gas. Followed by the Source rocks characterized by HI <240 (mg/g), TOC from 0.94 to 36.12 wt%, S1 from 0.14 to 0.72 (mg/g) and S2 from 0.14 to 20.38 (mg/g) indicating poor to good source rocks with kerogen of type III and are capable of generating gas. Howeverr, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis shows a significant positive correlation between TOC and S1, S2 and HI and no correlation between TOC and Tmax, highly negative correlation between TOC and OI and no correlation between Tmax and HI. Keywords- Cretaceous, Geochemical, Statistical, Cluster; Factor analyses.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. SF225-SF242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xun Sun ◽  
Quansheng Liang ◽  
Chengfu Jiang ◽  
Daniel Enriquez ◽  
Tongwei Zhang ◽  
...  

Source-rock samples from the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin of China were geochemically characterized to determine variations in depositional environments, organic-matter (OM) source, and thermal maturity. Total organic carbon (TOC) content varies from 4 wt% to 10 wt% in the Chang 7, Chang 8, and Chang 9 members — the three OM-rich shale intervals. The Chang 7 has the highest TOC and hydrogen index values, and it is considered the best source rock in the formation. Geochemical evidence indicates that the main sources of OM in the Yanchang Formation are freshwater lacustrine phytoplanktons, aquatic macrophytes, aquatic organisms, and land plants deposited under a weakly reducing to suboxic depositional environment. The elevated [Formula: see text] sterane concentration and depleted [Formula: see text] values of OM in the middle of the Chang 7 may indicate the presence of freshwater cyanobacteria blooms that corresponds to a period of maximum lake expansion. The OM deposited in deeper parts of the lake is dominated by oil-prone type I or type II kerogen or a mixture of both. The OM deposited in shallower settings is characterized by increased terrestrial input with a mixture of types II and III kerogen. These source rocks are in the oil window, with maturity increasing with burial depth. The measured solid-bitumen reflectance and calculated vitrinite reflectance from the temperature at maximum release of hydrocarbons occurs during Rock-Eval pyrolysis ([Formula: see text]) and the methylphenanthrene index (MPI-1) chemical maturity parameters range from 0.8 to [Formula: see text]. Because the thermal labilities of OM are associated with the kerogen type, the required thermal stress for oil generation from types I and II mixed kerogen has a higher and narrower range of temperature for hydrocarbon generation than that of OM dominated by type II kerogen or types II and III mixed kerogen deposited in the prodelta and delta front.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 2695-2710
Author(s):  
Yao-Ping Wang ◽  
Xin Zhan ◽  
Tao Luo ◽  
Yuan Gao ◽  
Jia Xia ◽  
...  

The oil–oil and oil–source rock correlations, also termed as geochemical correlations, play an essential role in the construction of petroleum systems, guidance of petroleum exploration, and definition of reservoir compartments. In this study, the problems arising from oil–oil and oil–source rock correlations were investigated using chemometric methods on oil and source rock samples from the WZ12 oil field in the Weixinan sag in the Beibuwan Basin. Crude oil from the WZ12 oil field can be classified into two genetic families: group A and B, using multidimensional scaling and principal component analysis. Similarly, source rocks of the Liushagang Formation, including its first, second, and third members, can be classified into group I and II, corresponding to group B and A crude oils, respectively. The principle geochemical parameters in the geochemical correlation for the characterisation and classification of crude oils and source rocks were 4MSI, C27Dia/C27S, and C24 Tet/C26 TT. This study provides insights into the selection of appropriate geochemical parameters for oil–oil and oil–source rock correlations, which can also be applied to other sedimentary basins.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma K. Bahman ◽  
◽  
Fowzia H. Abdullah ◽  
Abbas Saleh ◽  
Hossein Alimi ◽  
...  

The Lower Cretaceous Makhul Formation is one of the major petroleum source rocks in Kuwait. This study aims to evaluate the Makhul source rock for its organic matter richness and its relation to the rock composition and depositional environment. A total of 117 core samples were collected from five wells in Raudhatain, Ritqa, Mutriba, Burgan, and Minagish oil fields north and south Kuwait. The rock petrographical studies were carried out using a transmitted and polarized microscope, as well as SEM and XRD analyses on selected samples. Total organic matter TOC and elemental analyses were done for kerogen type optically. The GC and GC-MS were done as well as the carbon isotope ratio. The results of this study show that at its earliest time the Makhul Formation was deposited in an anoxic shallow marine shelf environment. During deposition of the middle part, the water oxicity level was fluctuating from oxic to anoxic condition due to changes in sea level. At the end of Makhul and the start of the upper Minagish Formation, the sea level raised forming an oxic open marine ramp depositional condition. Organic geochemical results show that the average TOC of the Makhul Formation is 2.39% wt. High TOC values of 6.7% wt. were usually associated with the laminated mudstone intervals of the formation. The kerogen is of type II and is dominated by marine amorphous sapropelic organic matter with a mixture of zoo- and phytoplankton and rare terrestrial particles. Solvent extract results indicate non-waxy oils of Mesozoic origin that are associated with marine carbonate rocks. The formation is mature and at its peak oil generation in its deepest part in north Kuwait.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinliang Zhang ◽  
Jiaqi Guo ◽  
Jinshui Liu ◽  
Wenlong Shen ◽  
Na Li ◽  
...  

The Lishui Sag is located in the southeastern part of the Taibei Depression, in the East China Sea basin, where the sag is the major hydrocarbon accumulation zone. A three dimensional modelling approach was used to estimate the mass of petroleum generation and accumulated during the evolution of the basin. Calibration of the model, based on measured maturity (vitrinite reflectance) and borehole temperatures, took into consideration two main periods of erosion events: a late Cretaceous to early Paleocene event, and an Oligocene erosion event. The maturation histories of the main source rock formations were reconstructed and show that the peak maturities have been reached in the west central part of the basin. Our study included source rock analysis, measurement of fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures, and basin history modelling to define the source rock properties, the thermal evolution and hydrocarbon generation history, and possible hydrocarbon accumulation processes in the Lishui Sag. The study found that the main hydrocarbon source for the Lishui Sag are argillaceous source rocks in the Yueguifeng Formation. The hydrocarbon generation period lasted from 58 Ma to 32 Ma. The first period of hydrocarbon accumulation lasted from 51.8 Ma to 32 Ma, and the second period lasted from 23 Ma to the present. The accumulation zones mainly located in the structural high and lithologic-fault screened reservoir filling with the hydrocarbon migrated from the deep sag in the south west direction.


2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Deighton ◽  
J.J. Draper ◽  
A.J. Hill ◽  
C.J. Boreham

The aim of the National Geoscience Mapping Accord Cooper-Eromanga Basins Project was to develop a quantitative petroleum generation model for the Cooper and Eromanga Basins by delineating basin fill, thermal history and generation potential of key stratigraphic intervals. Bio- and lithostratigraphic frameworks were developed that were uniform across state boundaries. Similarly cross-border seismic horizon maps were prepared for the C horizon (top Cadna-owie Formation), P horizon (top Patchawarra Formation) and Z horizon (base Eromanga/Cooper Basins). Derivative maps, such as isopach maps, were prepared from the seismic horizon maps.Burial geohistory plots were constructed using standard decompaction techniques, a fluctuating sea level and palaeo-waterdepths. Using terrestrial compaction and a palaeo-elevation for the Winton Formation, tectonic subsidence during the Winton Formation deposition and erosion is the same as the background Eromanga Basin trend—this differs significantly from previous studies which attributed apparently rapid deposition of the Winton Formation to basement subsidence. A dynamic topography model explains many of the features of basin history during the Cretaceous. Palaeo-temperature modelling showed a high heatflow peak from 90–85 Ma. The origin of this peak is unknown. There is also a peak over the last two–five million years.Expulsion maps were prepared for the source rock units studied. In preparing these maps the following assumptions were made:expulsion is proportional to maturity and source rock richness;maturity is proportional to peak temperature; andpeak temperature is proportional to palaeo-heatflow and palaeo-burial.The geohistory modelling involved 111 control points. The major expulsion is in the mid-Cretaceous with minor amounts in the late Tertiary. Maturity maps were prepared by draping seismic structure over maturity values at control points. Draping of maturity maps over expulsion values at the control points was used to produce expulsion maps. Hydrocarbon generation was calculated using a composite kerogen kinetic model. Volumes generated are theoretically large, up to 120 BBL m2 of kitchen area at Tirrawarra North. Maps were prepared for the Patchawarra and Toolachee Formations in the Cooper Basin and the Birkhead and Poolowanna Formations in the Eromanga Basins. In addition, maps were prepared for Tertiary expulsion. The Permian units represent the dominant source as Jurassic source rocks have only generated in the deepest parts of the Eromanga Basin.


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