Upgrading Development Plans

Redevelopment of Mature Carbonate Field An optimum field re-development scheme was developed and implemented for this mature carbonate field, which comprises five separate oil reservoirs. Oil production nearly tripled as forecasted and the booked reserves could be increased by 40%. Giant Sandstone Reservoir A 350-well study to enhance the understanding of field behaviour, derive firm conclusions on subsurface flow and design the optimum production strategy.  A comprehensive geological, petrophysical and petroleum engineering database was generated to handle the large amount of raw and interpreted data.  Study results allowed the operator to modify the field development plan, thus saving in excess of 100 MM$ in capital expenditure. Mature Sandstone Reservoir Studies Seismic interpretation, inversion, structural and stratigraphic modelling, petrographical, sedimentological and petrophysical studies, basic engineering and reservoir simulation, resulting in new development plans for these mature fields (>100 wells). Handling Early Water Breakthrough Full reservoir characterization and simulation of a large oil field.  As a result, early water breakthrough problems could be explained, and the field development plan was updated accordingly.  The key success factor was the proper description of the 3D fracture distribution network. Oil and Gas Production A study of a fractured carbonate field, containing a mature oil field and an un-produced gas field. The study included AVO processing, modelling and inversion, petrographical and petrophysical analysis, stochastic facies, porosity, permeability and fracture network modelling, engineering assessment, fluid characterization, black-oil and compositional simulation and economics. The results led to the recommendation to downsize the planned water injection and concluded a lack of miscible/immiscible EOR potential by CO2 injection. Horizontal Well Feasibility Studies In some fields, the great potential of horizontal wells could be demonstrated, whereas in other fields the results clearly indicated the associated high economic risks.  Work included the analysis of complex fracture trajectories.