Why is high-resolution sequence stratigraphy so important?
The oil industry uses several advanced software programs for geophysical processing and interpretation, 3D geological models, fluid flow simulation and adjustment of historical production. However, using these tools alone is not enough to achieve good results if not combined with adjusted stratigraphic interpretations.
Often, poorly represented or neglected geological features during reservoir zonation and characterisation can jeopardise the economic attractiveness of an oil production project because they generate unreliable production forecasts or because they are incapable of reproducing historical production.
Several diagnostic situations indicate the need to review reservoir zonation and characterisation within a chronostratigraphic framework obtained by high-resolution sequence stratigraphy. This approach contributes to understanding reservoir connectivity and compartmentalisation, as well as the distribution of depositional facies and their petrophysical properties in 3D volumes. The results are immediate: identifying the best reservoirs for production in new fields, and optimising production and the recovery factor in mature fields. This same approach is used to produce other natural resources, store C and H, and inject pollutants.
Multi-layered and laterally disconnected reservoirs, Chapada Diamantina, Brazil.
Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants should:
- Identify diagnostic features for stratigraphic refinement;
- Recognise stacking patterns and correlate the stratigraphic surfaces that delimit them;
- Develop high-resolution chronostratigraphic frameworks for reservoir zonation;
- Apply facies models to the distribution of depositional facies associations in each zone (reservoir characterisation).
- Understand the impact of high-resolution stratigraphy:
- on 3D geological models and the distribution of facies associations and their properties (i.e. reservoir characterization);
- on the adjustment of 3D geological and fluid flow models;
- on the adjustment of the simulated production curve with observed historical data;
- on the identification of water- and hydrocarbon-saturated zones;
- in production performance, injection and storage of fluids, and increasing the recovery factor of hydrocarbons and other natural resources.
- Understand the impact of this approach on fluid injection and production performance of petroleum and other natural resources, storage of C and H, and injection of contaminants.
Reservoir zonation based on high-resolution sequence stratigraphy.
Content
It is a hands-on course based on seismic core and outcrop data. Participants are encouraged to practice the sequence stratigraphy method through exercises based on identifying stacking patterns and high-resolution stratigraphic surfaces.
The exercises aim to develop a high-resolution chronostratigraphic framework that highlights the reservoir zonation and, in each zone, the lateral contacts between the facies associations that characterise the depositional systems or their components. The recognition of compartmentalisation, connectivity and lateral and vertical heterogeneities of reservoirs allows for rich discussions on the impact on production performance and the increase in the recovery factor based on high-resolution sequence stratigraphy.
- Review:
- Accommodation and displacements of depositional systems: definition of base level, relative sea level, accommodation, transgression, normal and forced regression, aggradation and erosion;
- Stratigraphic surfaces: subaerial unconformity, correlative conformity, basal surface of forced regression, regressive surface of marine erosion, maximum regression surface, ravinement surfaces by waves and tides, maximum flooding surface, upper surface of amalgamation;
- Stratigraphic sequences: depositional, genetic and TR sequence;
- Sedimentary cycles and stratigraphic cycles.
- Lateral contacts between facies associations in regressive and transgressive successions.
- Stratigraphic refinement and identification of high-resolution sequences:
- workflow of low- and high-resolution sequence stratigraphy;
- sequence hierarchy and criteria for identifying high-resolution sequences;
- high-resolution chronostratigraphic framework and reservoir zonation.
- High-resolution chronostratigraphic correlation: reservoir connectivity and compartmentalisation; distribution of facies associations and their properties in 3D geological models (i.e. reservoir characterisation); impacts on production and increase in the recovery factor of hydrocarbons and other natural resources.
Who should attend
Geologists, geophysicists, and engineers working in the exploration and production of petroleum and other natural resources, storage of C and H, and injection of contaminants.
Instructor
