Abstract
The success of extracting the best value from mature heterogeneous fields to meet global energy challenges is directly linked to innovation and creativity. The development of these fields requires optimized economic models and fit for purpose reservoir depletion strategies. Petroleum geoengineering is the answer to evaluating remaining opportunities and managing the key uncertainties using smart technologies and reducing the risk of development. This paper describes the field example of how a petroleum geoengineering based approach can optimize the fast track development of a marginal fault block within a complex oil field which is located in offshore Sarawak Malaysia.
The advantages of this workflow compared to the conventional field development plan (FDP) approach is that the iterative time consumed in matching the dynamic model and adjusting the geological model has been properly managed. In our case study, this workflow has improved the quality of the technical proposal as well as saving project duration significantly. In accordance to the workflow, the reservoir architecture was interpreted based on seismic interpretation, geological and reservoir performance understanding. Seismic Inversion derived geobodies were then identified as development targets. Better delineation of the main geological features was achieved using a seismic inversion based algorithm. By prioritizing data consistency among geoscientists, geomodellers and reservoir engineers, a fast track field development plan was developed within manageable uncertainties. Greater reliability of inversion results help to avoid perpetuating bias tendencies on data used for model calibration or quality check.
The petroleum geoengineering based study for such oil reservoir shows how an integrated approach enabled time saving for subsurface development concept identification covering range of estimated hydrocarbon volumes. As a result of geoengineering approach in marginal fault block, the technical proposal was completed within 8 months duration.
