Evaluation of Development Strategies and Uncertainties of a Newly Discovered Heavy Oil Field in Kuwait

This paper summarizes a reservoir modeling study involving the evaluation of development strategies relevant to a newly discovered, unconsolidated sandstone heavy oil field in Kuwait. The methodologies used provided essential information to define and evaluate feasible options to develop the reservoir.

A reservoir model was developed utilizing seismic, well-log, and core data. Petrophysical estimates of mineralogy, porosity, water saturation (S_w), and permeability were made and calibrated to core data. The field geology and the depositional analog guided the interpretations of the reservoir geomorphology and sediment-distribution patterns. Facies modeling was achieved through multiple-point statistics methodology. Porosity, permeability, and S_w were distributed using Sequential Gaussian Simulation. Various sensitivity runs were made for key parameters to understand the uncertainty of the model forecast. A full-field reservoir model (FFRM) was developed by incorporating available engineering analysis data. Development potential of the field through pressure depletion was studied through full-field reservoir simulations. Considering the high level of uncertainty of a new field, Low, Mid and High forecast cases were established for development through pressure depletion. Simulations of secondary and tertiary recovery techniques were then evaluated through sector model simulations and upscaled to field level. Finally, roadmaps were laid out for several development scenarios considered for the field.

This paper demonstrates how various geological, petrophysical, and engineering data were used to build a representative full-field geocellular model (FFGM) and make field-performance forecasts under uncertainties pertaining to a green, heavy-oil field. During the model development stage, dielectric and elemental spectroscopy log data were utilized to enhance the petrophysical analyses. The distribution of S_w followed a distinct workflow where the distribution within each reservoir zone was based on several oil/water contacts (OWC). Available pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) analysis data were used to estimate and confirm the presence of water zones within the reservoir intervals.