Modem resource assessment approaches can be greatly aided by incorporating all available data and interpretations in a three dimensional geomodel. Our goal is to offer a regional perspective to augment the interpretations from local, field-scale 3D models developed by the industry. In this work we highlight the benefits of continuous development of the geomodel for reserves assessment in an unconventional play. We generated a three dimensional, faulted Midland Basin geomodel, containing over 1 billion cells, including stratigraphic, petrophysical, core description, and production data for the Spraberry and Wolfcamp intervals. The model is based on over 1500 correlated wells, 700 wells with petrophysical and facies interpretations and approximately 6000 horizontal production wells with decline curve and completion data analyses. There are three areas of focus:
Testing of the facies model derived from log and core analyses using different deterministic and stochastic attribute distribution techniques;
Characterizing the relationship between data density requirements and model predictability; and
Exploring the influence of geological trends on productivity.
This work demonstrates the value of a multiscale, regional perspective to the practice of 3D reserves assessment in the Midland Basin.
This study aims to use a high-resolution regional 3D geocellular model of the Midland basin to gain a deeper understanding of the reservoir architecture using a combination of well log, core, and production data. The two major objectives aided by this model are:
Assessing the hydrocarbon resources-in-place using detailed geological, fluid, and rock properties; and
Utilizing the model to investigate how geological and petrophysical properties relate to the production profiles and estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) values.
The Midland Basin forms the eastern sub-basin of the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The deep-water basin is bounded by carbonate platforms, which originated as pre-Permian structural uplifts: the Central Basin Platform; the Northern Shelf; and the Eastern Shelf. The lower Permian Spraberry-Wolfcamp interval is more than 2,000 ft (610 m) thick, and is developed using multistage, hydraulic-fracture stimulation treatments, through which large volumes of reservoirs are accessed and produced (Hamlin and Baumgardner, 2012).
