Integrated geosteering workflow for optimal well trajectory

• Main Author: Wang, Zhongqi
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2017
• Subjects: Norwegian Sea; Norne field
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/12838/; https://research.library.mun.ca/12838/1/thesis.pdf

The enormous upfront expense of developing heterogeneous reservoirs and the desire to increase ultimate recovery has spurred oil companies to develop and use innovative reservoir characterization techniques. Geostatistics is a technique using a branch of statistics focusing on spatial datasets and was developed originally to predict probability distributions of ore grades for mining operations. Geostatistically derived reservoir modeling is perhaps the most successful means of improving performance predictions in heterogeneous reservoirs. A reliable geostatistical model can be used to guide the drilling path at field scale and make a more scientific field development plan. The objective of this study is to optimize production performance by combined geostatistical algorithms, Logging While Drilling techniques and reservoir simulation methods. Formation petrol-physics models are built with Kriging and Sequential Gaussian simulation methods and then updated with real time Logging While Drilling data to guide the drilling process and finally compare the model difference with production indices. The data used in this study is from E-Segment Norne Field located in the Norwegian Sea. 2-D and 3-D porosity & permeability geostatistical models and a simple reservoir simulation model are built to describe the formation porosity and permeability regional distribution. A new well trajectory is designed based on updated models. The results demonstrate that new well trajectories significantly improve the production performance with the updated models, which reflects the importance of geostatistics in treatment of reservoir heterogeneity.