Abstract: Geometrical Characterization of Geology and Reservoir
Features in Submarine Fan and Channel Deposits through Integration of Borehole
Imagery, LWD or Well
Logs, Core and Geotesting
NURMI, ROY, STEVE HANSEN, and CHRIS PRESMYK, Schlumberger, Houston, TX, and Bakersfield, CA
The geometrical analysis of depositional facies, erosional channels
and sedimentary structures as well
as tectonic features can be critical
in assessing wildcats or development wells. Often there is interaction
between syndepositional tectonism and depositional processes in controlling
fan and channel geometry and orientation. Borehole imagery, including electrical,
new density and a variety of acoustic imagery techniques are providing
new insights into reservoir geometry, including otherwise undetected erosional
channels and fault blocks with undrained attic oil. Detailed analysis of
channel (shape and scour) orientation and fault orientations shows that
some submarine channels follow faults striking across basinal slopes. In
addition, the numerous microfaults and larger faults revealed provide a
key to fault distribution mapping as
well
as to their origin, geometry
and possibly hydraulic characteristics.
Intimate mixtures of sand, silt, and shale or conglomerates generally
frustrate the standard evaluation of cuttings, sidewall cores and standard
well
logs. However, imagery used to define the local structure, fault
types
and geometry, channel presence and orientation also reveals the presence
and geometry of these terrigenous mixtures even at a centimeter scale.
Quantification of imagery by nuclear magnetic resonance and/or new-high
resolution data from standard nuclear measurements is providing reservoir
quantification unequaled by standard
well
logs, as indicated by highly
controlled
samples. Very thin-bed alternations below the resolution of most technology
are usually present as either channel fills and adjacent levees or distal
fan deposits. In other cases it is important to define the deformation
of bedding and terrigenous mixtures in large-scale slumps or extensive
burrowing.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90935©1998 AAPG Pacific Section Meeting, Ventura, California