Analysis of Screened/Cleaned Databases for Exploration, Prospect Identification, Play Definition and Infill Decisions

Robert Ehrlich, Michael Dropkin, and Kristin Campbell
Residuum Energy Inc, Salt Lake City, UT

We have been screening large multivariate databases from mature basins for exploration and exploitation efforts at scales ranging from basin-wide to prospect levels. We have focused on North American intercratonic basins that exhibit little evidence of significant tectonism. Critical components are accurate tops files originating from public and commercial sources are not verified by inspection of wireline logs. Hundreds to thousands of wells can be involved.

Virtually all such data contains discrepancies caused by incorrect stratigraphic picks, incompetence, data entry errors, and honest differences of opinion. Using a variety of procedures we process data (county wide to basin wide) to identify discrepancies, determine their causes, and make annotated corrections. Areas can be evaluated formation by formation or, more importantly by using the entire set of tops collectively.

Any additional information such as potential field data, seismic, geochemistry, and topography are combined and added to the mix. The clean tops files along with other data are utilized for detecting leads that will be screened to produce a subset of prospects and productive “look-alikes”; using structural /stratigraphic data with production, engineering and other data. Prospects are then developed using conventional methods. Whatever procedures used in identifying a prospect, “selling” a prospect requires conventional documentation that includes a convincing geologic / structural scenario.