Insights to Reservoir Architecture Through Multi-Penetration Pilot (MPP) Wells
Tangen, Odd, Kjell Espejord, ExxonMobil, Norway
Abstract: The Ringhorne development in the Norwegian part of
The initial geological model of the Upper Paleocene Forseti
reservoir included 5 to 10 meter thick sheet sands based on three exploration
wells, as the existing seismic was unable to define the exact location and
thickness of the reservoir. Due to the planned lengths of the horizontal
producers, several conventional pilots would have been required to properly
evaluate the boundaries of the formation and subsequently place the horizontal
producer. New and better quality seismic available pre-drill, suggested a
depositional model consisting of compensational stacking of different age sand
bodies rather than a sheet sand. The concept of Multi Penetration Pilot (MPP)
was used to increase the number of reservoir penetrations. By drilling an
undulating pilot multiple times through the top and bottom
of the reservoir
with LWD, sand mapping would be substantially improved and thereby reducing the
geologic risk when determining the specific location of the horizontal section
of the producers.
The Multi
Penetration Pilot (MPP) wells achieved it’s primary purpose of assisting with
locating the tops and bottoms of the reservoir section over more than 1000m MD.
In addition, this concept has saved conventional pilot hole sidetracks.