Controlling Structural Uncertainties in Static and Dynamic Modeling of Faulted Reservoirs

Mohammed A. Edris, Omar H.S. Al Jeelani, Maryam M. Al Sheehi, and Salman H. Al Marzouqi
ADCO
*[email protected]

Modeling and reservoir management became an issue in an highly faulted onshore Abu Dhabi field. This presentation reviews the methodologies of controlling structural uncertainties in building the 3-D geological model for the reservoir. The great number of faults and their components such as throw, continuity and segmentation were the major issues in building the structural framework of the model. Integration of well logs and seismic data was implemented to enhance the seismic interpretation, aiming at defining the sub-seismic fault patterns, types and throws. Special attention was focused on the conductive nature of the fault plane and the communication among reservoirs. The driver behind this analysis was the recognition from available dynamic sources that the reservoir zones at the fault planes act as hydraulic communication corridors and have a controlling influence on the reservoir development strategies. Moreover, fault information derived from different seismic interpretation has not effectively clarified the issues. More than 30 wells that intersect faults were reviewed to define the fault throws accurately. The throw of many faults were found to be greater than interpreted from seismic data. Other faults were characterized as fault zones composed of many sub-seismic faults. In addition, the borehole image logs over the fault zone indicated conductive features within the fault plane. This investigation improved the understanding of zonal juxtaposition at the faults and the potential of hydraulic communication pathways between the reservoir zones. As a consequence of this work, both the 3-D static and dynamic models became more robust.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90077©2008 GEO 2008 Middle East Conference and Exhibition, Manama, Bahrain