About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract

AAPG Bulletin, V. 93, No. 9 (September 2009), P. 1183-1208.

Copyright copy2009. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.

DOI:10.1306/05110908145

Three-dimensional modeling of a shoreface-shelf parasequence reservoir analog: Part 2. Geologic controls on fluid flow and hydrocarbon recovery

Matthew D. Jackson,1 Gary J. Hampson,2 Richard P. Sech3

1Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP, United Kingdom; [email protected]
2Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP, United Kingdom
3Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP, United Kingdom; present address: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, P.O. Box 2189, Houston, Texas 77252

ABSTRACT

Wave-dominated, shoreface-shelf parasequences are commonly modeled as simple layer-cake reservoirs, yet analysis of modern and ancient analogs demonstrates that these intervals contain a more complex physical stratigraphy. We investigate the impact of depositional and diagenetic heterogeneity associated with gently dipping clinoform surfaces on fluid flow and recovery during water flooding, using a three-dimensional model reconstructed from a well-exposed outcrop analog. We demonstrate that the volume of oil in place is affected by variations in facies thickness associated with interfingering along clinoforms, whereas waterflood sweep efficiency is affected by barriers to flow along clinoform surfaces, such as calcite-cemented layers, mudstones, and siltstones.

Sweep efficiency is low when water flooding is down depositional dip because oil is bypassed at the toe of each clinothem as water flows preferentially through high-quality sandstone facies in the upper part of the parasequence. Sweep efficiency is higher when water flooding is up depositional dip because the gravity-driven, downward flow of water sweeps poorer-quality sandstone facies in the lower part of the parasequence. In both cases, injectors may offer limited pressure support to producers.

Water flooding along depositional strike yields good pressure support but poor sweep because the gravity-driven flow of water into the lower part of the parasequence is significantly reduced. This yields highly variable fluid saturations but a uniform pressure gradient, which is consistent with pressure and fluid saturation data from the mature Rannoch Formation reservoir, Brent field, United Kingdom North Sea. Simple layer-cake models fail to capture the range of flow behaviors described above and overpredict recovery by up to 20% as a result.

Pay-Per-View Purchase Options

The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.

Watermarked PDF Document: $14
Open PDF Document: $24

AAPG Member?

Please login with your Member username and password.

Members of AAPG receive access to the full AAPG Bulletin Archives as part of their membership. For more information, contact the AAPG Membership Department at [email protected].