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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
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Abstract
Mitch
Harris, and G. P. Eberli
2004. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.
Outcrop and Waterflood Simulation Modeling of the 100-Foot Channel Complex, Texas, and the Ainsa II Channel Complex, Spain: Analogs to Multistory and Multilateral Channelized Slope Reservoirs
D. K. Larue
ChevronTexaco Exploration and Production Technology Company, San Ramon, California, U.S.A.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Grateful acknowledgement is made to Julian Clark for explaining features in outcrop and to Will Schweller, who provided discussion and digital photographs. Discussions with Tom Mackinnon, Tim McHargue, Chuck Stelting, Frank Harris, Alan Reed, Adwait Chawathe, Ray Ergas, and John Toldi are also gratefully acknowledged. Francois Friedmann helped with the Plackett-Burman analysis. Critical reviews by Alan Reed, Will Schweller, and Frank Harris are appreciated. The program for advanced analysis of geobodies that I conceived was adapted and modified from a standard Gocad program by Remi Moyen from the Gocad Institute at the University of Nancy. Connie Terricola, Karen Payrazyan, and I developed the path-length program at Chevron Petroleum Technology. Connie Terricola and Ron Behrens wrote the connectivity program. Pat Condon and Don Seeburger helped with the 3-D forward seismic modeling. I thank Chevron Petroleum Technology for allowing this paper to be published. Reviews by Carlos Pirmez, Gregor Eberli, and Gene Rankey improved this paper.
ABSTRACT
Outcrop information and interpretations can be used
to create three-dimensional conceptual reservoir characterizations that try to predict possible ranges in reservoir behavior. In this study, outcrop models were
used
to address uncertainty in prediction of volumes and recovery in deep-water channelized slope reservoirs. Three-dimensional heterogeneities were added to the outcrop models that might be of importance for flow-simulation or seismic studies.
Two outcrop examples of deep-water depositional systems are discussed: the 100-Foot Channel Complex
in the Brushy Canyon Formation of southwest Texas, and the
Ainsa II Channel Complex
in the Hecho Group of Spain. Three-dimensional geologic models were built, and waterflood simulations and geophysical studies were performed. The two outcrop examples are significant in that the 100-Foot Channel is a multistory channel complex, whereas the Ainsa II Channel Complex is both multistory and multilateral. Four models are discussed for the 100-Foot Channel Complex example, and eleven models are discussed for the Ainsa II Channel Complex example.
Based on static geologic models, examples of the possible origins of volumetric uncertainty are given, in which uncertainties of as much as several hundred percent are observed. Two key uncertainties are areal variation in net-to-gross and subseismic thin-bed effects. Based on waterflood simulations of the outcrop models, key features that influence reservoir recovery efficiency are variance in permeability distributions (characterized by the Dykstra-Parsons coefficient) and reservoir connectivity. Reservoir compartments were created when continuity of intrachannel mudstone layers or mudstone drapes on channel margins was high. Variation in permeability heterogeneity can affect recovery efficiency by more than 10% (or in these cases, about 25% relative to the lower recovery). Several examples of models with poor reservoir connectivity are presented, in which recovery efficiency is reduced proportionally to connected volume (a spread of 75–175% relative to the lower recovery efficiency). A comparison of reservoir connectivity, number of geobodies, and degree of heterogeneity, measured in terms of differential path length, showed that static characterization of the reservoir could be useful for dynamic predictions.
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