A Multi-disciplinary Integrated Approach for Horizontal Well Placement Strategy in Tight Oil Reservoir

In this study, a multi-disciplinary integrated approach was implemented to design and drill a well in an unconventional tight oil reservoir. Available geological, petrophysical, image logs, and geophysical information were used to develop a conceptual geological model. The image lithofacies patterns were integrated with core photographs and open-hole logs. Post-stack seismic and well impedance was used for wavelet extraction that results in quantitative measures of synthetic to seismic tie. Seismic interpretation at target level showed a wide zone of amplitude anomalies corresponding to the meandering channels interpreted from the image log analysis and provide guidance for channel orientation. A geomechanical model was developed, which provided the reservoir pressure, in-situ stresses and rock properties to predict the optimal well trajectory. An optimum mud-weight program was designed to drill the well with a minimum non-productive time. The geomechanical model also enabled the optimization of multistage transverse fracturing of the horizontal well to increase production. The analyses indicated that the reservoir comprises a series of amalgamated meandering channels and crevasse splays separated by mudstones. Based on vertical lithofacies analysis, the reservoir channels are inferred to be connected both laterally and vertically. The horizontal well was successfully drilled and the well intersected reservoir sands.