A sleeping giant awakened; further development of the Seria Field, Brunei Darussalam, after almost 70 years of production

The Seria Field was discovered in 1929. Cumulative oil production reached 164X10 6 m 3 (end 1996), approximately 34% of known in-place volumes. A maximum oil production level of 18 780 m 3 /d in 1956 has since declined to 2800 m 3 /d. Most of the more easily recoverable oil has now been produced. Undeveloped oil is concentrated in economically marginal accumulations for which simple subsurface models are an inadequate basis on which to plan further development activities. Instead, dynamic simulation of detailed computer-generated 3D reservoir models is required to optimize reservoir management and evaluate potential development options. 3D seismic data are used to assess undrilled closures and new exploration plays resulting in the development of new hydrocarbon accumulations. Amplitude analysis combined with GST/RST logging has identified areas of unswept oil within the field. Detailed 3D reservoir geological models integrating sequence stratigraphic concepts with reappraisal of core and wireline data are being built using Unix workstations. The models incorporate the results of advanced petrophysical techniques, such as image analysis and resistivity inversion, to quantify net sand, porosity and saturation, and NMR to provide information on moveable oil and permeability. The model forms the input to advanced reservoir simulators where multiple sensitivities can be tested to determine the optimum placement of new wells. Advances in drilling technology have led to the use of horizontal and multi-lateral wells to give the increased productivity necessary for commercial success of such marginal developments. Concurrent engineering effort has led to the field's facilities being rationalized to improve efficiency and reduce costs and the designing of re-usable well jackets for the shallow offshore part of Seria.