First Break - Volume 31, Issue 9, 2013

Tore Klausen comments on the far-field stress hypothesis for the NW Triassic Barents Sea. A. Braathen, I. Anell, P-T. Osmundsen and S. Olaussen publish their response.

Arnaud Huck and Dr Tillmann Roth demonstrate the use of pseudo wells for new applications.

Andreas Laake and Joseph Carl Fiduk present a method of structurally sharpened visualization of seismic data which provides an environment and workflows that allow users to better interrogate 3D seismic data and isolate the important geologic details, with examples of its application in a challenging deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico.

Garrett M. Leahy and Arne Skorstad explain a new interpretation workflow that focuses on the measurement of uncertainty and combines the interpretation and modelling phases.

Jonathan P. McKenna and Nathan Toohey explain new modelling techniques that aim to make calculation of fracturing within rock formations more effective.

The objective of this paper is to illustrate the value of rapid engineering analysis as a first step to delineate optimum reservoir management strategies in complex oil fields. Probabilistic material balance, fractional flow calculations, decline curve analysis, and cross-sectional reservoir simulation models are examples of fundamental engineering tools that can be used to quickly optimize a reservoir management strategy in a fraction of the time required for a full-cycle reservoir simulation study. This rapid approach is ideally suited to support fast-pace operational decision making. The proposed methodology is demonstrated with a complex naturally fractured field in Southern Mexico with more than 40 years of production history. The work presented here was used to redefine the short, medium and long-term reservoir management strategies of the field. The details of a recommended new generation water injection programme are also provided.

The Norne Field, operated by Statoil, is a good example of improving oil recovery by using the information on fluid contact movement obtained from 4D seismic data for infill well planning. As the field enters the tail end of production, prolonging production and saving costs have become the focus of field operation and management. To fulfil the special needs of reservoir management at the current stage of the field life, the focus of 4D interpretation should also be adjusted. This imposes higher requirements for data quality and quantitative interpretation of the 4D seismic data. Here we describe the 4D-related work carried out by the Norne asset team and discuss why 4D seismic surveying is still an important tool for field operation and reservoir management in the tail-end production period.