Mechanical Earth Modeling of the Tengiz Field

A 3-D mechanical earth model (MEM) was developed for Tengiz to predict the long-term response of a reservoir to field development. The study aims at understanding the impact of reservoir pressure depletion on reservoir compaction and surface subsidence. Tengiz Field, a deep, super-giant oil field located in western Kazakhstan near the north-eastern coast of the Caspian Sea, consists of Devonian through Carboniferous isolated platform carbonates with an aerial extent of approximately 440 sq. km (Figure 1). The top of the reservoir occurs at -3850 m TVDSS and the oil column is at least 1600 meters. Although the producing formation is deep and the reservoir rocks are competent, minor amounts of reservoir compaction and surface subsidence are nonetheless observed at Tengiz.