About this Workshop

Abstract

This workshop is planned to present the latest theories and technologies that address carbonate reservoirs and provide more understanding that enable geoscientists and engineers to better characterise those reservoirs. We expect extensive discussion and debate over various technology applications aimed at understanding their values in improving carbonate reservoir characterisation.

Most of the world hydrocarbon reserves exist in carbonate reservoirs. Latest studies showed that sixty percent of the world’s oil and forty percent of the world’s gas reserves are held in carbonate reservoirs. In the Middle East, which has the most world reserves of hydrocarbons, more than seventy percent of oil reserves and 90 percent of gas reserves are held in carbonate reservoirs. The world produced hydrocarbons from carbonate reservoirs for decades and the potential in those reservoirs is still promising.

Understanding carbonate reservoirs is extremely important to utilise them to their full potential. However, full understanding is faced with several challenges. Mineralogy, geomechanics, diagenesis, and heterogeneity are among the aspects that need to be understood to characterise carbonate reservoirs. Moreover and in relation to what was previously stated, pore size distribution and permeability estimations are among the challenges that need to be overcome. Reservoir rock typing, fluid saturation in mixed salinity environment and wettability are outstanding issues in carbonate characterisation. Dynamic properties of multi-phase fluid flow behaviour at nano scale to wellbore scale are emerging areas of new knowledge in carbonate characterisation.

Several new developments can help in the characterisation of carbonate reservoirs. Geophysical, geomechanical, and petrophysical developed technologies are vital in improving abilities to characterise carbonate reservoirs. NMR and dielectric have helped in bringing new light to carbonate understanding of pore and fluid systems. Integration of geomechanics into reservoir architecture in relation to flow behaviour is an area requiring deeper analysis and interpretation. Residual oil saturation determination and improving recovery factor are also topics of great interest. 

 

Visa Information

SPE Middle East, North Africa and India will assist in providing a visa invitation letter, upon request in writing, to confirmed registrants after receiving full payment of registration fees. Visa invitation letters take five days to issue from the date of request and it is the delegate's responsibility to obtain their own visa. SPE cannot issue the visa nor can we guarantee it will be obtained.

 

Workshop Guidelines

Format

Three (3) days of informal discussions prompted by selected keynote presentations and discussions. Workshops maximise the exchange of ideas among attendees and presenters through brief technical presentations followed by extended Q&A periods. Focused topics attract an informed audience eager to discuss issues critical to advancing both technology and best practices. The majority of the presentations are in the form of case studies, highlighting engineering achievements and lessons learnt. In order to stimulate frank discussion, no proceedings are published and the press is not invited to attend.

Documentation

• Proceedings will not be published; therefore, formal papers and handouts are not expected from speakers.
• Work in progress, new ideas and interesting projects are sought.
• Professionally-prepared visual aids are not required; handwritten view graphs are entirely acceptable.
• Note-taking by participants is encouraged.

Poster Session

The Steering Committee encourages registrations from professionals who are able to prepare and present a poster on a relevant project. For further details kindly contact Caroline Attenborough, event manager at cattenborough@spe.org.

Attendance

Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Steering Committee encourages attendance from those who can contribute to the workshop most effectively either in discussions or with posters. A mix of attendees in terms of geographic origin, companies and disciplines will be encouraged.

Workshop Deliverables

• The Steering Committee will appoint a “scribe” to record the discussions and to produce the full workshop report for SPE.
• This report will be circulated to all attendees as the workshop deliverable within 4–6 weeks following the workshop. The copyright of the report is with SPE.
• PowerPoint presentation materials will be posted on a specific SPE URL address after the workshop Provision of the materials by the speakers will signify their permission for SPE to do so.

Commercialism

In keeping with ATW objectives and the SPE mission, commercialism in posters or presentations will not be permitted. Company logos must be limited to the title slide and used only to indicate the affiliation of the presenter and others involved in the work.

Attendance Certificate

All attendees will receive an attendance certificate attesting to their participation in the workshop. This certificate will be provided in exchange for a completed Workshop Questionnaire.

Continuing Education Units

Attendees at this workshop qualify for SPE Continuing Education Units (CEU) at the rate of 0.1 CEU per hour of the workshop.