Technical Agenda

Monday, 22 October , 0900–1230

Session I: Calibrating and Applying Petro-Elastic Models

Session Managers: Igor Escobar and Jorge Pita

In this session, we will be focusing on how we go about establishing and using petro-elastic models in the context of bridging across different disciplines and scales. The objective is to discuss in detail a range of topics using case studies and real data examples, including:

• The use of theoretical models versus empirical ones
• Generic models versus locally tuned models
• Methodologies to tune or adapt models to local conditions
• Integration and validation of wireline data and core measurements
• Data uncertainty versus model uncertainty
• Clastic versus carbonate environments
• Prediction of rock properties from seismic: directly inverting for petrophysical properties or cascading elastic properties into petrophysical ones
• Comparison of different methodologies, workflows and tools in term of flexibility, efficiency (especially with large datasets) and integration

We will be aiming to identify common practices, most efficient workflows as well as missing technologies and tools.

1330–1700

Session II: Gridding and Parameterisation for 4D Seismic Modelling and Simulation

Session Managers: Ann Muggeridge and Marie Ann Giddins

This session will cover the practical aspects of how best to integrate the modelling of geophysical response and reservoir fluid flow as a function of the subsurface geology. It will focus, in particular, on how to parameterise the physical processes and behaviours that cannot be resolved in the different models e.g. fluid distributions and their impact on petro-elastic response. Successful communication between the discipline models involves forward and backward transfers of data with differing resolutions and error bars in both space and time. Understanding the issues underlying gridding and parameterisation is essential for quantitative analysis. It can also be the key to effective communication between practitioners of different disciplines.

Discussions will include:

• Review of relationships between parameters used in seismic analysis, geomechanics, petro-elastic models and fluid flow simulation
• Impact of different spatial representations and boundary conditions
• Methods for “upscaling” and “downscaling” between models
• Future challenges for EOR and unconventional studies
• How to handle up- and down-scaling in the context of different data types and model representation

This session will prepare participants for the workflow investigations in Session III. We encourage contributions of real case study examples.

Tuesday, 23 October, 0900–1230

Session III: Updating the Reservoir Model using Geology Geophysics and Production Data

Session Managers: Pierre Thore and Mokhles Mezghani

Management of oil and gas fields depends upon accurate reservoir characterisation workflow. Better decisions/predictions can be made when multi-source data (geological, geophysical, production, etc.) are fully integrated in the reservoir description workflow. 4D seismic data now plays an important role in reservoir characterisation and management. As the technology matures, there is an increased emphasis on quantitative 4D interpretation to estimate changes in fluid saturation and reservoir pressure and the uncertainties associated with their estimation.

In this session we are investigating the various possible workflows:

• Best practice for mixing 3D seismic data and geological data for reservoir description
• Impact of adding 4D data to reservoir description
  • Integrating 4D information in the static reservoir characterisation
  • Integrating 4D information in the dynamic reservoir model updating
• The predictive capability of the reservoir models including fluid displacement and pressure changes, essential for reservoir management and well placement
• Workflow based sensitivity analysis to assess the added value of the 4D seismic data to the reservoir characterisation process and to the predictive capabilities of the workflows

1330–1700

Session IV: Building, Calibrating and Application of Geomechanical Models

Session Managers: Jorg Herwanger and Carlos Eduardo Abreu

3D and 4D geomechanical models are seeing a rapid up-take in the petroleum industry. The promises of usage of geomechanical models are alluring. These include improved prediction of reservoir quality, fracture location, orientation and properties, improved production forecasts by including stress-dependent fluid-flow properties, prediction of early water breakthrough by fault re-activation, optimisation of drilling trajecto ries, designing safe mudweight windows and prediction of well-bore instability. In this session, the speakers will discuss what data sources are used in building geomechanical models, how we know whether our geomechanical predictions are correct and, most importantly, what applications in field development planning 3D and 4D geomechanical models have been successfully used. Speakers are encouraged to show successful applications of geomechanical models, while pondering the question what shortcomings current workflows may have. How can close the-loop scenarios help to improve the building and calibration of geomechanical models?

Topics to be included:

• Calibration of geomechanical models using seismic data
• Can we predict reservoir quality and fracture orientation from geomechanical forward modelling?
• Fundamental controls on mechanical properties: what do petroelastic models tell us about rock mechanical properties?
• Stress or fractures: what causes seismic anisotropy?
• Breadth of workflow versus depth of investigation at each step
• Geomechanical models from exploration to abandonment: contributions of geomechanical models to operational safety and increased recovery factors during the reservoir lifecycle

Wednesday, 24 October, 0830–1000

Session V: Monitoring of Field Development with Geoscience and Engineering Data

Session Managers: Nigel Robinson and Francesca Pirera

This session focuses on the integration of 4D seismic data with other geophysical methods (for example, borehole seismic, microseismicity, geomagnetics, gravity), geological and/or engineering data to provide an improved understanding of a field development. Case histories from a variety of geological settings and environments will be presented to promote discussion on:

• Methodologies for integration of 4D seismic with other field data
• Improved reservoir management and well planning through effective integration
• Addressing uncertainty in the integrated products

We are looking to discuss a range of case histories, for example:

• Typical turbidite field (North Sea, GOM, West Africa)
• Fractured reservoir
• Land 4D
• Gas field