2001 05 24
Turbidite Outcrop 3D Modeling Project

Aspect Resources and GTI (formerly the Gas Research Institute) invite you to attend an information session on the Turbidite Outcrop 3D Modeling Project.  The objective of this project is to create quantitative reservoir models derived from turbidite outcrops which can be utilized as exploration analogs and in reservoir characterization.

Date:       Thursday, May 24, 2001
Time:       9:00 to 11:00 a.m. 
Location: PanCanadian Amphitheatre, Room 260, Tower Centre, 2nd Level
                131-9th Ave. SE, Calgary, AB

Background
Deepwater turbidite oil and gas reservoirs comprise the petroleum industry's most active and lucrative exploration play and development objective.  Today, there is active exploration and development in many parts of the world, most notably the deepwater/subsalt Gulf of Mexico, offshore West Africa, North Sea, Trinidad, offshore Brazil and eastern Canada.  In the deepwater Gulf of Mexico alone, as of year-end 2000, the equivalent of 9 billion barrels of oil have been discovered.  There have been 80 announced discoveries, of which 26 are currently producing, with an additional 13 announced development plans (Lawrence and  Busman-Smits, 2000).   As the oil and gas industry moves progressively into deeper water ("ultradeep" water depths) and seismic imaging improves (particularly beneath salt and shale diapirs), there will be even more and larger discoveries, requiring expensive reservoir development and management plans.

The challenge in deepwater reservoir development as stated by Sullivan et al. (2000) of Exxon-Mobil is "to predict the production performance of the (the Pliocene A-50) reservoir which is further challenged by variable quality seismic data, reservoir thickness (expressed by a single cycle seismic event), limited appraisal wells, and the likelihood for 'sub-seismic' reservoir variability that could impact the economic viability of the project".  Sullivan et al. describes a successful five-step reservoir development plan---beginning with outcrop characterization---as follows:

 (1) quantitative outcrop characterization and model-building,
 (2) seismic modeling of the outcrops,
 (3) comparison of seismic models to actual 3D seismic from reservoir intervals,
 (4) incorporating the scaled geologic model into the seismic and,
 (5) fluid flow simulation of the model reservoir at true scale for performance prediction.

Project Definition
The Turbidite Outcrop 3D Modeling Project will provide the first reservoir development step of Sullivan et al. (2000), and will provide the input for items (2) through (5) above.  The models from the project will be created by incorporating the best 2D outcrop work and adding an intelligently interpreted 3rd dimension based on behind-the-outcrop/subsurface data (including a significant amount gathered for this project).  A unique aspect of this project will be the use of GPR and behind-outcrop wells to obtain much-enhanced 3D characterization. Using the 3D outcrop models from the project, the explorationist/reservoir modeler will be able to focus on appropriately modifying available models instead of reviewing the literature and creating a reservoir geologic model from the beginning.

Project Format
Considerable amounts of data have been obtained in some of the outcrop areas.  Project Scientists will gather supplemental data, organize all data and interpret it, and create a representative 3D depositional model of each of the turbidite outcrops.  As far as is reasonably possible, a consistent data set will be obtained from each outcrop.  This would include detailed outcrop measured sections, photomosaics, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and behind-outcrop cores and logs including borehole image logs.  Field measurements will be spatially correlated using Global Positioning System (GPS).  Architectural detail from the outcrop will be preserved and extended into the subsurface as far as controlling data permits.  Software links will allow rapid access to supporting digital data as outcrop photos, location maps, regional maps, well data (core photos, log curves, and image logs), and tabulated information (net sand, etc.).  The resultant 3D geologic models will be in a form suitable to contribute to the building of seismic and reservoir models by individual participating companies.