Identifying undrained layers from mature gas reservoirs using reservoir simulation and high resolution geophysical investigations

Abstract

While big discoveries and major new developments deservedly grab the headlines, mature fields are the backbone of gas production. Revitalizing these fields extends their productive lives and offers significant opportunity to expand worldwide reserves. Regardless of the definition, mature fields are a huge resource. With reserves categorized as proved or probable, attempts to expand reserve levels come at a relatively low risk. Revitalizing a mature field means taking measures that increase the value extracted from the field beyond original expectation. Using specialized software brings new opportunities in reservoir simulation of mature gas reservoirs. Combining these simulations with high resolution geophysical investigations, will offer a other perspective about mature gas reservoirs as well as the identification of potentially gas bearing layers which in the first place were not been identified through logging, and in addition to a eventual growth of gas resources but also gas reserves that could be exploited. Identifying the thinest gas saturated layers, determine the modification of gas resources and reserves values. The increase of volumes is a result of larger production surfaces, larger net thicknesses and also larger porosity attributed to this zones. For mature gas reservoirs this kind of approach offers new perspectives.