BASS STRAIT'S BREAM B RESERVOIR DEVELOPMENT: SUCCESS THROUGH A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL TEAM APPROACH

Abstract

The effective development of thin oil columns in areas of complex stratigraphy, sparse well control and offset from existing production presents a diverse range of challenges. The success of the Bream B reservoir development can be attributed in part to the formation of a multi-functional development team. This team defined pre-development planning processes and analysis tools which were used to meet the challenges of the project. This paper discusses the Bream B development and the pivotal role the team played in its evolution.

The Bream Field is an anticlinal structure with a series of retrogradationally-stacked clastic reservoir sequences. A large gas cap overlies a 13.5 m oil column in a reservoir that has strong aquifer support. The Bream A platform was installed in 1987 to develop the western and northern lobes of the field. The 18-slot Bream B concrete gravity structure was installed in October 1996 to develop the eastern half of the field.

Geotechnical and engineering uncertainties, as well as a fast-paced drilling program required thorough planning by the team of geoscientists, engineers and petrophysicists. ThIS included the development of detailed contingency and well sequencing plans, the quantification of pre-drill technical uncertainties and the implementation of fully interactive remapping capabilities. During the program, application of geophysical amplitude and modelling analysis, sequence stratigraphy, petrophysics, and reservoir simulation were all used to interpret results and optimise the placement of remaining development wells.

The success of the multi-functional pre-development planning processes and analysis tools was demonstrated by the requirement of only a single geological sidetrack during the drilling program and a platform production rate of 35,000 BOPD (5.6 ML/day) (August 1997).