The role of reservoir modelling in unlocking unconventional (resource) plays
Hiwa Sidiq A , Eli Silalahi A , Perdana Noverda Pamurty A B and Raj Damodaran AA Roxar Software Solutions.
B Roxar Asia Pacific.
The APPEA Journal 53(2) 440-440 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ12051
Published: 2013
Abstract
There has been a recent focus on the insight that reservoir modelling provides into devising the best workflows and its ability to include reservoir attributes that affect recovery factors in shale.
This extended abstract examines recent technical developments in reservoir modelling and how such modelling can identify sweet spots in shale reservoirs. An accurate characterisation of a pre-existing fracture network and its structural complexities, however, requires the gathering of a large amount of data. In addition, investigating sweet spots at the presently low gas prices sometimes prevents the acquisition of such data that is essential as an input to drilling strategies, fracture program design, well spacing, and understanding stimulated reservoir volumes (SRV) in shale.
The pre-existing fractures may also have a limited impact on recovery rates. The transport along a wellbore is mainly controlled by the drained volume, not only by the fractures around the well. In such cases, the pre-existing fractures and their reactivation during the fracturing stage are not sufficient to determine the amount of gas that can be recovered during production. This volume is effectively not only a function of the fracture density, but also of the propped fractures.
The challenge, therefore, becomes the ability to have a good estimation of the size of the SRV and be able to calibrate this volume using relevant data such as micro-seismic data and the recovery from previous fraccing stages.
This extended abstract also discusses how reservoir modelling can play a key role in this area.
Hiwa Sidiq is a senior consultant/reservoir engineer in Emerson’s Roxar Software Solutions Perth office. He has a PhD (petroleum engineering) from Curtin University, Perth. His previous roles include reservoir geologist at the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources; reservoir engineer at Clean Gas Technology Australia, where he conducted extensive experimental and simulation work on EGR by CO2 injection for the newly discovered gas field (Prelude), West Australia; and, research engineer at the University of Queensland’s School of Chemical Engineering. He has published numerous peer-reviewed papers in scientific publications, such as the Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, the Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, and the Journal of Petroleum Science and Technology. |
Eli Saut Silalahi is a senior geologist at Roxar Software Solutions (a business unit of Emerson), based in Kuala Lumpur. His previous roles include junior reservoir geologist at BP Indonesia (2007–08), reservoir geologist at Medco E&P Indonesia (2008–11), and reservoir geologist at ADCO in Abu Dhabi (2011–13). |
Perdana Noverda Pamurty is a geologist consultant at Emerson’s Roxar Software Solutions, Jakarta. He has been working at Roxar Emerson for two years; previously, he worked as a consultant for GGR projects. He has completed several geo-modelling on GGR projects including in fluvial, deltaic, and carbonate/mix slisiclastic-carbonate depositional system for some fields in Indonesia. He has experience in geological modelling, geological interpretation, andpetrophysics with extensive experience in workflows. He is also a trainer for geomodelling using RMS Roxar. |
Raj Damodaran is regional manager, North America for Roxar Software Solutions (part of Emerson). He has 23 years of experience in the E&P consulting and software industry. In his present role, he is responsible for all sales and service for Emerson’s software solutions across North America, including its reservoir modelling, simulation, and history matching products. During the past nine years at Roxar, he has held various positions, including regional manager for services; principal geoscientist, North and South America; and, regional manager for services, the Middle East, and southwest Asia. Major projects that he has been involved with include work for Petronas, BP, Dubai Petroleum, BG Trinidad, and PDVSA. Priorto joining Roxar, he was senior geoscientist at Baker Atlas-Geoscience. Raj has been published regularly and has a major in geology from the University of Calgary. Member: SPE. |
