Unusual reservoir connectivity revealed by data integration at the Sunrise field
Bruce James A , Wayne Bailey A , Andrew Murray A , Shane Pelechaty A , Alex Kaiko A and Jinfeng Li AWoodside Energy Ltd
The APPEA Journal 50(1) 349-370 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ09021
Published: 2010
Abstract
The Sunrise gas-condensate field located in the Timor Sea is part of a planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) development. It is a broad, low-relief structure covering approximately 900 km2 with two main reservoirs in the Plover Formation. While previous studies suggested that the Sunrise field was likely well connected, there still existed a downside risk of compartmentalisation because of the high degree of faulting.
New results from a multi-disciplinary investigation indicate that the Sunrise field is unusually well connected, both vertically and laterally across large distances of possibly up to 40 km. This is primarily because of the nature of the main reservoir, which is thought to be a laterally extensive shoreface facies, and the presence of conductive fault/fracture zones associated with fault reactivation in an active tectonic setting. The results of this study render unlikely the downside case of a highly compartmentalised field. Despite the relatively wide appraisal well spacing, there is confidence in these conclusions because of the consistent message obtained from the evaluation of a wide range of data.
The combination of geochemistry and the modelling of convective mixing through geological time—a method rarely used in the past—give important insights not typically available from traditional methods. This work was also used to successfully guide further data collection, which has supported the initial conclusions regarding the degree of communication across the field.
Bruce James is a principal reservoir engineer at Woodside and has been there for four years. Before that he worked for Unocal and Shell. Bruce holds BASc and PhD degrees in geological engineering from the University of Waterloo and University of British Columbia, respectively and a MS in engineering economic systems and operations research from Stanford University. Member: SPE. Bruce.James@woodside.com.au |
Wayne Bailey is structural geology coordinator for Woodside and has held the position for four years. Prior to that he acquired nine years of postdoctoral research experience in fault and seal analysis with the Fault Analysis Group (Liverpool University and University College Dublin) and then CSIRO Petroleum. Wayne holds a BSc in geology from Liverpool University and a PhD in structural geology from Durham University. Wayne.Bailey@woodside.com.au |
Andrew Murray is principal petroleum systems analyst at Woodside and carries out geochemistry and basin modelling studies to support exploration and development decisions. He has 18 years experience in petroleum system studies in Australia and around the world in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Pacific Rim. Andrew’s current interests are in the synthesis of petroleum geochemistry and basin modelling (a process known as integrated charge evaluation) and in high resolution modelling of charge, phase and fluid mixing in reservoirs. He holds BASc and MSc degrees and a PhD in petroleum geochemistry from Curtin University. Andrew.Murray@woodside.com.au |
Shane Pelechaty was a principal geologist with Shell International seconded to Woodside. He has over 15 years of industry experience, having worked in Canada, the USA, Russia, the Netherlands, Oman and Malaysia. He holds BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in geological sciences, the latter two from Queen’s University in Canada, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the USA. He is currently working at Shell Canada. s.pelechaty@Shell.com |
Alex Kaiko joined Woodside as a development geologist in 2008. Prior to joining Woodside he has worked in a number of production and exploration roles as well as research for Helix RDS, Tap Oil, Mobil Exploration and Production Australia and Curtin University. Alex holds a BSc, BSc (Hons) and a PhD from Newcastle University, Adelaide University and the University of South Australia respectively. Member: PESA and the AAPG. Alex.Kaiko@woodside.com.au |
Jinfeng Li is a reservoir engineer at Woodside. He has a PhD from the North Western University in China and has a background of petroleum geology. Before joining Woodside, Jinfeng worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the Faculty of Reservoir Engineering of the Petroleum University in China, and then worked as a reservoir engineer for Shell and Saudi Aramco. Jinfeng.Li@woodside.com.au |
