The Ichthys Field: challenges of geological modelling for the field development
Takeshi Nakanishi A , Toshihiko Ando A , VIncent Beales A , Kapil Seth A , Frans Otten A and Hiroyuki Matsui AINPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd
The APPEA Journal 54(1) 31-44 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ13008
Published: 2014
Abstract
Preparation for the Ichthys Field development has been underway since the final investment decision was made in January 2012. The Ichthys Field comprises two reservoirs: the Brewster Member of the Early Cretaceous Upper Vulcan Formation; and the Jurassic Plover Formation. The development will be phased in separate drilling campaigns, commencing with the core area of the Brewster Member reservoir. This reservoir has geological challenges, including:
complexity of porosity and permeability distribution in the generally homogeneous sandstone reservoir; and,
high gas saturation immediately above and below the free water level.
The Ichthys Subsurface team has built geological models of the Brewster Member reservoir. The following methodologies were adopted into the geological models:
broad-band seismic inversion data to distribute reservoir porosity away from well control;
K Nearest Neighbour methodology to predict permeability from logs utilising core measurements;
Cathode-luminescence analysis to understand permeability reduction within the field;
imbibition Sw height functions to model high gas saturation immediately above and below the free water level; and,
scenario-based geological uncertainty modelling.
A series of geological models were utilised to optimise development well locations and to ensure sufficient production from the reservoir.
Takeshi Nakanishi obtained his MSc in 1992 from Osaka City University, Japan. He joined the Japan National Oil Corporation in 1992 and worked on geologic evaluation projects in the East China Sea, the North Sea, East Siberia, northern Japan and the Campos Basin, Brazil. He contributed to establishing a procedure of geologic and economic risk analysis for exploration. Takeshi earned his PhD at the National Centre for Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of Adelaide University in 2002, focusing on a practical application of sequence stratigraphy and risk analysis for stratigraphic trap exploration. He joined INPEX in 2004 and has been assigned as the manager development geology at INPEX Perth since 2011 to manage geological studies for the Ichthys project. Member: AAPG, and the Japanese Association for Petroleum Technology. takeshi.nakanishi@inpex.com.au |
Toshihiko Ando received a BSc in 2002 and an MSc in 2004 from Kyushu University, Japan. He has worked for INPEX as a geophysicist since he joined the company in 2004. He spent five years working for several geophysical evaluation projects in the North West Shelf, Browse Basin, Timor Sea, and the Bass Strait in Australia, the Campos Basin in Brazil. The Gulf of Mexico in USA, West Arafura Sea and Sulawesi in Indonesia, and onshore Venezuela. He has been a senior development geophysicist for INPEX Perth since 2010, working on marine seismic acquisition, data processing, seismic inversion and interpretations for the Ichthys development project. Member: EAGE. takeshi.nakanishi@inpex.com.au |
Vincent Beales received a BSc in 1980 from Exeter University, England, and a MSc in 1986 from Aberdeen University, Scotland. He worked in a variety of roles in service companies as a mudlogger, pressure engineer and LWD DD engineer before his masters. Thereafter, he has worked for BP, Total Oil Marine, Premier Oil (twice), Apache Energy, Woodside, Maersk Oil (twice) and Shell (PDO), initially as a production geologist and then for the last 15 years as a petrophysicist at many worldwide localities. He joined INPEX as the lead development petrophysicist for the Ichthys project in 2009 and also has responsibility for supporting Australian Ventures (Exploration and Non-operated assets). Member: FESAus. vincent.beales@inpex.com.au |
Kapil Seth received his Bachelor of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, in 1992. After working as a field engineer, Kapil became a quality coach and a petrophysicist with Schlumberger. Kapil has worked in a variety of countries including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya, India and Australia. In 2009, Kapil joined Inpex as a senior petrophysicist, mainly focusing on the Ichthys project but also supporting the Green House Gas team and Australian Ventures for Exploration and Non-operated assets. Kapil has published 12 papers on a variety of topics ranging from nuclear magnetic resonance to enhanced oil recovery. Member: FESAus, SPE and SPWLA. kapil.seth@inpex.com.au |
Frans Otten obtained his MSc in petroleum engineering in 2000 from The Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Thereafter, he joined reservoir modelling software company Roxar in London. With Roxar, he worked as a geological modelling specialist on numerous projects in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In 2007, he was based in Australia working on projects in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Throughout the years he has worked on many uncertainty projects and developed an expertise in uncertainty assessment. In 2011, Frans joined INPEX as a development geologist for the Ichthys field. Member: SPE. frans.otten@inpex.com.au |
Hiroyuki Matsui received his BSc in 1997 from Shizuoka University, Japan and MSc in 1999 from University of Tokyo, Japan. He joined the Japan National Oil Corporation in 1999 and worked on geologic evaluation projects in a variety of areas, including; the Timor Sea, Carnarvon Basin, North Sea, South Sumatra and Java in Indonesia and the Ghadames Basin in Algeria. He joined INPEX in 2004 and worked on exploration projects in the Oceania region and on asset acquisition projects in Canada. In 2008, he was assigned to INPEX Perth as a senior geologist to conduct geoscience studies for greenhouse gas management. From 2011, he has been contributing to the Ichthys Project as lead development geologist for geological modelling work. Member: AAPG, EAGE and SEPM. hiroyuki.matsui@inpex.com.au |
