Understanding When to Select 2-D or 3-D Seismic
July 29, 1999 (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Three-dimensional (3-D) seismic data can improve the
probability of a successful drilling program, but it adds significantly to a
project’s cost. Thus, operators must have a clear idea of the value and
limita-tions of both 2-D and 3-D data. For instance, 3-D- seismic surveys can
pro-vide data to map the subsurface more accurately than with 2-D data. Usually
3-D surveys are economically successful for smaller survey areas where the
structure and stratigraphy is complex enough to justify the additional
cost.
Sponsoring PTTC region: South
Midcontinent
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Oil And Gas Fields Have Potential In Southeastern New
Mexico
September 15-17, 1999 (Roswell, N.M.)
Characterization of older reservoirs has led to
significant new reserves during the past 20 years in the Pennsylvanian Morrow of
southeastern New Mexico. The discovery of reserves in shallower stratigraphic
zones also has been an important factor. Regional and field-wide stratigraphic,
depositional, and tectonic characterization studies – followed up with
carefully designed drilling, comple-tion and stimulation (e.g. binary foam)
programs – will continue to lead the way for future discoveries and field
expan-sions.
Sponsoring PTTC region:
Southwest
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Reservoir Characterization Using Open-hole,
Cased-hole, and Production Logging
April 29, 1999 (Long Beach, Calif.)
April 30, 1999 (Bakersfield, Calif.)
Wireline logs are the most critical and wide-ly
available tools for characterizing reser-voirs. Reservoir pro-ducibility and
econom-ics are being improved with new technologies for gathering and inter-preting
formation properties in open holes and behind pipe, coupled with new
technologies for mea-suring reservoir fluid flow within, as well as behind,
casing. New wireline tool technologies and new reservoir-wide, pat-tern-
recognition approaches can lead to improved production logging. These approaches
are applic-able to California’s diatomite reservoirs, which have historically
been difficult to characterize using wireline logs.
Sponsoring PTTC region: West
Coast
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Surface Hydrocarbon Detection Shows Promise
February 10, 1999 (Jackson, Miss.)
Hydrocarbon micro-seepage, which can be measured by
various surface geochem-ical techniques, is common. Operators can use surface
geochemical techniques for reservoir characterization, field devel-opment, and
monitoring production pat-terns, as well as more established uses for
high-grading leases and prospects. Leaked hydrocarbons move predominant-ly in a
vertical direction (with geological exceptions). Data confirm that oil and
natural gas production levels respond quickly to changes in reservoir
condi-tions. There are dependable pre-drilling methods available to quickly
screen areas for oil and natural gas, such as surface geochemical prospecting
technologies. These can be used in conjunction with other data to reduce
exploration costs and increase success rates. After drilling, geochemical
methods can be used to define the limits of production and identify bypassed
hydrocarbons. Wider usage of surface geochemical exploration methods in mature
basins also shows great promise.
Sponsoring PTTC region: Eastern Gulf
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