SPE

Society of Petroleum Engiooers

SPE 11452

Application of Sedimentological Studies in the ReservoirGeological Modeling of the AI Huwaisah Field, Oman
by Andre Baumann, Petroleum Development Oman

Copyright

1983. Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was presented at the Middle East Oil Technical Conference of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in Manama. Bahrain. March
14-17. 1983. The material is subject to correction by the author. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Write
SPE. 6200 North Central Expressway, Drawer 64706. Dallas, Texas, 75206 USA. Telex 730989.

The resulting geological model shows analogies to

Recent carbonate sedimentation around bathymetric
highs in the Arabian Gulf, which allowed the
application of modern facies models for the
subsurface prediction of geological units.
Subsequent coring in the latest three wells confirmed
the geological model.

ABSTRACT
A reservoir-geological review has been carried
out on the Al Huwaisah oil field (North Oman) and a
geological model has been developed. Mainly based on
sedimentological studies of core material, the
distribution of the different lithofacies types of
the reservoir fotmation has been reconstructed and
the depositional environment interpreted. The
resulting geological model shows analogies with the
sedimentation pattern on Recent carbonate shoals in
the Arabian Gulf. This, in combination with the good
correlation between lithofacies types and reservoir
properties, allows prediction of the different
reservoir units and hence optimisation of the future
development of the field.

This geological model, the reservoir properties

of its units and the conclusions for the future
development of the field are presented in the
following sections.

A lithostratigraphic subdivision of the Shuaiba

in A1 Huwaisah is shown in fig.l. Essentially, the
Shuaiba consists of three units stacked on top of
each other. These are from bottom to top:

INTRODUCTION
The Al Huwaisah field is a low relief, probably
salt induced, unfaulted dome structure. It produces
from rudistid limestones of the Lower Cretaceous
(Aptian) Shuaiba Formation which is unconformably
overlain by the shales of the Nahr Umr Formation,
which form the caprock of the reservoir. Al Huwaisah
was discovered in 1969 and has been developed by a
total of 35 producers to date.

Basal blanket deposits. They consist from

bottom to top of foraminiferal-pelletoidal
packstones, an algal boundstone layer
(Bacinella Boundstone) and microbioclastic
wackestones.
Algal-coral complex. This unit is made up of
chalky rocks with a large textural variety.
The predominant organisms present are
Stromatoporoidea and Lithocodium algae. To
the NW, the algal-coral complex passes into
sediments of deeper marine nature.

The Shuaiba in Al Huwaisah is laterally and

vertically extremely heterogeneous. It can be
subdivided into the Shuaiba A, consisting of
different rudistid reservoir rock types, which
overlies a sequence of chalky, low permeability
non-reservoir rocks, the Shuaiba B.

Rudist complex. This consists of a reefoid

rudist build-up and rudist debris sediments
derived from this build-up. The rocks of the
build-up are mainly packs tones and bounds tones
with rudists sometimes in life position. They
have the character of biostromes or 'rudist
meadows' - comparable to present day oyster
banks - which are stacked on top of each other
with thin intercalated layers of muddier
sediments containing broken rudist shells.
The rudist debris sediments are subdivided
according to their Dunham texture into rudist
debris wackestones and rudist debris

The complex reservoir geology called for a

detailed geological model for the prediction of
geological trends and reservoir properties to enable
optimal planning of the future development of the
field. This aim was achieved by a review of general
reservoir-geological data and particularly by
sedimentological studies of cores available from 11
wells. Based on these data, the internal geometry of
the Shuaiba was analysed by means of slice-roaps and
cross-sections.
paper.
123

APPLICATION OF SEDIMENTOLOGICAL STUDIES IN THE RESERVOIR-GEOLOGICAL

MODELLING OF THE AL HUWAISAH FIELD, OMAN

The former consist largely of an intensely

chalkified, in part pelleted mud matrix with
floating rudist fragments; the latter are
predominantly made up of rudist debris, with
strongly varying grainsize and sorting.
Summarizing, the Shuaiba Formation, which
averages 330 ft. in thickness, can be subdivided into
three major units comprising seven basic lithofacies
types. Based on this stratigraphic concept, a
geological/sedimentological and subsequently
reservoir-geological model were developed by:
(1)

establishing the geometry and mutual

relationships of the different lithological
units,

(2)

characterizing these rock units in terms of

reservoir properties - porosity and
permeability.

GEOLOGICAL MODEL
The internal geometry of the Shuaiba Formation
was analysed with slice maps which show the
distribution of the different lithofacies types at
different levels above base Shuaiba. The geological
information is largely provided by core and sidewall
sample analyses. This technique was applied after an
unsuccessful attempt had been made to identify and
correlate these lithofacies types by means of well
logs (Only the lowermost unit, the basal blanket
deposits, are correlatable on logs). On a total of
14 maps the lithofacies distribution within the
Shuaiba was mapped. The spacing between these maps
varies from 50 ft. over the Shuaiba B to 25 and 10
ft. in the rudist complex (Shuaiba A) in order to
obtain better resolution in the oil-bearing part of
the formation. Simplified versions of six of the
slice maps, giving a representative picture of the
lithofacies distribution in the Shuaiba, are shown in
figs. 2A-F. Only wells where geological information
is available have been plotted.

SPE 11452

Fig. 2F (300 ft. above base Shuaiba) is

representative for most of the rudist complex and
shows the rudist build-up forming a curvilinear,
relatively narrow reef-like belt extending over a
distance of about 8 km along the NW side of the crest
of the field. The edge of another build-up was
encountered in AH-IS, separated from the main
build-up by a wide gap filled with rudist debris
sediments.
The rudist debris sediments show an asymmetrical
distribution. On its NW 'fore reef' flank the
build-up is bordered by coarse-grained rudist debris
pack/grains tones , which also extend from the SW edge
of the build-up in a SE direction and along the
inner, 'back reef' side of the build-up, wedging out
towards the NE. The central and SE part of the field
are dominated by rudist debris wackestones. An
interesting feature in this area are the rudist
'patch reefs' encountered by wells AH-12 and AH-17,
which, in contrast to the definable trend of the main
build-up, apparently occur at random. Their
thickness averages about 10 ft. compared to the main
build-up with its maximum thickness of 180 ft., their
lateral extension, however, may be considerable.
Depositional Environment
From the facies pattern as reconstructed with
slice-maps and from sedimentological studies of core
material a tentative interpretation of the
environment of deposition was made. Three main
depositional phases, represented by the three main
stratigraphic units, are recognized:
The deposition of the basal blanket deposits
on a large, very flat and uniform shelf of
varying water depth.
The development of the algal-coral complex on
a shallow shelf platform. During this phase,
a 'deeper' basin developed to the NW of Al
Huwaisah whereas a very shallow carbonate flat
formed to the south. Al Huwaisah occupied a
position on the 'hinge line' between these two
areas. This is reflected in the wedging out
of the algal-coral complex and its trans~t~on
into deeper marine deposits to the NW.

Fig. 2A (50 ft. above base Shuaiba) shows the

uniform development of the basal blanket deposits,
which form a sheet-like layer over the entire field.
Fig. 2B (100 ft. above base Shuaiba) shows the
development of the algal-coral complex, which passes
to the NW into sediments of deeper marine character.
In fig. 2G (150 ft. above base Shuaiba) the first
rudistid sediments appear.

A general regression phase with the

development of a reefoid rudist build-up on
the edge of the algal-coral complex. The
factors controlling rudist colonization are
complex and not fully understood. It is
supposed that a combination of regional and
local factors - position on the 'hinge line'
and an early minor uplift of the Al Huwaisah
structure resulting in a slight bathymetric
high - created an ecologically favourable
environment for rudists along the NW side of
the crest of the structure. The development
of the rudist build-up was an intermittent
process; phases of growth of the build-up,
represented by stacked rudist biostromes,
alternated with phases of breakdown and
erosion of these colonies. During these
repeated erosion phases most of the sediment
that had originally formed as part of the
build-up was eroded and distributed by wave
and current action around the build-up to form
the rudist debris sediments.

The presence of rudist debris sediments, not yet

of the rudist build-up itself, indicates that the top
of the algal-coral complex forms an intraformational
surface with depressions filled with rudist debris
derived from a build-up which started developing on a
ridge of the algal-coral complex along the NW crest
of the field (it has to be kept in mind that these
slice-maps are not isochronous surfaces but solely
show the facies~stribution in space).
In Fig. 2D (175 ft. above base Shuaiba) the
rudist build-up becomes visible in the AH-2 area.
The area covered by rudist debris is at this level
already considerably larger. From this stage the
rudist build-up expanded NE and SW and the rudist
debris sediments encroached over the algal-coral
complex, which shows a thickness increase towards the
SE (Fig. 2E, 225 ft. above base Shuaiba).
124

SPE 11452

A. BAUMANN

In the 'back reef' area of the build-up, patch

reef-like rudist colonies formed locally where
conditions for rudist growth were favourable for
short periods of time. The regression eventually led
to subaerial exposure of the entire Al Huwaisah area,
during which meteoric water leaching enhanced
porosity and permeability of the rudistid rocks and
created small-scale karst features on the erosional
top of the Shuaiba.

geological units largely coincide with reservoir

units and a reservoir-geological model compr~s~ng
five units labelled I through V could be applied.
These units are described below, in order of
decreasing reservoir quality.
Unit I

Rudist build-up. This unit has very good

reservoir properties due to a porosity
system consisting of large intraskeletal
vugs which are interconnected by a network
of microsolution channels and also some
intergranular porosity. Porosity averages
21%, whole core permeability measurements
are in the order of 100 mD.
Permeabilities calculated from pressure
build-up tests are in the range of
500-2000 mO.

Unit II

Rudist debris pack/grainstones. The

reservoir properties of this unit are good
to very good owing to connected
intergranular porosity.
Porosity
average's 19%, whole core permeabilities
vary from a few tens to a few hundreds
mO. Permeabilities calculated from
pressure build-up surveys vary between a
few hundreds and 1200 mD.

Unit III

Rudist debris wackestones. This unit is a

rather poor reservoir with a predominantly
chalky porosity which averages 23%. Whole
core permeabilities amount to a few roD,
permeabilities derived from pressure
build-up tests vary between 20 and 60 mD.

The rudist complex and the algal-coral complex

are probably in part time-equivalent. Whilst the
rudist build-up developed along the NW crest of the
structure, growth of the algal-coral complex
continued in the SE of the field until these areas
also came under the influence of rudist
sedimentation. This provides an explanation for the
general thickness increase of the algal-coral complex
in a SE direction.
Sedimentation patterns similar to the Al Huwaisah
rudist complex can be found on Recent bathymetric
highs in the Arabian Gulf such as the Bu Tini shoal
offshore Abu Dhabi, which consists of a curved reef
complex, a wide belt of bioclastic sands on the fore
reef flank and a more complex sediment pattern with
different types of carbonate sands and muds on the
back reef side (Fig. 3).
Sediment patterns on Recent bathymetric highs
were shown to vary with the regional setting of the
high and also to be related to the diameter of the
build-ups. Larger build-ups show elongate sand
bodies extending from the edges of the reef complex
in a leeward direction and accumulation of muddy
sediments in the central, sheltered back reef part,
whereas smaller build-ups tend to display a more
symmetrical sediment pattern with coarse sand
deposition on both the windward and the leeward side
(Purser, 1973).

In both units II and III reservoir qualities

deteriorate with increasing distance from the
build-up due to gradually changing rock textures
(decreasing average grainsize, increasing mud/grain
ratio). Especially in unit I, a marked discrepancy
between core permeability measurements and values
calculated from pressure build-up tests is observed.
Since no evidence of fissuring/fracturing of the
reservoir exists in the core material, this is
attributed to the marked heterogeneity of the rocks
on a dm scale. The permeability network is probably
too widespaced to be represented by even whole core
sampling.

The grainy rudist debris deposits on the inward

side of the Al Huwaisah build-up were probably mostly
formed at an early stage of the build-up development
when its width was too small to create a sheltered
environment in the 'back reef' area. With increasing
width of the build-up a different sedimentation
pattern developed, characterized by 'tails' of rudist
debris pack/grains tones extending from the edges of
the build-up to the SE and deposition of muddy
sediments in the central 'back reef' part.

Unit IV/V: These units consist of the algal-coral

complex (including its NW lateral
equivalents) and the basal blanket
deposits respectively. Their reservoir
properties are almost identical (average
porosity 19%, average permeability about 1
mD), but they may be distinguished by
their different geometry. Both units are
water-bearing, since the limited oil/water
differential pressure in the reservoir is
not sufficient to overcome the high
capillary entry pressure of the rocks.

The above similarities between the Al Huwaisah

build-Up and Recent carbonate shoals in the Arabian
Gulf encouraged the application of sedimentological
studies in this area to predict the lithofacies types
in three recent wells (40, 41 and 42). In all three
cases the prognosed facies was encountered.
RESERVOIR-GEOLOGICAL MODEL
From the general geological model a
reservoir-geological model was derived by
characterizing the different geological units in
terms of their reservoir properties as evaluated by
petrophysical core analysis. Since most of the
porosity and permeability appears to be related to
the sedimentary texture of the rocks,

A generalized subcrop map of the reservoir units

and a reservoir-geological cross-section are shown in
figs. 4 and 5. The deterioration of reservoir
properties in units II and III towards the flanks is
in the cross-section clearly reflected by the rising
oil water contact (50% Sw) due to capillary effects.

125

APPLICATION OF SEDIMENTOLOGICAL STUDIES IN THE RESERVOIR-GEOLOGICAL

MODELLING OF THE AL RUWAISAH FIELD, OMAN

"4

SPE 11452

Outstep drilling towards the flanks of the

field will be concentrated on the NW flank and
the SW part of the field, which offer much
better prospects (reservoir unit 1/11 rock
types) than the SE part of the field, where
not only poor reservoir rock (unit III type),
but also a higher than average OWC can be
expected.

Figures 6 and 7 show that a good correlation

exists between the reservoir-geological model and
actual well performance data (build-up permeabilities
and productivity indices). An interesting detail is
the rather good performance of wells 12 and 17, which
are located in the poor reservoir unit III. This can
be attributed to the rudist 'patch reefs' encountered
in this area, which are considered to form lens-like
bodies of unit I type reservoir enclosed in reservoir
unit III.

Perforating decisions should be in part guided

by the reservoir unites) penetrated by the
well.

CONCLUSIONS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It has been shown that in the Shuaiba of Ai
Huwaisah several reservoir units with specific, well
established reservoir properties can be distinguished
which largely coincide with geological units and that
these geological units appear to have a fair degree
of predictability. This a~lows an optimisation of
the future development of the field, and the
following conclusions have been arrived at:
-

I am grateful to the Ministry of Petroleum and

Minerals of the Sultanate of Oman and to Petroleum
Development Oman L.L.C. for permission to publish
this paper.
REFERENCES
1. Purser, B.H. : "Sedimentation around
Bathymetric Highs in the Southern Persian
Gulf", In: The Persian Gulf (Ed. B.R. Purser),
pp. 157-177, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

For optimal drainage, infill drilling should

take into consideration the distribution of
the various reservoir units.

NAHR UMR FORMATION

Rudist bUild
packslones I

up

STRATIGRAPHIC
UNITS

Rudist deb"s
pack/grolnslones

RUDIST COMPLEX
and

boundstones
woc kestones

ALGAL - CORAL
Llthocodlum - Stromatoporoidea

COMPLEX

wockestones/pa ck stones/bound stone S

Mlcrobioclastlc wacke stones

~---

BASAL

-- -------------Bac Inella 8au ndstone

-----~

BlAN KE T
DEPOSITS

Foraminiferal - pellelOldal packstones

KHARAIB FORMATION

Fig. 1-Stratigraphy of the Shuaiba formation in

AI Huwaisah.

126

/
/

il

18

23
0

24

41

il

12

14

il

29

42

il
4

16

Cores

L.

10

./

CulllnQ~

3$

/'

35

>II S,dewall somples

il

15

/'

../'

il

:.>

39

32

17

36

4a

il
1

30

19

-~-

13

:!\7

22

--j

tN

13

10

2 B) 100 f1 oboye bose Shuoibo

.fI

HI

2 A) 50 f1 above bose Shuaiba

/'

CUllings

2 km

il S,dewall samples

il Sidewall samples

Cuttin~s

Cullings

2 Ol 175 fl above bose Shuoibo

2 C) 150 fl above bose Shuaibo

tN

tN

Cor

il Sidewall samples

il Sidewall samples

CullinQs

Culling.

2 km

I!!olL"""","!""!!''!'Ii;;;=:=;;;;;j'

2 Fl 300 fl, above bose Shuaibo

2 E) 225 fl, above base Shuoibo

SLICE

BOIol blanke' depoel ..

MAP

LEGEND

. .

Alool- Coral complu

Oe.per marine .quillolentl of

corol complex

01001

Rudie' build-up pock'ton .. 1 bound,lon ..

Rudll' debrla pocll'ton .. /Qroln,ton ..

0,

Rudil' debris wockealon ..

Fig. 2 A - F -Lithofacies distribution at different levels above base Shuaiba,

Coral- algol reef complex

Coral- algol sands
Foraminiferal/algal/ pelletoidal sands and muds

Fig. 3-Sediment types and patterns on Bu Tini

Shoal (simplified from Purser, 1973).

Reservoir unit I<Rudist build-up)

4> av.:'; 21 %, k= 500-2000 mO
Reservoir lIlitn(Rudist debris pkst
grstM) av.=19%, k=200-1200 mO

Reservoir unit (Rudist debris

av.: 23%, k=20-60

wksn4>

Local cells of unitI-type reservoi

enclosed in reservoir unit below
subcrop surface
Direction of reservoir quality
deterioration

211m

Depths in ft. IS.

Fig. 4-Shuaiba structure and reservoir units subcropping base Nahr Umr.

Depth
ft 55

AH-8

AH-5

AH-17

AH-33

AH-16

4600,.~~~~~------------------~~------------~TL----------~~~----------~~-=

4700

4800

4900

!Sooo

=23 %

@
OOmD--~~------1D

III

=19 %, k ~I mD

4>=19%,k""'1.3mD

~100

KHARAIB FM.

0.5

lkm

=-O=-OiiiiiiiiiiOO;;l!'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.......
:::::::J~

1;;;;;;1

!s200~--~---------------------L------------------------------------------------~

Fig. 5-Reservoir-geological cross-section and reservoir units.

LEGEND
Reservoir unit I
Reservoir unit IT
Reservoir unit III
("'--'1
,,_ .../
2km

t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!5iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil'

Local cells of unit I type

reservoir enclosed in unit

:m;

Build-up permeabilities (mOl

(Area of circle"" k)

Fig. 6-Reservoir units and buildup permeabilities.

LEGEND
Reservoir unit I
Reservoir unit II
Reservoir unit

-,J

(_/

m:

Local cell, of unit I type

reservoir enclosed In unitm
Gross productivity indices
(BIOI psi) (Area of circle PI)

Fig. 7-Reservoir units and productivity indices.

('I

))LI-./"