Tullow Oil Resolves Drilling Uncertainty

in Compartmentalized North Sea Reservoir

Case study: 3D modeling and reservoir simulation enable reservoir engineers
to refine understanding of depositional environment and evaluate drilling options
Challenge Evaluate drilling locations
Determine the flow potential While evaluating drilling locations in the Southern North Sea, Tullow Oil PLC discovered
of a gas reservoir compartment a reservoir sector in which the pressure differed noticeably from the pressure in adjacent
with anomalous pressure rate sectors. Tullow reservoir engineers needed to understand whether this sector had become
as a drilling target, considering compartmentalized by faulting.
the possibility of an isolated To ascertain whether the sector was completely isolated, the Tullow team decided to study
fault block. fault transmissibility and the sand-body architecture. An in-depth analysis was undertaken—
including a sensitivity study on channel orientation and the time frame of deposition—
Solution
to decide whether they needed to drill an additional well to reach this compartment.
Use Petrel* Reservoir Engineering
(RE) and ECLIPSE* reservoir Assess the geological conditions
simulation software to better To better understand the uncertainty in the reservoir description, especially fault transmis-
understand sand-body architec- sibility, Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS) recommended Petrel seismic to simulation
ture and fault transmissibility, and ECLIPSE reservoir simulation software for optimum modeling, analysis, and forecasting.
and to evaluate drilling scenarios.
One hundred sector model scenarios were generated that varied channel orientation,
boundary conditions around the faults, porosity, permeability, and water saturation,
Results
and which were efficiently tested via the flexible, easy-to-use subsurface workflows.
Identified three viable scenarios
from 100 geologic models used
to test the sensitivity of reservoir
properties; evaluated the
effectiveness of development
scenarios; and received approval
for the drilling proposal.

Petrel 3D image of base structure with facies superimposed.

Schlumberger Information Solutions

Case study: 3D modeling and reservoir simulation enable reservoir
engineers to refine understanding of depositional environment
and evaluate drilling options
The comprehensive Petrel modeling workflow (Tullow opted for nested workflows within “Petrel RE increased our
one main workflow) facilitated collaboration among reservoir engineers, geologists, confidence that we would
and geophysicists by allowing them to easily interact with static and dynamic data,
drill a successful well
integrate their domain-specific knowledge, and draw final conclusions to expedite
decision making. in a questionable sector.
It was really fantastic
Zero in on the best possibilities
The rapid history-matching features of Petrel RE and ECLIPSE software dramatically having a user-friendly tool
reduced the number of possibilities, providing three viable models that would form the basis with which to forecast
of Tullow’s development plans. and play different develop-
ment scenarios.”

Alex Kirsch
Reservoir Engineer
Tullow Oil Company

Visualization of facies variation in matched models.

The ability to reduce uncertainty and make accurate predictions based on the three viable
geological realizations increased Tullow reservoir engineers’ confidence that they could
drill a successful well in this compartment. The next step was to evaluate development
plans, including options to drill horizontal or straight holes. Using the Petrel Reservoir
Engineering/ECLIPSE workflow, they were able to evaluate a number of development
scenarios, visualize well locations, evaluate projected production results, reposition the
wells, and retest.

As a result, the team confidently submitted a well proposal and obtained the necessary
approvals to move forward with a development plan designed to effectively drain the
isolated compartment.

SCHLUMBERGER INFORMATION SOLUTIONS

Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS) is an operating unit of Schlumberger that
provides software, information management, IT infrastructure, and consulting services.
SIS enables oil and gas companies to achieve breakthrough team performance, unlocking
the potential of E&P teams to step-change their effectiveness and productivity. Through our
technologies and services, oil and gas companies can drive business performance and realize
the potential of the digital oil field.

E-mail sisinfo@slb.com or contact your local Schlumberger representative to learn more. www.slb.com/sis
­
*Mark of Schlumberger
Other company, product, and service names
are the properties of their respective owners.
Copyright © 2008 Schlumberger. All rights reserved. 08-IS-111