Structural Investigation for Locating Petroleum Reservoirs Using Geoinformatics in Meyal, Potwar Region, Pakistan

Reflection Seismology technique (Seismic Survey) is widely used around the world to produce a detailed analogue image of subsurface geological structures. This information is used by petroleum experts to accurately plan the location of oil wells. Seismic survey sections and corresponding well logs exhibit different variables like acoustic impedance of rock, seismic velocity, rock density, porosity, time and depth that can be manipulated in GIS to infer a subsurface model for stratigraphic as well as structural interpretations. In recent years, GIS has emerged as a powerful analytical tool for subsurface mapping and analysis. Petroleum exploration is a map intensive process that requires the powerful capabilities of GIS. Purpose of this research is integration of Geographical Information System with Seismic Surveys for Structural and Stratigraphic Interpretation of subsurface Geology and locating Petroleum Prospects. In this research work, GIS has been used to investigate subsurface geological structures and stratigraphy to carefully analyze the capabilities of GIS for finding new petroleum prospects in active thrust belt of Meyal, Potwar region, Pakistan. Acquisition of two-dip and three-strike seismic lines is along with well log data, followed by spatial seismic data processing, development of geophysical data management interface, interpolation of shot point data, trend surface analysis and Geostatistical analysis using GIS. Subsurface zones of high, low or null probability of petroleum accumulation were then, mapped. Finally, GIS based maps were developed. Geospatial tomography GIS model inferred that study area is structurally deformed and exhibits excessive geological faults, and structural traps. With GIS-tomography interpretation of section 97-MYL-08, a potential oil bearing zone (popup anticline), bounded by two thrust faults was observed at almost 3.6 Km depth in Meyal area with average density of about 2.6 gm/cm3. Thrust fault recognized from sharp discontinuity in GIS based survey raster was encountered at 2.9 Km depth. Structure contour map was developed. It depicted that Chorgali formation (dolomitic limestone) at 3.68 Km depth was proven to be reservoir rock in study area. GIS has proved to be a powerful and efficient subsurface modeling and analytical tool and it should be integrated with survey based studies for exploration of oil and gas and investigation of subsurface geological structures.

Evaluating reservoir suitability for large-scale hydrogen storage:A preliminary assessment considering reservoir properties

With rising demand for clean energy,global focus turns to finding ideal sites for large-scale underground hydrogen storage(UHS)in depleted petroleum reservoirs.A thorough preliminary reservoir evaluation before hydrogen(H_(2))injection is crucial for UHS success and safety.Recent criteria for UHS often emphasize economics and chemistry,neglecting key reservoir attributes.This study introduces a comprehensive framework for the reservoir-scale preliminary assessment,specifically tailored for long-term H_(2) storage within depleted gas reservoirs.The evaluation criteria encompass critical components,including reservoir geometry,petrophysical properties,tectonics,and formation fluids.To illustrate the practical application of this approach,we assess the Barnett shale play reservoir parameters.The assessment unfolds through three key stages:(1)A systematic evaluation of the reservoir's properties against our comprehensive screening criteria determines its suitability for H_(2) storage.(2)Using both homogeneous and multilayered gas reservoir models,we explore the feasibility and efficiency of H_(2) storage.This phase involves an in-depth examination of reservoir behavior during the injection stage.(3)To enhance understanding of UHS performance,sensitivity analyses investigate the impact of varying reservoir dimensions and injection/production pressures.The findings reveal the following:(a)Despite potential challenges associated with reservoir compaction and aquifer support,the reservoir exhibits substantial promise as an H_(2) storage site.(b)Notably,a pronounced increase in reservoir pressure manifests during the injection stage,particularly in homogeneous reservoirs.(c)Furthermore,optimizing injection-extraction cycle efficiency can be achieved by augmenting reservoir dimensions while maintaining a consistent thickness.To ensure a smooth transition to implementation,further comprehensive investigations are advised,including experimental and numerical studies to address injectivity concerns and explore storage site development.This evaluation framework is a valuable tool for assessing the potential of depleted gas reservoirs for large-scale hydrogen storage,advancing global eco-friendly energy systems.

Corrosion and Scaling Threat in Upstream Oil Operation

Corrosiveness or scaling is an inherent threat to oil operations. The primary cause for this threat is the presence of water having complex geochemical matrix. Unanticipated water production, particularly if it contains unwanted impurities, can significantly impact hydrocarbon production. The current paper discusses the degree of threat posed to oil operation facilities based on the water characteristics. Methodology involved the collection and analysis of water samples from major sources in oil industry such as groundwater, wellheads and seawater. The parameters tested include geochemical, microbiological and pollutants. The lab data was used to develop scaling and corrosion prediction indices such as Langelier Saturation Index (LSI), Ryznar Stability Index (RSI) and Puckorius Scaling Index (PSI). The study indicated varying water chemistry for different sources. Mixing of those waters may lead to ionic saturation and scaling in different facilities. Presence of the SRB and GAB in some water sources also posed threat to water system by forming fouling and corrosion. Seawater used for offshore oilfields water injection to maintain reservoir pressure and improve oil recovery showed scaling tendency, whereas under different reservoir pressure, it can cause corrosion. Some of the samples also had corrosion residuals such as iron, which indicated active corrosion. Current study showed higher alkalinity with high sulfate for one groundwater sample with presence of active corrosion residuals such as dissolved iron and manganese. The study showed positive value for LSI which indicated supersaturation of the water samples with respect to calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and scale forming. Similarly, for RSI and PSI, the value was below six which confirmed the scaling potential for all the samples. Even though the index value was pointing towards scaling potential, the geochemistry, microbiology and presence of other impurities indicated corrosion threat to the oil and gas industrial facilities. The study concluded the importance of different scale inhibition mechanism and corrosion control in Oil and Gas industry.

Development of re-crosslinkable dispersed particle gels for conformance improvement in extremely high-temperature reservoirs

Micro-scale and nano-scale dispersed gel particles(DPG)are capable of deep migration in oil reservoirs due to their deformability,viscoelasticity,and suitable particle size.Therefore,it has been widely studied and applied in reservoir conformance control in recent years.However,for highly permeable channels,their plugging performance is still limited.In addition,conventional in situ cross-linked polymer gels(ISCPGs)have fast gelation time under extremely high-temperature conditions,which often causes problems such as difficulty in pumping.Therefore,a re-cross linkable dispersed particle gel(RDPG)system applied for conformance control in highly permeable channels of extremely high-temperature petroleum reservoirs was investigated.The particle size distribution,gelation time,gel strength,injection performance,and perfo rmance strength in po rous media were investigated using a laser particle size meter,the Sydansk bottle test method,rheometer,and core displacement experiments,respectively.Results show that the RDPG suspension can be stable for more than 6 months at room temperature with storage modulus G’much lower than 10 Pa.It can pass through the pore throat by elastic deformation effect and does not cause strong blockage.Moreover,it can undergo re-crosslinking reaction at 150℃to form a strong bulk gel.The gel strength G’of re-crosslinked RDPG can be as high as 69.3 Pa,which meets the strength requirement of conformance control.The RDPG suspension has the properties of easy injection,and it also has strong plugging,and high-temperature resistance after re-crosslinked in the core,which can be a very promising material for conformance improvement in extremely high-temperature reservoirs.

Produced Water Geochemistry from an Upstream Oil Operation

Oil and gas industries generate a significant amount of water during the production. The composition of this water varies with the geologic age, depth, and geochemistry of the region along with the chemicals added during the process. Geochemistry of formation water is used for aquifer identification, pollution problems, water compatibility studies, corrosion monitoring, water-quality control, water flooding, exploration, and to diagnose wellbore integrity issues. The current study investigates the spatial and temporal variation of produced water geochemistry from one of the largest conventional oil field, Ghawar field, Saudi Arabia. Produced water from different wellheads were collected and analyzed for different geochemical characteristics. Sixteen wells from ABQQ, nineteen wells from ANDR and twenty wells from SDGM area were selected for the current study. Sampling and analysis were performed as per the standard procedures. Results indicated that the pH of the sample varied from 6.0 to 7.4, and Electrical conductivity from 94200 to 102690 μS/cm. The spatial variation of major cations and anions were also recorded and represented by graphical plots. Metal analysis indicated the highest concentration for boron, which is 20.5 mg/L at ABQQ area, whereas all other metals are very low in concentration. Temporal variation of a single well at SDGM area indicated drastic change in the ionic concentration, whereas the geochemistry remains same as indicated by Tickler plot. The water type of the respective area was studied by tickler plots, which indicated same source of formation water in different wells at ABQQ, ANDR and SDGM areas. The ionic concentration is also used to predict corrosion and scaling issues. By Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) and Ryznar Stability Index (RSI), the sample from all the wells showed higher scaling potential. The study concludes that the water type in different areas under Ghawar field remains same regardless of drastic changes in the ionic concentration, which can be used to diagnose wellbore integrity issues.

Comprehensive analysis of CBM recovery in high rank coal reservoir of Jincheng area

Coalbed methane (CBM) predicting recovery in high rank coal reservoir varies greatly in Jincheng area and it seriously influences efficient and economic exploitation of CBM resource. In order to predict more accurate CBM recovery, we conducted history matching and productivity prediction of vertical well by using COMET 3 reservoir modeling software, innovatively adopted the gas desorption experiment of bulk coal at fixed test pressure, analyzed the recovery extent method of Daning multiple-hole horizontal well and Panzhuang well group, and calculated recovery by sorption isotherm method of 14 vertical CBM wells at the abandonment pressures 1.0, 0.7, 0.5 and 0.3 MPa, respectively. The results show that the reservoir simulation methods (numerical simulation method and the recovery extent method) is more reliable than the theoretical analysis of coal sample (sorption isotherm method and desorption experiment method). Also, desorption experiment method at fixed pressure is superior to sorption isotherm method. Through the comprehensive analysis and linear correction, CBM recovery ratios in high rank coal reservoir of Jincheng area were found to be 38.64%, 49.30%, 59.30%, and 69.20% at the abandonment pressures 1.0, 0.7, 0.5 and 0.3 MPa, respectively. The research results are of significant importance in the CBM exploration and development in Jincheng area.

Sinian hydrocarbon accumulation conditions and exploration potential at the northwest margin of the Yangtze region, China

Based on outcrop, drilling, logging and seismic data, the reservoir forming conditions, reservoir forming model and exploration potential of the ultra-deep Sinian Dengying Formation at the northwest margin of Yangtze craton region were examined.(1) This area is in craton rifting stage from Sinian to Early Cambrian, characterized by syn-sedimentary faults and rapid subsidence, significant sedimentary differences, and development of Dengying Formation platform margins on both sides of the rift.(2) The Sinian–Cambrian in this area has two sets of high-quality source rocks, Doushantuo Formation and Maidiping-Qiongzhusi Formation;of which, the latter has a thickness of 150–600 m and hydrocarbon generation intensity of(100-200)×10;m;/km;.(3) The mounds and shoals in the platform margin of Sinian Dengying Formation controlled by faults are thick and distributed in rows and zones;they are reformed by contemporaneous–quasi-contemporaneous and supergene karstification jointly, forming pore-type reservoirs with a thickness of 200-400 m.(4) The two sets of source rocks enter oil generation windows from Permian to Early Triassic, and the oil migrates a short distance to the lithologic traps of mounds and shoals to form a huge scale paleo-oil reservoir group;from Late Triassic to Jurassic, the oil in the paleo-oil reservoirs is cracked into gas, laying the foundation of present natural gas reservoirs.(5) The mound-shoal body at the platform margin of Dengying Formation and the two sets of high-quality source rocks combine into several types of favorable source-reservoir combinations, which, with the advantage of near-source and high-efficiency reservoir formation, and can form large lithologic gas reservoirs. The Mianyang-Jiange area is a potential large gas field with trillion cubic meters of reserves. According to seismic prediction, the Laoguanmiao structure in this area has the Deng-2 Member mound-shoal reservoir of about 1300 km^(2), making it a ultra-deep target worthy of exploration in the near future.

Accumulation conditions of outside source heavy oil in NepaBotuoba Sub-basin,Russia and prediction of distribution

In terms of tectonic evolution and petroleum geological conditions of the Nepa-Botuoba Sub-basin and its adjacent su4b-basins,the accumulation conditions of the heavy oil were analyzed. The studied area had plenty of oil and gas accumulation,but there were no developed source rocks. It is a typical outside source accumulation,whose origins from thick high-quality source rock deposited in the adjacent sub-basins. The shallow layer has favorable heavy oil reservoir conditions and poor sealing conditions,which benefits the thickening of hydrocarbon. The multi-periods of structural compression not only uplifted the studied area drastically,but also created a series of fault zones and large-scale slope belt. The structural compression also provided channel and sufficient power for migration of hydrocarbon to shallow layers. Based on these conditions,the favorable accumulation zone of heavy oil was predicted,which provided direction for heavy oil exploration in Nepa-Botuoba Subbasin.

Petroleum accumulation:from the continuous to discontinuous

Based on the extensive studies of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon accumulations,the concept,classification and formation as well as distribution of petroleum reservoirs are discussed.The revised concept defined the petroleum reservoir as a continuous hydrocarbon accumulation in a single or a set of reservoirs with an independent or uniform pressure system.In terms of the pattern of hydrocarbon accumulation and distribution,the hydrocarbon accumulations are classified into three basic types,i.e.,the continuous accumulation,the quasi-continuous accumulation and the discontinuous accumulation.The hydrocarbon accumulation was demonstrated as a process from continuous accumulation to discontinuous accumulation,and therefore these three basic types of hydrocarbon accumulations were identified.The continuous hydrocarbon accumulation is principally formed in source rocks,and typical examples are shale hydrocarbon reservoirs and coal-bed methane reservoirs;it is mainly characterized by tight-ultra tight reservoirs with permeability of nanodarcy to millidarcy;the hydrocarbons occurred in free,adsorbed or dissolved state;a continuous accumulation comprises actually only a single reservoir,and hydrocarbons are extensively and continuously distributed within the scope of effective source rocks;the accumulation has neither defined boundaries nor bottom or edge water;oil and gas mainly accumulate in situ or near the generation of hydrocarbons with no prominent migration;this hydrocarbon accumulation process is basically not controlled by traps.The quasicontinuous hydrocarbon accumulation mostly occurs in the tight reservoirs adjacent to source rocks,and typical examples are most of tight hydrocarbon reservoirs;the hydrocarbons are distributed quasicontinuously in large areas,and each quasi-continuous hydrocarbon accumulation includes numerous adjacent small-to medium-size reservoirs;reservoirs of this kind of hydrocarbon accumulation have no defined boundaries,no or only local edge and bottom water distribution,and no regional oil-gas-water inversion;hydrocarbons are pervasively charged in large areas,and oil and gas accumulation is caused by primary migration and short-distance secondary migration;the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation is principally driven by non-buoyant forces in non-Darcy flow;and the hydrocarbon accumulation is basically not controlled by anticline traps,but largely by non-anticline traps,especially lithological traps.The discontinuous hydrocarbon accumulation is also named as the hydrocarbon accumulation of the conventional-trap type,and typically occurs in conventional reservoirs,but some tight hydrocarbon reservoirs,coalbed methane reservoirs and even possible shale hydrocarbon reservoirs also belong to this kind of hydrocarbon accumulation;the hydrocarbon reservoirs are distributed discontinuously,and have clear boundaries and complete edge water or bottom water;the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation is mainly driven by buoyancy and secondary migration is usually indispensable;the hydrocarbon accumulation is strictly controlled by various traps,especially structural traps.In a petroliferous basin,above three types of hydrocarbon accumulation may coexist,andhydrocarbons are often derived from a common source kitchen(s).Therefore,these three types of hydrocarbon accumulation should be considered and studied as a whole to maximize hydrocarbon exploration efficiencvy.