Innovative 3D modeling of an old oil field for sustainable production: Case study of Katin-Barbes oil field (KBOF), SE Anatolia- Turkey

Abstract

The goal of this study is to establish a workflow for the re-interpretation of almost depleted fields targeting the long-term sustainable oil production; in particular, for the oil fields in Turkey and the neighboring Middle Eastern countries located on the fold and thrust belts of the Zagros Mountains. It also fills some of the gaps in our understanding of the northern part of the Arabian Platform by describing the seismic characteristics of the Cretaceous reservoirs that were deposited during the Aptian to Turonian. The Katin-Barbes oil field (KBOF) in SE-Turkey was used as a case study. In this area, 3D seismic data were used for structural interpretation and re-modeling of Cretaceous carbonates sedimented in the complex tectonic region. The well logs from 55 wells in the field were used to create a compilation of formation tops and were used as reference points for two separate sets of 3-D seismic data, acquired in 1991 and 2017. The quality of seismic data was improved with interpretation filters. The structural model was obtained by using various qualifiers from the seismic cubes and seismic facies changes were identified by analyzing a number of seismic attributes. Therefore, seismic data and velocities from the borehole measurements were combined to form a velocity model in building a structural model. Seismic attributes and well logs were used to create a porosity model. Consequently, top and base of two reservoir units; the Derdere and Sabunsuyu Formations have been clarified and re-defined, and potential new well locations were identified. Depending on the results of this investigation, 9 new wells were drilled in the potential areas in the KBOF, recently. Except the last one drilled on the NE boundary of the northern block, all wells have been completed as the “oil producing wells” and top of the reservoir units were encountered at almost the same depths in our depth model. Therefore, results and proposed methods in this research are confirmed by the real, borehole data. This research will be an examplary study for the re-evaluation of older and/or almost depleted oil fields, either in Turkey or in the other Middle Eastern countries.