Pore Pressure Prediction of a Field in Southwestern Part of the Malay Basin: A Basin Modeling Approach

Abstract

Pore pressure prediction has become crucial in various stages of frontier exploration, development, exploitation and drilling. Various methods are commonly used in predicting formation pore pressure, for example by using seismic velocity, wireline log-based pore pressure prediction, and geomechanics study. Basin modeling is an emerging approach in predicting pore pressure. Thus the development of a pore pressure prediction workflow using basin modeling provides an alternative approach. This project demonstrates a case study on the application of basin modeling for pore pressure prediction in the southwestern part of the Malay Basin. This study involves 1D, 2D and 3D basin modeling to evaluate the pressure distribution and behaviour. This study also considers the role of faults in controlling pressure distribution. Therefore, several faults have been incorporated into the 3D model. Lithology variations also occur, perhaps controlling the various pressure profiles. It is believed that both faults and facies control the pressure distribution. The pressure evaluation in this project was carried out mainly from 2D simulation. Porosity and permeability calibration was carried out to match the measured pressure data to the model. The final results of 2D simulation show a good calibration between the measured data and the model.