Reconstruction of 3D Reservoir Lithological Model Using 2D Facies Profiles in SU 36-11 Area of Ordos Basin, China

Abstract

In the middle and late stages of gas field development, the establishment of a fine reservoir lithological model is an important basis for drilling well pattern adjustment and potential exploitation. The SU 36-11 area of the Ordos basin in China is developing braided channel sediment with rich gas resources. However, the success rate of drilling wells is low due to the complex reservoir heterogeneity and the lack of a fine reservoir lithological model. In this paper, the complex internal structure of the reservoir sand body is revealed using the architectural element analysis method. Three sand body models, that is, isolated channel, superimposed channel, and cut superimposed channel, can be recognized. The effective sand body is mainly the channel bar deposit with a thickness of 2–5 m, a width of 200–500 m, a length of 400–700 m, a width ratio of 50–120, and a length-to-width ratio of 1.5–2. The 2D maps of the lithofacies (architectural elements) were then digitized to create 2D training images (TI) for the construction of the 3D model. The 2D data template was selected to scan the TI to obtain the 2D multi-point probability. The 3D multi-point probability was then generated using the probability fusion theory. The Monte Carlo sampling was used to predict the lithological type between wells. Finally, the 3D reservoir lithological model was built directly using the 2D lithological profiles. From the model, the geometry of the braided channel, channel bar, and flood plain was well revealed, and the spatial distribution of effective reservoir sand bodies was accurately predicted. The cross-validation test shows that the error of the channel bar is 6.5% on average, which improves the accuracy of the prediction of lithology in the sub-surface and can be used to guide the subsequent development of residual gas.