Seismically Driven Characterization, Simulation and Underbalanced Drilling of Multiple Horizontal Boreholes in a Tight Fractured Quartzite Reservoir: Application to Sabria Field, Tunisia

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes the application of the Continuous Fracture Modeling (CFM) workflow to the Sabria field in Tunisia. This workflow consists of four steps. The first step in the workflow is to interpret key seismic horizons and use them in high resolution inversion and spectral imaging to create impedance and frequency-dependent seismic attributes. The second step consists of building seismically constrained geologic models of lithology and other petrophysical properties. The third step consists of using the derived geologic models along with all the post-stack seismic attributes and additional geomechanical models to derive high resolution 3D fracture models. The fourth step is to use the derived fracture models in a reservoir simulator to verify the validity of the models by their ability to match past individual well performances and to design optimal well trajectories that intercept a large number of fractures and produce economical oil rates. This workflow was applied to the Sabria field in Tunisia and was followed by actual drilling. The seismic attributes and the appropriate geologic and geomechanical models were used as input in REFRACT, a fracture modeling software, to create accurate 3D fracture models. The resulting fracture porosity and permeability were input in a reservoir simulator. All the past individual well performances were matched, confirming the reliability and accuracy of the derived fracture models. The resulting simulation and fracture models were used to plan multiple horizontal boreholes, drilled underbalanced from a single platform. The resulting oil production from the boreholes and the recorded logs confirm the validity of both the fracture and simulation models.