Technical article: Point bar geometry, connectivity and well test signatures

Abstract

Introduction Many hydrocarbon accumulations are found in fluvial deposits. This has triggered several studies into the morphology of present day and preserved fluvial systems (Carling & Dawson 1996; Martinius 1996). Ideally, these studies require detailed data in three dimensions (Miall & Tyler 1991), which are often not available. A diverse, shallow data set from the Gulf of Thailand, including high resolution 3D seismic, has made it possible to investigate the morphology of several well preserved, recently buried, meandering fluvial systems (Feng 2000; Miall 2002). The shape and internal architecture of three neighbouring point bars found in the Gulf of Thailand data have been interpreted. From these data, a numerical flow simulation model was built. Petrophysical properties were assigned from analogues. The resulting modelled well test signatures of these specific point bars are investigated. Zheng (1997) and Corbett et al. (1998) have previously discussed well testing in isolated meander loop sandstones. Here, the focus will be on lateral connectivity between the point bars.