Abstract
The majority of Permian Rotliegende gas fields in northern Germany are within the Wustrow Member of the Hannover Formation, with field sizes ranging from <5 to 40 billion m[sup 3] of recoverable gas. The Wustrow Member, clastic in origin and 30-45 m thick, is composed of several parasequences and shows a northward facies succession from sandy sabkha with dune-interdune facies to the south to lake shoreline sands, lake muds, and salts to the north. A good correlation exists between primary sedimentary facies and reservoir quality. Sands deposited in the shoreline environment, being clean, reworked, and well sorted, contain the majority of gas reserves found to date. Seismic modeling and development drilling based on good quality three-dimensional (3-D) seismic data have confirmed that seismic amplitude mapping can successfully predict producible reservoirs and sweet spot within the laterally variable shoreline trend. However, environments other than porous and permeable sands can produce similar amplitude anomalies within or in close proximity to the shoreline trend: (1) porous but impermeable sands, (2) salt at stratigraphically higher levels, and (3) volcanics or Carboniferous substratum at or near Wustrow level. Understanding the facies and the various geological causes of amplitude anomalies leads to a better prediction ofmore » the reservoir distribution. Combining a better reservoir prediction model with a hydrocarbon entrapment model, either stratigraphic and/or structural, will significantly enhance future exploration and development success in northern Germany.« less
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call