Think Before You Shoot: Planning and Piloting Seismic to Maximize Value - Russkoye Field Case Study

Abstract

Abstract Accurate reservoir models are an important pre-requisite for optimum development of oil and gas fields. In order to build these models good quality input data from well logs and seismic surveys are essential. The integration of these data provides a robust groundwork for generating reliable maps of subsurface structures and credible predictions of reservoir presence and quality distribution. Such well-constrained models can add technical and commercial value when used to generate, evaluate and optimize field development scenarios and production profiles. Many hydrocarbon fields in Russia were discovered back in the 1960-70s and therefore are often short on good quality well and seismic data. Geological and geophysical data (especially well logs) were acquired a relatively long time ago and can no longer meet increasingly rigorous standards essential to support reservoir quality prediction and to maintain and update subsurface models (that integrate geological and seismic information) throughout life of field. It is the quality of this data, however, that drives optimization of well pad drilling, development drilling success rates and better reservoir management on field margins. Key limitations associated with vintage log data are as follows: Logs were traditionally run exclusively over main pay zones without investigating the full length of the wellbore; Limited logging programs with a modest range of log types (commonly missing formation density logs, full-wave sonic logs, etc.); Lack of vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data to accurately tie well and seismic data; Poor quality of well data acquisition and processing.