Workflows for near-field exploration

Abstract

In 2018, a near-field exploration (NFE) prospect was drilled as part of a six-well infill campaign in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico Auger field. With its inclusion in the middle of an active infill drilling campaign, this well differed in scope from a typical NFE well. A limited time frame existed to appraise the results and form a completion strategy. The subsurface team developed three workflows that allowed for the rapid appraisal of predrill and postdrill volumetrics in conjunction with a flexible well design that led to the successful drilling of this prospect. The first workflow consisted of two steps. We first calculated in-place volumetrics by transposing multiple analog stratigraphies and properties into the prospect area. We then created a fine-scale 3D reservoir model to be used for estimated ultimate recovery. We built this model to be flexible enough to take in the real-time well results without necessitating a complete model rebuild and also used it in the third workflow. We then established the minimum amount of net sand needed to merit a completion in the second workflow through a scenario testing process that enabled efficient decision-making during drilling operations. In the final workflow, we integrated the real-time results with the initial reservoir model to test different completion scenarios. These three workflows and strategies are not unique to the Auger field, and they can easily be implemented or adapted to NFE prospects in other mature fields.