World-class training for the modern energy industry

Division: Oil and Gas

Uncertainty and Risk in Development: Quantifying Subsurface Risk and Uncertainty for Producing Assets (G038)

Tutor(s)

Mark Bentley or Mark Cook: TRACS International Consultancy.

Overview

The quantification of risk and uncertainty is often discussed in the context of exploration and appraisal, yet most of the upstream E&P business concerns decision-making in producing assets. Handling uncertainty in development and production must deal with a growing and often imperfect production database, against a backdrop of constantly changing circumstances. As the life cycle progresses, initial uncertainties over volume and productivity narrow but are supplanted by new uncertainties, such as sweep efficiency, fine scale architecture and changing responses to new production mechanisms and techniques. These new issues demand a change in approach for the quantification of uncertainty, and vigilance is required to avoid the subsurface interpretation simply collapsing to a best guess. This short, focused workshop explores the key aspects required to manage subsurface uncertainties and associated risks during the producing field life, in terms of people, tools and approach. It will close with a set of questions to ask yourself and others, suitable for reference in informal personal or team reviews, peer reviews and peer assists.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 1-day course comprising a mix of lectures, case studies and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Two 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over 2 days. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course. Some reading and several exercises are to be completed by participants off-line.

Level and Audience

Advanced. Designed for geoscientists, reservoir engineers, petrophysicists, well technologists, team leaders and management involved in the quantification of risk and uncertainty in fields under development or in production. The class will provide an opportunity for learning, inspiration and discussion with other modelers.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Resolve misunderstandings over definitions in risk and uncertainty.
  2. Understand the key differences between uncertainty and risk in development, compared to exploration and appraisal.
  3. Explain and mitigate common errors in handling probability.
  4. Describe workflows for handling risk and uncertainty in development decisions.
  5. Account for the impact of cognitive bias in E&P, and what to do about it.

Reservoir Engineering Fundamentals: The Essentials in a Day (G037)

Tutor(s)

Mark Cook: Associate Reservoir Engineer at TRACS International Consultancy and Independent Engineer at Delta-T Energy Consultancy.

Overview

Have you been on reservoir engineering classes in the past, heard the terms, seen the equations but not used any of it directly yourself? Would you like someone to run over the basics and just pick out the essentials, the parts everyone really needs to know? This short, focused class is designed to explain how reservoir engineers make subsurface interpretations, use these to build models to make forecasts and use these in turn to influence significant investment decisions. The course will cover what types of models the reservoir engineer uses, from simple analytical (graphical and spreadsheet) tools to more complex numerical simulators. It will put in context the key fundamentals of rock and fluid properties, reservoir deliverability, well performance and process design. The course will also illustrate how these fundamentals and the commercial E&P context place constraints on forecasts, and why a significant associated range of uncertainty results. This will be done in plain language accessible to those working outside reservoir engineering with the aim of giving you what you need to know to understand the subject – just the essential details.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 1-day classroom course comprising a combination of lectures and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants should bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Two 4.5-hour interactive online sessions presented over 2 days. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course. Some reading and several exercises are to be completed by participants off-line.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. Designed for those who interface with reservoir engineering professionals and need to understand the language, techniques and assumptions they make in forecasting reservoir performance under various development schemes. The class will provide an opportunity for learning, inspiration and discussion.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Understand the principles of fluid flow in porous media (reservoirs).
  2. Recognize how fluid properties influence reservoir, well and processing performance.
  3. Distinguish the benefits and limitations of well testing.
  4. Understand how engineers decide on reservoir development methods, predict recovery factors and production profiles for oil and gas reservoirs.
  5. Appreciate that not all reservoir models need to be complex and understand when simple models suffice and when complex numerical simulation models are justifiable.
  6. Recognize tools used for reservoir monitoring and standards for reporting reserves.

How to Make a Good Reservoir Model: It’s Not the Software, It’s the Design (G036)

Tutor(s)

Mark Bentley: TRACS International Consultancy and Langdale Geoscience.

Overview

How can you tell the difference between a ‘good’ reservoir model and a ‘bad’ one? This short, focused class is designed to draw out the common reasons for ‘good’ and ‘bad’ outcomes, under the premise that models add value only when they add clear value to business decisions. The theme throughout the event will be the overriding issue of model design and the five areas of common error: model purpose; selection of elements; use of determinism and probability; model scale; and uncertainty handling. Advice will be given on how to review models, what questions to ask the model builders, and how to determine whether the output from models can be relied upon and used to support decisions. The course will close with a set of questions to ask yourself and others, suitable for reference in peer reviews or assists.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 1-day course comprising a mix of lectures, case studies and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Two 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over 2 days. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course. Some reading and several exercises are to be completed by participants off-line.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. Designed for people who want an update or refresh on working with reservoir models without having to spend a week out of the office. The class will provide an opportunity for learning, inspiration and discussion with other modelers.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Explain the common causative factors for modelling ‘disappointments’.
  2. Define model purpose and explain the use of framing.
  3. Understand the fluid sensitivity to selection of model elements.
  4. Describe techniques for handling small-scale detail in large models.
  5. Be able to select between techniques for quantifying uncertainty.
  6. Implement QC tips to evaluate your (and other people’s) models.

Characterization, Modeling, Simulation and Development Planning in Deepwater Clastic Reservoirs, Tabernas, Spain (G076)

Tutor(s)

Mark Bentley: TRACS International Consultancy and Langdale Geoscience.

Overview

This course is led by a production geologist and reservoir engineer involved in deepwater reservoir development, and is presented as a practical reservoir discussion rather than purely a traditional geological field trip. The objective of this field course is to explore the reservoir modelling and petroleum engineering aspects of deepwater clastic reservoirs. The discussions highlight the linkage from depositional processes to geological architecture and flow heterogeneity in development planning. The Tabernas outcrops are very well exposed and offer examples of sand-rich and debris-flow-dominated reservoirs, high net:gross fan systems and classic mud-dominated facies. In particular, they give excellent insights into the reservoir heterogeneities occurring within apparently continuous ‘sand lobes’ and major channels.

Duration and Logistics

A 7-day field course based in Almeria, Spain, comprising a mix of field activities and exercises. Transport will be by SUV on paved roads and unpaved tracks.

Level and Audience

Advanced. The course is largely aimed at geologists and reservoir engineers working on deepwater developments. The course is best suited to multidisciplinary team of geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists and reservoir engineers.

Exertion Level

This class requires a MODERATE exertion level. There will be multiple walks of up to 1km (0.5 mile) most days. The longest walk of the class is approximately 2km (1 mile), with an ascent (and descent) of 75m (245 ft). The field area is in Europe’s only desert region and participants should expect high temperatures and an arid working environment. Participants should also be prepared for sudden and heavy rain showers.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Assess the genetic processes that produce slumps, slides, debrites and high/low density turbidites, and explain why the concept of confinement underpins the description of heterogeneity in deepwater clastic systems.
  2. Evaluate the extent to which pay is under-/over-estimated in mud-rich/sand-rich systems, respectively, and the resulting errors in STOIIP and PI estimation.
  3. Organise a detailed sedimentological description into key reservoir elements and build an architectural model using those elements.
  4. Assess the basic principle of flow in porous media (Darcy) and describe how flow heterogeneity varies in layered and amalgamated clastic systems.
  5. Appraise the contrasting heterogeneities in sand- and mud-rich systems and determine how much detail is required in a reservoir description based on a consideration of fluid type and production mechanism.
  6. Evaluate how kv/kh impacts recovery in typical deepwater clastic architectures; optimally locate a well to optimize sweep for a range of architectural cases.
  7. Judge length scale variations for a typical deepwater clastic system, and discuss how this would be handled in a reservoir modelling and simulation context.

The Essentials of Rock Physics and Seismic Amplitude Interpretation (G075)

Tutor(s)

Eleanor Oldham: Senior Geophysicist, Merlin Energy Resources.

Overview

This course introduces participants to the principles, workflows and limitations of interpreting seismic data using rock physics. The principal topics to be covered include how AVO works, what should the interpreter expect, rock physics inputs for seismic models, rock properties from seismic and rock physics in prospect risking.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 4-day in-person course, comprising a mix of lectures and interactive learning through worked Excel examples. The course manual will be provided in digital format.

Virtual version: Eight 3-hour live online sessions presented over 8 days, comprising a mix of lectures and interactive learning through worked Excel examples. The course manual will be provided in digital format.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. The course is largely aimed at geoscientists, reservoir engineers and petrophysicists wanting an introduction to the subject of rock physics and seismic amplitude interpretation.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  • Construct a simple AVO model and apply it to seismic interpretation in different AVO settings.
  • Illustrate the characteristics of seismic wavelets and approaches to synthetic well ties with reference to models.
  • Demonstrate the use of rock physics for seismic modelling and Gassmann’s equation in fluid substitution.
  • Tackle a variety of rock physics issues, including fluid substitution in shaly and laminated sands, modelling of tight sands and log editing.
  • Differentiate AVO techniques and practical AVO issues, including the potential for interpretation ambiguity and data quality.
  • Apply band limited impedance with respect to net pay prediction and their limitations.
  • Implement the use of Bayesian update to evaluate probability in inversion and risking.

Seismic Processing Workflows (G072)

Tutor(s)

Rob Hardy: Director, Tonnta Energy Limited.

Overview

This course will provide participants with the skills needed to liaise with specialists and implement workflows for seismic data acquisition and processing. Using modern case histories and basic theory, the course covers fundamentals, established workflows and advanced technology. Participants will use interactive processing tools to improve their understanding of the latest techniques and learn how to apply them effectively and efficiently to meet their objectives.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 3-day in-person course, comprising a mix of lectures with examples (90%), laptop-based exercises and discussion (10%). The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Six 3-hour interactive online sessions presented over 6 days, comprising a mix of lectures, discussion and interactive exercises using case histories to illustrate the basic theory and impact of the techniques discussed. The participants will use a series of web-based software modules to experience the processing options available and learn how to combine the basic tools together to build a flow which meets objectives. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course. Some reading and several exercises are to be completed by participants off-line.

Level and Audience

Intermediate. This course is aimed at geoscientists seeking an overview of seismic acquisition techniques and processing methods, and those who wish to liaise effectively with specialists to improve their decision making and deliver objectives. A geophysics refresher is provided but it is helpful if participants have a basic knowledge of seismic acquisition and processing terminology and are actively working with seismic data.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Compare the most common seismic acquisition and processing techniques used in seismic exploration and production, and become more proficient in the terminology used to describe them.
  2. Establish how survey design, earth model building and selection of migration algorithm can affect accuracy of interpretation in depth.
  3. Optimize the impact of seismic processing parameter selection for specific objectives such as amplitude interpretation for exploration and reservoir characterization.
  4. Demonstrate a typical seismic processing workflow covering data preparation, parameterization, noise and multiple suppression, velocity model building, and the imaging process, discussing likely issues at each step.
  5. Compare newer acquisition and processing techniques alongside their potential benefits and pitfalls.
  6. Liaise effectively with specialists, develop workflows and optimize decisions based on quality and cost.

Fundamentals of Seismic Processing (G071)

Tutor(s)

Rob Hardy: Director, Tonnta Energy Limited.

Overview

This course will provide participants with fundamentals needed to liaise with specialists and discuss workflows for seismic data acquisition and processing. Using modern case histories and basic theory, the course covers fundamentals, established workflows and advanced technology. Participants will use interactive processing tools to improve their understanding of the latest techniques, learn how to apply them effectively and efficiently to meet their objectives.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 2-day in-person course, comprising a mix of lectures with examples (90%), laptop-based exercises and discussion (10%). The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Four 3-hour interactive online sessions presented over 4 days, comprising lectures, discussion and interactive exercises using case histories to illustrate the basic theory and impact of the techniques discussed. The participants will use a series of web-based software modules to experience the processing options available and learn how to combine the basic tools to build a flow which meets objectives. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course. Some reading and several exercises are to be completed by participants off-line.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. This course is aimed at geoscientists who wish to understand the fundamentals of seismic acquisition techniques and processing methods and to aid more effective liaison with specialists. We start from first principles, but it is helpful if participants have a basic knowledge of seismic acquisition and processing terminology and are actively working with seismic data.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Discuss the most common seismic acquisition and processing techniques used in seismic exploration and production, and become more proficient in the terminology used to describe them.
  2. Outline how survey design, earth model building and selection of migration algorithm can affect accuracy of interpretation in depth.
  3. Recognize seismic processing parameter selection for specific objectives, such as amplitude interpretation for exploration and reservoir characterization.
  4. Discuss a typical seismic processing workflow covering data preparation, parameterization, noise and multiple suppression, velocity model building and the imaging process.
  5. Become aware of newer acquisition and processing techniques alongside their potential benefits and pitfalls.

Introduction to Subsurface Pressures (G085)

Tutor(s)

Richard Swarbrick: Manager, Swarbrick GeoPressure.

Overview

This course introduces attendees to subsurface fracture pressures and fluid pressures, their relevance to subsurface phenomena and assessing risk in deep boreholes. An understanding of pressure is critical for subsurface industries including oil/gas exploitation, carbon sequestration, geothermal energy, waste disposal and hydrogeology, as well as surface aspects such as slope failure. The course teaches the details of what data can be collected and how it can be visualized and interpreted, underpinning more detailed geological and engineering studies.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 2-day course comprising a mix of lectures, case studies and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures and exercises.

Virtual version: Four 3.5-hour interactive online sessions presented over 4 days. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course. The course is rich in exercise material to build up participants’ understanding and confidence in a variety of techniques.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. Intended for all hydrologists, geologists, geophysicists and geomechanical and reservoir engineers. Knowledge of subsurface geology is not required but would be an advantage. Highly relevant to all who are studying the subsurface and especially those engaged in deep drilling and storage.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Understand how fluid pressure and fracture pressure are relevant to subsurface geology.
  2. Evaluate the types of pressure data and measurements possible in the subsurface.
  3. Create plots and maps of pressure data to solve subsurface puzzles (e.g. compartmentalization of reservoirs; distinguishing between hydrodynamic vs hydrostatic flow conditions; and recognition of abnormal pressures).
  4. Appreciate the link between fluid pressure and fracture pressure, and appropriate coupling values.
  5. Recognize how and where pressure data relate to specific events (e.g. slope failure; surface fluid release phenomena; earthquakes and other ground movements).

Prospect Generation, Assessment and Risking (G026)

Tutor(s)

Rene Jonk: Director, ACT-Geo Consulting and Training; Honorary Professor, University of Aberdeen.

Overview

This hands-on course enables attendees to enhance their mapping skills and their critical evaluation of prospects. This course demonstrates how to use play fairway mapping and petroleum system analyses to identify plays and prospects with high potential, even in areas with limited data. Once participants identify prospects, the course outlines how to derive geologically map based, objective inputs for prospect assessment and risking. This stepwise approach creates well-documented results that are used to confidently rank opportunities and make smart business decisions.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: 5 days; a mix of classroom lectures and discussion and exercises. The manual will be provided in digital format and participants will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to follow the lectures.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. This course is intended for early career geoscientists, reservoir engineers and petrophysicists.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Recall play element definitions and hone mapping skills.
  2. Understand tectonic phases and play types with respect to the history of basin evolution.
  3. Interpret and integrate well and seismic data.
  4. Undertake subsurface mapping of prospects and maturation to drillable status.
  5. Risk and rank prospects.
  6. Identify and assess risks and uncertainties related to geological factors (source, reservoir, seal, trap and preservation).
  7. Evaluate prospect success.

Modern and Ancient Tide- and Wave-influenced Depositional Systems: Subsurface Uncertainties in Shallow Marine Reservoirs, SE England, UK (G070)

Tutor(s)

Howard Johnson: Shell Professor of Petroleum Geology, Head of the Petroleum Geoscience and Engineering Section, and Director of Petroleum Geoscience, Imperial College London.

Overview

Tide- and wave-influenced marginal marine hydrocarbon reservoirs offer a range of subsurface interpretation and development challenges. This course will use both modern and ancient systems to analyze the architecture, internal characteristics, distribution and reservoir quality of a variety of sand-dominated deposits. Modern deposits of the North Norfolk coastline will be used to explore the range of depositional processes operating and the resultant spatial distribution and internal attributes of potential reservoir units. These will be compared with Lower Cretaceous outcrops preserving a range of tidal-influenced and marine embayment deposits. Focus will be placed on the key development challenges in these marginal marine clastic systems.

Duration and Logistics

A 5-day field course comprising a mix of fieldwork, classroom lectures and practical sessions. Classroom learning and field observations will be supported and reinforced by exercise work. The course will be based in Hunstanton with easy access to the coastal field area. Transport will be by coach.

Level and Audience

Intermediate. The course is intended for geologists and reservoir engineers with a knowledge of petroleum geoscience who are working on marginal marine reservoir systems, particularly those preserving evidence of tidal influence.

Exertion Level

This field course requires an EASY exertion level. The first field day is in a quarry at Leighton Buzzard and involves a walk of about 2km (1.25 miles) to the main quarry face. The remaining field locations on the Norfolk coast are accessed by walks of less than 3.5km (2 miles) along flat sandy beaches and tidal channels that may be muddy and slippery in parts.

Objectives

You will learn to:

  1. Interpret the depositional processes and environments that occur in fluvial-, tide- and wave-influenced clastic coastal depositional systems and relate these to the recognition of their ancient equivalents.
  2. Relate individual modern environmental systems to the larger regional-scale, including modern and ancient marine embayment and coastal barrier systems.
  3. Consider the range of geological controls on the reservoir architecture of clastic coastal deposits and relate this understanding to prediction of reservoir sand presence, geometry and rock properties.
  4. Analyze shallow marine sands in outcrop, with particular focus on internal heterogeneity, including potential permeability barriers and baffles.
  5. Assess the broader scale outcrop setting, in terms of the basinal depositional framework and use this understanding to inform prediction of reservoir distribution.
  6. Place clastic coastal depositional systems into their sequence stratigraphic significance, including addressing reservoir occurrence in transgressive and regressive settings.
  7. Use the modern and ancient examples discussed in the classroom and observed in the field to consider implications for exploration and development, particularly with regards to the subsurface reservoirs of the North Sea.