Resource Plays Archives

Geological Controls on Production in Unconventional Reservoirs (G052)

Tutor(s)

Bruce Hart: Freelance Geologist and Adjunct Professor at Western University, Ontario.

Overview

This course classifies unconventional reservoirs from a petroleum systems perspective and leads participants through how depositional controls on reservoir architecture and mechanical stratigraphy affect development strategies.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: 3 days; a mix of lectures 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 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over 4 days. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. Intended for subsurface professionals (geologists, geochemists, geophysicists, reservoir-, completion- and drilling engineers) who have some working knowledge of unconventional reservoirs but are looking to understand how multi-disciplinary integration can improve exploration and development decisions.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Describe unconventional reservoirs based on all parts of their petroleum system’s character, and use that knowledge in a predictive way at all steps from exploration to development
Maximize the benefit of common tools for unconventional reservoir characterization.
Define stratigraphic and structural controls on development strategies: landing-zone definition, horizontal vs vertical wells
Develop a common language that can be used to facilitate information exchange between various engineering and geoscience subdisciplines.

Geomechanics for Unconventional Developments (G051)

Tutor(s)

Marisela Sanchez-Nagel and/or Neal Nagel: OilField Geomechanics LLC.

Overview

The course starts with an introduction to geomechanics fundamentals and then aspects relevant to unconventionals are developed, especially as they relate to the effect of fabric and heterogeneity. “Common knowledge” is challenged and popular procedures are presented in the light of geomechanics fundamentals and concepts. Recent topics such as cube developments and frac hits are discussed. This is an in-depth but engaging training course.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: 3 days; a mix of lectures (80%) and hands-on exercises and/or examples (20%). 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: Five 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over 5 days. A digital manual and exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course.

Interactive questioning and possibly breakout sessions will be utilized to reinforce learnings.

Level and Audience

Advanced. Intended for geoscientists, reservoir and completion engineers and petrophysicists who wish to understand how geomechanics can help them effectively develop their reservoirs.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Understand the fundamentals of geomechanics including stress and strain, pore pressure evaluation, mechanical rock behavior and geomechanical models.
Gain an understanding of conventional fracturing models in unconventional developments and the associated workflow.
Describe the properties of naturally fractured reservoirs including their influence on drilling, stimulation and production.
Perform reservoir quality evaluations including the assessment of poroperm, natural fractures, pressures and mechanical properties as quality indicators.
Characterize shale properties including shale types, brittle versus ductile behavior and geological scenarios for completions.
Assess the influence of the stress field and in-situ pore pressure on hydraulic fracture behavior.
Assess the microseismic response with anisotropic stresses and the use of numerical models for interpretation and characterization.
Characterize the effects of multiple well completions in a fractured rock mass.
Assess the types of hydraulic fracture monitoring including microseismic monitoring.

An Introduction to Mudrock Reservoirs: Basin Setting, Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Rock Properties (G042)

Tutor(s)

Jeff May: Geological Consultant; Affiliate Faculty, Colorado School of Mines.

Overview

The evaluation of shale reservoirs presents a unique challenge: whereas some of the approaches applied are the same as for conventional reservoirs, many new methodologies and tools have been developed for the assessment of this unconventional resource. In this seminar, participants are exposed to the latest concepts of mudrock sedimentation and how it relates to reservoir properties. The development of mudrock successions, including depositional processes and stratigraphic cycles, is highlighted. Goals of the course include:

Providing practical techniques for assessing reservoir heterogeneity during play reconnaissance (‘data mining’) and regional evaluation (‘sweet spot’ mapping).
Interpreting and correlating well logs within a sequence-stratigraphic framework.
Learning what components are fundamental to core description and interpretation, including observations on composition, texture, sedimentary structures and fractures.
Developing an understanding of the factors that control reservoir quality: mineralogy, lithologic components, cements, fabric, fractures and pore systems. Methods used to investigate these rock properties also will be discussed.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 2-day classroom course comprising a mix of lectures (80%) and hands-on exercises (20%). 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 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over 4 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. Intended for all subsurface professionals involved in the evaluation of unconventional resources. Geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists and engineers who want to understand mudrock deposition relative to reservoir properties will benefit from the concepts and techniques presented. Participants should have a basic familiarity with resource plays. Some understanding of depositional processes and sequence stratigraphy is recommended.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Determine the key geologic parameters that affect the attributes of shale reservoirs.
Identify the components of basin analysis required when scoping a new shale play.
Integrate a variety of data types necessary to identify and map optimum drilling locations and targets.
Evaluate the variety of depositional processes and changes in environmental conditions recorded in a shale succession and tie that information back to well log character.
Assess the basic stratigraphic framework of shale reservoirs and understand how systematic vertical changes relate to fabric, composition, texture and, ultimately, reservoir quality.
Interpret and correlate well logs utilizing a sequence stratigraphic framework.
Understand the observations and methodology necessary when describing and interpreting mudrock cores.
Define the key rock parameters that control reservoir quality and mechanical properties.
Describe the latest methodologies of pore-scale imaging for shale evaluation.

Progressive Deformation in the Arbuckle and Wichita Mountains: Implications for Mid-Continent and Resource Plays, Oklahoma (G083)

Tutor(s)

Kevin Smart: Manager, Earth Science Section, Space Science and Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute.

David Ferrill: Institute Scientist, Space Science and Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute.

Overview

This field seminar will explore natural deformation in Paleozoic rocks in and around the Wichita and Arbuckle uplifts in southern Oklahoma. Investigating mechanical stratigraphy and the regional tectonic setting provides the context for understanding deformation features, such as joints, shear fractures, folds, faults and stylolites. Outcrop observations will be tied to the deformation conditions under which they developed, and related to the subsurface (cores, logs and stress data), to illustrate the critical importance of understanding deformation in the subsurface, including both pre-existing natural deformation and as analogs for deformation produced by induced hydraulic fracturing.

Duration and Logistics

A 5-day field course, comprising a mix of field exercises (85%) and classroom work (15%). The course will start in Lawton, Oklahoma, and end near Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Level and Audience

Intermediate. The course is aimed at geoscientists, petrophysicists, reservoir engineers and production engineers working in mechanically layered, deformed rocks in Oklahoma or other relatively gently deformed sedimentary foreland basins. It will be of particular interest to any geoscientists, petrophysicists and engineers working in unconventional reservoirs, including those in the Anadarko Basin.

Exertion Level

This course requires an EASY exertion level. Fieldwork is in southern Oklahoma, where the climate can be variable according to the season. Transportation is by SUVs. Most driving is on black-top roads, and most outcrops are adjacent to roads or within inactive quarries with uneven ground, where long strenuous hikes are not needed to access the exposures.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Identify small-scale deformation features that are common in the SCOOP/STACK plays of the Anadarko basin and other unconventional reservoirs.
Interpret stress conditions and stress evolution from small-scale deformation features.
Characterize mechanical stratigraphy based on lithostratigraphy and rock strength information.
Relate deformation styles to the tectonic setting of southern Oklahoma.
Assess the role of mechanical stratigraphy, stress conditions and pre-existing deformation features on rock behavior, including fracture prediction in unconventional and conventional reservoirs.
Consider, in general terms, the behavior of lithological units under different well completion strategies.
Evaluate geomechanical issues for common petroleum and unconventional resource applications such as well design, borehole stability and hydraulic fracturing.

Engineering of Resource Plays for Technical Professionals (G003)

Tutor(s)

Yucel Akkutlu: Professor, Texas A&M University.

Overview

This course presents the terminology, methodology and concepts of drilling, completion and reservoir engineering as applied to unconventional resource plays, including oil-rich shales, gas shales and coal-seam gas. It will cover the latest practices as well as discuss future directions in unconventional resource engineering. Case studies are used to illustrate particular challenges presented by these plays. The environmental impacts on air and water resources are considered. Participants will learn to become more effective members of multi-disciplinary resource evaluation teams by developing a solid understanding of appropriate engineering concepts and terminology.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: A 3-day course comprising a mix of lectures (70%), case studies (20%) and exercises (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: Five 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over 5 days, including a mix of lectures (70%), case studies (20%) and exercises (10%). A digital manual and hard-copy exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course.

Level and Audience

Intermediate. The course is designed for technical professionals and managers who want to understand the role of the engineer in resource play projects. In particular, geoscientists, petrophysicists and drilling, completion and stimulation engineers would benefit from the course.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Discuss aspects of reservoir, drilling, completion and stimulation engineering with engineering members of unconventional project teams.
Contrast engineering approaches to conventional and unconventional projects.
Assess resource estimates, production forecasts and economic evaluations for unconventional plays.
Review the sampling procedures adopted by reservoir engineers.
Predict the hydrocarbon phase change in reservoirs.
Assess the demand for and disposal of water associated with fracturing and producing unconventional reservoirs.
Assess the impact of unconventional projects on air quality.
Discuss recent advances in the optimization of resource plays.

Working with Unconventional Petroleum Systems (G032)

Tutor(s)

Andy Pepper: Managing Director, This is Petroleum Systems LLC.

Overview

This course teaches how to use Petroleum Systems Analysis (regional geology, geochemistry and petroleum systems modeling) to evaluate unconventional/resource play reservoirs. The subject matter ranges from deposition of organic matter in the source rock (generation, expulsion, migration and accumulation processes leading to saturation of the reservoir), to the prediction of reservoir and produced fluid properties and value. This class will equip geologists and engineers with advanced capabilities to: identify, map and evaluate new plays; identify storage and production sweet spots in plays; and identify vertical/by-passed storage and production sweet spots to optimize landing zones in new and existing plays.

Duration and Logistics

Classroom version: 5 days, a mix of lectures (75%) and quizzes/exercises (25%). 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: Five 4-hour interactive online sessions presented over 5 days, including a mix of lectures (75%) and quizzes/exercises (10%). A digital manual and hard-copy exercise materials will be distributed to participants before the course.

Level and Audience

Advanced. Intended for exploration, exploitation and production geoscientists, reservoir and completion engineers and managers who need to understand how the petroleum system works to determine fluid saturation and composition in resource plays. A basic familiarity with resource plays is assumed.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Understand modern approaches to describing source rocks: their expulsion potential and distribution.
Establish the link between organic matter and petroleum: the organofacies scheme and the geochemistry and composition of oil and gas.
Link the burial and thermal histories of onshore/exhumed sedimentary basins to the temperature and pressure history of the source bed/reservoir.
Understand how organic matter quality kinetics control petroleum volumes and compositions expelled from organic matter.
Understand the roles of pressure and capillarity in creating an unconventional reservoir: that petroleum migration and accumulation are flip sides of the same coin, controlling reservoir saturation patterns.
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of current core analysis techniques and use geochemical concepts to differentiate between potentially producible fluid vs immobile sorbed petroleum in organic-rich reservoirs.
Identify sweet spots in well rate performance from a pressure and fluid perspective, and fluid prediction using advanced pyrolysis methods in well samples.
Understand the properties of produced fluids that contribute to/detract from well stream value.

Facies, Sequence Stratigraphy and Reservoir Characteristics of Cretaceous Resource Plays, Powder River Basin, Wyoming (G031)

Tutor(s)

Gus Gustason: Senior Geologist and Geoscience Advisor, Enerplus Resources.

Richard Bottjer: President, Coal Creek Resources; Research Associate, Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Overview

This course examines two world-class Cretaceous source rock intervals and their interfingering clastic wedges around the margins of Wyoming’s Powder River Basin to illustrate how accurate outcrop descriptions provide the best opportunity to improve our ability to make realistic reservoir interpretations. Outcrop observations are important to incorporate into core descriptions and then into correlating and mapping in the subsurface. Resultant modeling can reduce uncertainty and improve our understanding of facies associations, as well as the controls on porosity and permeability. Integration of the techniques described has consistently provided new interpretations that have led to new field discoveries and/or identification of stratigraphic compartments within existing fields.

Duration and Logistics

6 days; field time (90%) supported by classroom lectures (10%). A printed manual will be provided for each participant.

Level and Audience

Advanced. This course is intended for geoscientists, reservoir and production engineers, and petrophysicists who work unconventional plays in the Powder River Basin. The learnings and workflows are applicable to individuals working other resource plays.

This field course compliments GeoLogica course Core Facies Analysis of Conventional and Resource Plays: Lessons from the Mowry and Niobrara Petroleum Systems, Powder River Basin (G011). Although, taking G011 is not a prerequisite for attending G031.

Exertion Level

This class requires a MODERATE exertion level. Hikes are 4.8–8km (3–5 miles) across irregular terrain, scrambling up shale slopes and ledges of sandstone outcrops. The elevation of the Powder River Basin outcrops ranges from 1500–1800m (5000–6000 ft) and the climate is considered semi-arid. Temperatures in August range from 13–32°C (55–90°F). Most driving is on black-top roads, but some outcrops are reached via well-marked dirt roads.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Examine outcrops of alluvial plain, coastal plain, delta plain, offshore, shelf and distal basin hemipelagic source rocks within a sequence stratigraphic framework of Cretaceous strata along the margins of the Powder River Basin.
Describe grain size, composition, sedimentary structures and biogenic structures of fine-grained source rocks of the Mowry Shale and Niobrara Formation.
Evaluate physical parameters (e.g. TOC, porosity, PhiH, permeability, stiffness or brittleness, fractures, etc.) that define a successful tight oil play within the Mowry Shale and Niobrara Formation.
Describe facies, facies architecture (grain size, composition, sedimentary structures and biogenic structures), facies associations of coastal plain, strand plain, delta plain, nearshore and shelf deposits of two major clastic wedges that prograded into the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway: Frontier (Wall Creek and Turner) and Mesaverde (Shannon, Sussex, Parkman, and Teapot).
Define and correlate parasequences, parasequence sets and sequences across the Powder River Basin (using outcrop sections and well logs) and predict where continuous oil accumulations or resource plays may occur within the basin.

Core Facies Analysis of Conventional and Resource Plays: Lessons from the Mowry and Niobrara Petroleum Systems, Powder River Basin (G011)

Tutor(s)

Gus Gustason: Senior Geologist and Geoscience Advisor, Enerplus Resources.

Richard Bottjer: President, Coal Creek Resources; Research Associate, Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Overview

This core-based facies analysis course will use the petroleum system of the prolific Powder River Basin to develop realistic depositional models and sequence stratigraphic frameworks that can be used to better predict the extent and continuity of unconventional resources. Demonstrations will introduce participants to core handling, description and data integration techniques. Lectures and exercises will re-familiarize participants with lithofacies and facies associations and will describe applications of core-facies analysis to reservoir characterization of siliceous and calcareous mudstones, muddy sandstones and sandstones. Cores will be from the Powder River Basin, but learnings may be applied to resource plays in other basins.

Duration and Logistics

A 5-day classroom course comprising a mix of classroom lectures (25%) and core description exercises (75%) at the USGS Core Research Center, Lakewood, CO. The manual will be provided in digital format and you will be required to bring a laptop or tablet computer to the course.

Level and Audience

Fundamental. This course is intended for entry-level through mid-career geoscientists, reservoir engineers and petrophysicists who want to extract maximum value from cores, in order to improve exploration play analysis and reservoir characterization of both conventional and unconventional resources. Participants should have a basic knowledge of clastic and carbonate sedimentology and stratigraphy.

Objectives

You will learn to:

Identify the important physical and biological parameters of core, including sedimentary structures, biogenic structures, significant surfaces and diagenetic textures. We will examine siliceous and calcareous mudstones, muddy sandstones and sandstones.
Calibrate core descriptions with wireline log data.
Evaluate source rock potential of mudstones using elemental chemistry data (XRF), TOC, RockEval (Vre) and vitrinite reflectance (Vro) data.
Integrate routine core analysis and/or unconventional shale and tight rock analysis with core descriptions to better understand the controls on porosity and permeability.
Identify basic structural features in cores, such as faults and fractures, and relate them to mechanical stratigraphy, in situ stresses and borehole stability issues.
Develop a sequence stratigraphic framework from core descriptions and wireline log data.
Compare reservoir characteristics with production performance to identify target zones for horizontal well placement.
Discretize core descriptions for core-to-log facies analysis and reservoir modelling input.