Subsurface Structural Trap

talk about how we find oil simulation to plan the drilling of a well Today’s Activity

but before we start …..

people who –enjoy math, science, and computers –interested in the earth, resource development –enjoy personal interactions with clients and vendors also… –enjoy travel (energy business is international) –like to work outdoors (wilderness areas, well site, oil field, environmental clean-up site) Who Works in Petroleum Engineering?

Petroleum Geology

reservoir rock trap source rock seal migration of oil Fundamentals of Petroleum Exploration

Oil is stored pores between the grains in sandstones and other "reservoir" rocks

Rivers Transport Sand and Mud

Core showing channel sands

Making a Structural Trap Cedar Mesa Sandstone, SE Utah Originally Horizontal Beds ….

…sometimes get folded topography accentuates strike and dip

Folds and Faults make TRAPS - faults represent brittle rock deformation

Subsurface Geology (how do we see underground?) core seismic logs

source rock migration of oil reservoir rock trap Fundamentals of Petroleum Exploration

How do we see below the surface?

Seismic

A B A B Casper Arch Thrust, Central Wyoming

Seismic Acquisition and Processing Subsalt Imaging 4-D Reservoir Monitoring 4-D Seismic and Reservoir Modeling 4-D Seismic Difference Update Base-1983

A B A B Casper Arch Thrust, Central Wyoming

Fundamentals of Petroleum Accumulation Source Rock Reservoir Rock Migration Trap

Putting it all together …..

Original Horizontal Layers

Mountain Building - Compression

Build a structural trap

Deformed Reservoir Source

Migration of Oil

driven by buoyancy

Trapped Oil

Will folding in one direction be an effective trap?

Plate Tectonics Deforms/Folds Rocks

Really need folding in two directions…

And that dome needs to be buried & covered with a seal!

Available Data Interpreted Seismic Lines –needed to determine if you have a trap Well-log Lithology –needed for determining whether you have a reservoir rock (sandstone) and a seal –determine potential source rock (shale) Geochemical Analysis –determine if a potential source rock has generated oil

Instructions divide into teams of 3 or 4 explorationists your budget is $330,000 purchase data analyze data to choose a spot to drill

Prices Seismic Lines –Line A - $100,000 –Line B - $75,000 –Line C - $75,000 Well-log Lithology –Well 1 - $25,000 –Well 2 - $35,000 Geochemical Analysis –Well 1 - $5,000 –Well 2 - $5,000

Seismic Line A Shale Sandstone Limestone

Seismic Line B

Seismic Line C

Combining Seismic Lines for 3d

Seismic Line A - Solution

Seismic Line B

Seismic Line C – No Trap!