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Published byJoshua Kennedy Modified over 9 years ago
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New Directions and the Importance of Geology Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D. AAPG
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“Breakthrough” Days These are revolutionary times New technologies New understanding of the science New motivations to pursue previously uninteresting resources Environmental pressures (coal / nuclear) New ways of financing ventures International cooperation / investment
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New Technologies Used in Shale Plays / “New” Carbonates
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Horizontal Drilling Geosteering Logging while drilling New data acquisition modules Mathematical modelling: imaging, predictive qualities
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Multi-Stage Hydraulic Fracturing New development in drilling fluids Cross-linked gels Slickwater New proppants Ceramic Coated Isolating the stages Microseismic to understand induced fractures
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Water Purification Sourcing water for drilling, completion, stimulation Solutions for produced water New technologies to purify Stage 1: For use in drilling / stimulation Stage 2: For agricultural use Stage 3: For human consumption
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Geochemical Methods TOC measurements New “fingerprinting” Biomarkers Diamondoids Diamondoids (found in all petroleum: nanometer sized) Isotopic quantifications No change during cracking
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Shale Plays New developments: Paradigm shifts
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Geologists & Shale Plays Model heterogeneity Explain natural and induced fractures Discuss implications of lithology on fluid selection, etc. Total Oil Content (TOC) and the “kitchen” (maturation processes, and timing of pulses) Geological history Depositional Structural
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“New” Carbonates Resource plays, mature carbonates with “left behind” oil and gas in tight areas, and highly complex compartmentalized plays
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Geologists & Carbonate “Resource Plays” Often incorrectly considered a shale Eagle Ford Bakken Highly heterogeneous, with “sweet spots” Geological history Depositional environment Generation / maturation / migration Fingerprinting the hydrocarbons
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Geologists & “Left Behind” Oil in Mature Fields Poor ultimate recovery due to Reservoir compartmentalization Bakken Highly heterogeneous, with “sweet spots” Geological history Depositional environment Generation / maturation / migration Fingerprinting the hydrocarbons
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Geologists & Complex Carbonates Systems include complex dynamics Hydrothermal alteration Heat flows Chertification Secondary dolomitization and porosity enhancement Diagenetic alteration (replacement minerals) Highly heterogeneous, highly complex “sweet spots” Geological history Uplifts Structure vs. depositional environment Self-sourcing
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Multi-Disciplinary Methods Geologists should establish themselves as an essential component of the teams
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Geomechanics Integrate microseismic / geophysics Important for drilling, completion, producton Engineering (direct pressure / temperature) Petrophysics Integrated data / Big Data Modeling Data mining Predictive imaging
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Imaging / 3D Seismic Ground models with reasonable geological models Microseismic induced vs natural fractures Open vs closed Conduits Workflows for integrating information, making decisions Petrophysics Integrated data / Big Data Modeling Data mining Predictive imaging
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Geochemistry Combine with geological history Structural Depositional environment Tie to biomarkers Palynology Radioactive isotope markers Reservoir Fluids Core studies
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Big Data / Analytics Integrate different data sets / databases Tie seismic attributes with production information Cluster analysis to determine trends and relationships Patterns / frequencies: predictive models Data mining of old databases Imaging / digital sources 4D / 5D modeling
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