Page 16 - Practical Petroleum Geology, 2nd Edition

PRACTICAL PETROLEUM GEOLOGY Field Development

Petroleum Extension-The University of Texas at Austin

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In this chapter:

• Productivity, efficiency, and types of maps
• Mathematical estimation of reserves

• Models and simulation Field
• Recovery improvement Development

Developing a field requires a solid grasp of regional geology and reliable EXPANDING AND
well data. It is desirable to have a single geologist or a single team working MAINTAINING
on development because so much depends on the previous history of each PRODUCTIVITY
drilled well. While the exploration program might call for perhaps three
wells to locate the structural crest along a simple anticlinal structure, the
development program moves to account for the complexities of the reservoir.
Productivity within the structure will vary.

Selecting sites for the wells to succeed the discovery well requires the geologist Selecting Well Sites
to visualize the reservoir below the surface. Generally the position expected
to be structurally highest will be drilled first. This and the next few well sites
are commonly picked on the basis of the seismic picture. As wells are drilled,
formation velocity surveys of the reflecting surfaces are made downhole.
These surveys enable the seismic maps to be expressed more accurately in
terms of depth; as a result, a better picture of the structural high can be
generated. As subsurface contour maps are developed by the geologist, these
maps replace the seismic picture for decision-making purposes.

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