This marks the first of two Formation Evaluation features for 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic naturally has affected SPE meetings, causing many to be rescheduled or postponed indefinitely, but SPE papers continue to be a crucial source of technical knowledge. The selected papers explore simple and complex innovative approaches toward reservoir characterization to work around the absence of certain data.
Paper SPE 203903 addresses issues related to safe and optimal operation of geoenergy applications related to induced seismicity as a result of pore-pressure fluctuations. The authors developed a finite-volume method with a multipoint approximation of fluxes for geomechanics and poromechanics that will cope with discontinuities in displacements, as occur in faults, on the level of discretization.
The next paper demonstrates local calibration of a simple rock physics model that can provide valuable insights into the elastic properties, which then can be combined with seismic data for quantitative reservoir characterization away from the wellbore. The key, according to the author of paper OTC 30359, is the use of the Hashin-Shtrikman effective medium model with absolute upper and lower bounds for compressional and shear velocities of media that are composed of multiple constituents.
The third paper explores the challenges of identifying and quantifying hydrocarbon sections because of little resistivity contrast between reservoirs and water zones in the absence of radioactive tools. The authors of paper SPE 202420 develop a work flow that integrates nuclear magnetic resonance with azimuthal resistivity to overcome the uncertainty of fluid typing and optimal wellbore placement.
Despite the challenges our industry continues to face, authors of SPE conference papers continue to provide an important source of knowledge and experience. I hope you enjoy these papers and encourage you to visit OnePetro to find similar works that may deepen your interests and enhance your skills.
This Month’s Technical Papers
Finite-Volume Method Enables Simulation of Induced Seismicity
Rock Physics Model Provides Insight Into Reservoir Characterization
Integrated Sourceless Method Effective in Reservoir Characterization and Navigation
Recommended Additional Reading
SPE 203130 Managing Sanding Risk in Sandstone Reservoir Through a New Constitutive Model by Surej Kumar Subbiah, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Schlumberger, et al.
SPE 201672 Estimating Reservoir and Fracture Properties From Stage-by-Stage Pressure-Decline Analysis in Horizontal Wells by HanYi Wang, The University of Texas at Austin, et al.
SPE 202248 A Digital Core Laboratory Characterizing Oil/Water Transition Zones by Graeme Morrison, Woodside Energy
Rahul Dastidar, SPE, has more than a decade of upstream experience as a reservoir engineer, from exploration to development, with Shell. He holds a PhD degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Oklahoma. Currently, Dastidar is a reservoir engineer in the Appomattox Development team, with responsibility ranging from new well delivery to field development planning. He is a member of the JPT Editorial Review Committee.