Geologic constraints to fluid flow in the Jurassic Arab D reservoir, eastern Saudi Arabia

Conference · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Geobyte; (United States)

OSTI ID:5895449

Laing, J E ^[1]

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1. Saudi Aramco, Dhahran (Saudi Arabia)

A giant oil field located in eastern Saudi Arabia has produced several billion barrels of 37{degree} API oil from fewer than 100 wells. The Upper Jurassic Arab Formation is the main producing unit, and is made up of a series of upward-shoaling carbonate and anhydrite members. Porous carbonates of the Arab D member make up the principle oil reservoir, and overlying Arab D anhydrite provides the seal. Principal reservoir facies are stromatoporoid-coral and skeletal grainstones. Reservoir drive is currently provided by flank water injection. Despite more than 30 years of flank water injection (1.5 billion bbl) into the northern area of the field, a thick oil column remains in the Arab D reservoir. Geological factors which affect fluid flow in this area are (1) a downdip facies change from permeable skeletal-stromatoporoid limestone to less permeable micritic limestone, (2) vertical permeability barriers resulting from shoaling-upward cycles, (3) a downdip tar mat, (4) dolomite along the flanks in the upper portion of the reservoir, (5) highly permeable intervals within the skeletal-stromatoporoid limestone, and (6) an updip, north to south facies change from predominantly stromatoporoid-coral grainstone to skeletal grainstone. These factors are considered in reservoir modeling, simulation studies, and planning locations for both water injection and producer wells.

• OSTI ID: 5895449
• Report Number(s): CONF-910978-; CODEN: GEOBE
• Journal Information: Geobyte; (United States), Vol. 75:8; Conference: International conference and exhibition of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG): the way ahead-hydrocarbons for the 1990s, London (United Kingdom), 29 Sep - 3 Oct 1991; ISSN 0885-6362
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
LITHOLOGY
POROSITY
SAUDI ARABIA
CARBONATE ROCKS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID FLOW
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
INJECTION WELLS
JURASSIC PERIOD
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
SITE SELECTION
STRATIGRAPHY
WATERFLOODING
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENGINEERING
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MESOZOIC ERA
MIDDLE EAST
MINERAL RESOURCES
RECOVERY
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
WELLS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration