Stratigraphic controls on fluid distribution: An example from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · AAPG Bulletin

OSTI ID:6859279

Burns, B A; Knock, D; Tye, R S ^[1]

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1. ARCO Alaska, Anchorage, AK (United States)

Oil, gas, and water distribution in three drill sites (1 79 wells) studied in the Prudhoe Bay Field is controlled dominantly by sandstone and shale stratigraphy. Detailed reservoir description, encompassing genetic-stratigraphic correlations and three-dimensional reservoir modeling has provided a new look at the locations of remaining reserves in the upper Romeo and Tango intervals of the Ivishak Sandstone. Greater than 22 billion stock tank barrels constitute in-place oil reserves in Prudhoe Bay Field. Production in excess of nine billion barrels, in conjunction with waterflood and tertiary-recovery projects, has created a complex distribution of reservoir fluids. As oil is produced, the gas-cap expands and intersects laterally extensive shales to form gas underruns. Underruns are of great economic concern as they disrupt the NLOC and segregate oil lenses as well as causing high GOR wells. Recovering these oil lenses at low GORs requires precise analysis of in-place fluids, well placement, and completion strategy. Core descriptions and stratigraphic correlations provided the basis for facies interpretations and the deterministic division of the strata into twenty-four reservoir layers (twelve sandstone and shale units). Isochore, fluid-distribution, and NILOC maps were compiled for the reservoir horizons. Stratigraphic, structural, and fluid data integrated within a three-dimensional model resulted in an improved fluid-distribution picture and revealed numerous development opportunities including infill wells, sidetracks, and recompletions.

• OSTI ID: 6859279
• Report Number(s): CONF-960527--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin Journal Volume: 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
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& Exploration
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ARCTIC OCEAN
BAYS
BEAUFORT SEA
COASTAL WATERS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRODUCTION
PRUDHOE BAY
RESERVES
RESOURCES
SEAS
STRATIGRAPHY
SURFACE WATERS