James J. Reeves, Ph.D., P.E., Texas Tech University, Center for Applied Petrophysical Studies; W. Hoxie Smith, M.S., Dawson Geophysical Company; Robert C. Trentham, D.G.S., Muskoka Consultants; Richard Weinbrandt, Ph.D., P.E. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
A cooperative study of the Grayburg"San Andres reservoir is being conducted in response to the United States Department of Energy's (DOE) Class II Oil Program. The project is cost shared by Laguna Petroleum Corporation (operator) and the DOE. The purpose of this study is to preserve access to existing, wellbores by identifying additional reserves. Production problems associated with shallow shelf carbonate reservoirs are being evaluated by a technical team integrating subsurface geological and engineering data with 3-D seismic data. Engineering analysis. subsurface control from wireline logs. and 3-D seismic data will be integrated using a network of state-of-the-art software on a high performance computer workstation. The results of the integrated effort will be a recommendation for infill drilling locations and the design of an effective waterflood. It is expected that this study will demonstrate a methodology for reservoir characterization and subsequent development of the Grayburg and San Andres reservoirs that is feasible for even small independent operators. The integrated multi-disciplinary approach of reservoir evaluation is relevant to many shallow shelf carbonate reservoirs throughout the United States. Furthermore, this study will provide one of the first public demonstrations of the enhancement of reservoir characterization using high resolution 3-D seismic data. This paper discusses the geological makeup of the Grayburg and San Andres reservoirs and the acquisition, processing,. 0 and interpretation of the 3-D seismic data set acquired for the project. The 3-D seismic volume will be utilized for optimization of a reservoir simulation model through a quantitative study to extract reservoir properties from seismic attributes.