BUSINESS CASE: ENHANCED PROSPECT DE-RISKING

Tackling the elusive challenge of residual gas characterization in hydrocarbon reservoirs, this paper unfolds the story of how WEB-AVO Inversion emerged as a game-changer in the Julimar Field, NW Shelf of Australia, providing a paradigm shift in how we de-risk our prospects. Faced with the intricacies of differentiating live gas from residual gas, the field presented an ideal scenario to test the prowess of this innovative approach.

The Julimar Field Challenge

Nestled in the complex geological setting of the Barrow Sub-basin in the Northern Carnarvon Basin is the Julimar Field (WA-49-L) reservoirs, including the TR23.0 sand which is studied here. The geology is complex with a history of active tectonism and varied depositional phases, making conventional seismic interpretation methods challenging. The primary obstacle? Distinguishing the residual gas from live gas.

For years, the industry-standard methods, relying heavily on amplitude-based seismic attributes, repeatedly stumbled at accurately mapping the elusive residual gas, leading to many disappointing wells.

WEB-AVO inversion brought a fresh perspective to the table, capable of solving directly for Compressibility, an elastic parameter that in this geological setting showed promise to differentiate between live from and residual gas.

The spotlight turned to the TR23.0 reservoir, where the WEB-AVO Inversion was put to the test. The method painted a detailed picture of the reservoir contrasting starkly with the homogeneous images offered by traditional techniques. High compressibility regions up dip, indicating gas sands, were distinctly mapped, separating clearly from low saturation gas or water-bearing sands down dip. A clearly defined switch off conforming to a depth contour honors  the regional gas-water contact further building confidence. This clarity was not just theoretical; drilling results echoed the accuracy of the WEB-AVO’s predictions as Well-A encountered fizz-gas.

The Julimar Field’s journey with WEB-AVO Inversion is more than a case study; it’s a narrative of overcoming geological complexities with technological innovation and the framing of a new workflow for prospect portfolio ranking. By accurately characterizing residual gas, WEB-AVO inversion can significantly reduce uncertainty and maximize value of the seismic data.