Exercise 1: Geostatistics

The following permeability data are available for a short interval in a well
Depth (m) Perm (mD)

3021 1220
3022 1356
3023 1870
3024 930
3025 5500
3026 3400
3027 2700
3028 790
3029 1190
3030 3650
3031 4500
3032 3765
3033 4600
3034 3700
3035 950

(a). Calculate arithmetic, harmonic, and geometric averages, the median,

and the coefficient of variation for permeability only.
(10 marks)
(b). Discuss the degree of heterogeneity and calculate the tolerance for
the 15 samples in estimating the mean permeability.
(5 marks)
(c). Calculate a semivariogram for lags of 1, 3 and 5m ONLY. Normalise
the variogram by dividing by the variance. Plot the semivariogram on the
graph paper supplied.
Interpret the experimental semivariogram by identifying the nugget, sill,
range and hole (if present). Discuss the significance of the experimental
variogram in consideration of the use of the averages determined above.

1
γ (h) =
2N
∑ [k(x) − k(x + h)]2

where:
γ(h) = semivariogram function for lag h N = number of pairs for lag h
h = lag distance x = location
To help you plot the semivariogram, the normalised semivariogram has
the values of 1.07 and 1.42 at lag 2 and lag 4, respectively.
(10 marks)
Exercise 2: Mapping
The following is some information from an old reservoir that has been on
production (natural depletion) for 50 years. You know that all the wells
are vertical, and that there has been very little production from the crest
of the structure. You need to make an interpretive structure contour
map on the top of the sandstone in order to understand why this has
happened.
Information:
1. The reservoir unit is a clean sandstone that has an isopach thickness of
around 80 metres in all the surrounding fields.
2. The elevations of the top of the reservoir sandstone (in metres below
sea level), as extracted from a database, have been posted onto a base
map (Attachment E2).
Note that negative numbers denote elevations below sea level.
3. The reservoir sandstone is overlain by a thick shale that forms the seal.
4. The following table contains isochore values for the sandstone
thickness in some of the wells. (Remember that all the wells are vertical.)
Well number Isochore Value (metres)
1 83
2 80
3 82
4 60
5 18
6 70
7 82
8 83
9 10
10 82
11 81
12 81
13 81
14 18

(a). List the main geological events starting with the earliest. Important:
Use the isochore information from the table to help you identify the
geological events.
(4 marks)
(b). Create an interpretive structure contour map on the top of the
sandstone. Use 20m contour intervals. Construct the map on the
attachment sheet.
(18 marks)
(c). Comment on why production at the crest has been so poor.
(3 marks)
Exercise 3: Geophysics
Attachment E3 shows a short segment of a seismic line that is related to
a recent well.

(a). If the sonic velocity of seawater is 1500 m/s, what is the water depth
at the location of well A?
(3 marks)
(b). On the seismic line, certain rock packages (“intervals”) have been
identified.
The following table gives the thicknesses of these intervals. Determine
the interval velocity of each package.
(10 marks)

Thickness (m) Interval velocity (m/s)

Interval 1 320
Interval 2 120
Interval 3 140
Interval 4 572
Interval 5 365

(c). In well A, the rocks beneath interval 5 are homogeneoous, clean

sandstones containing oil. The oil/water contact was estimated to be at
2200 m TVDSS.
What is the maximum column height of the oil that you can estimate from
the seismic data?
(12 marks)
Exercise 4: Correlation
Attachment E4 shows wireline logs and interpreted lithology from four
appraisal wells in an onshore oilfield. The interval shown on the logs is
200 m thick. Biostratigraphic samples were taken from locations 1, 2, 3
and 4 in well 1, and from locations 5, 6, 7 and 8 in well 4. Samples from
locations 1, 2, 5 and 6 indicate a marine environment, while locations 3,
4, 7 and 8 indicate non-marine deposition.

(a). Using the lithology and shape of the wireline log signatures for
guidance, draw a stratigraphic correlation panel for these wells, using
your understanding of the depositional system.
(12 marks)
(b). Explain the reasons for your correlation choices.
(5 marks)
(c). Describe the broad environment of deposition.
(4 marks)
(d). How would the reservoir behaviour of the sand bodies in the upper
half of the panel differ from those in the lower half?
(4 marks)