Bouncing Off the Ceiling
Biosteering, a Pilot Study is Necessary
Prior to using biosteering, a pilot study is necessary
to establish the reservoir layering and to identify the target reservoir
package.
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Prior to using biosteering, a pilot study is necessary
to establish the reservoir layering and to identify the target reservoir
package.
The pilot study gives engineers confidence in the
non-pay units, such as mudstones in a clastic reservoir, so the
optimum well path can be mapped within the reservoir package between
the non-pay zones.
"Biostrat identifies mudstone and siltstones — the
non-pay units," said Simon Payne, biostrat network co-leader for
BP in Aberdeen, Scotland.
"During drilling of high-angle and horizontal wells
everybody is happy when the well is in the sands," he continued,
"but when the well hits a non-pay zone the biostrat expert is key
to determining if the well is in the roof or the floor of the reservoir
zone.
"Essentially we are bouncing off the floor and ceiling
of the reservoir. Features like sub-seismic faults can throw a well
way out of the reservoir package, and you have to know how to steer
to get back into the reservoir."