New Directions and the Importance of GeologySusan Smith Nash, Ph.D.AAPG

“Breakthrough” DaysThese are revolutionary times

New technologies

New understanding of the science

New motivations to pursue previously uninteresting resources Environmental pressures (coal / nuclear) New ways of financing ventures International cooperation / investment

New Technologies

Used in Shale Plays / “New” Carbonates

Horizontal DrillingGeosteering

Logging while drilling

New data acquisition modules

Mathematical modelling: imaging, predictive qualities

Multi-Stage Hydraulic FracturingNew development in drilling fluids

Cross-linked gels Slickwater

New proppants Ceramic Coated

Isolating the stages

Microseismic to understand induced fractures

Water PurificationSourcing water for drilling, completion,

stimulation

Solutions for produced water

New technologies to purify Stage 1: For use in drilling / stimulation Stage 2: For agricultural use Stage 3: For human consumption

Geochemical MethodsTOC measurements

New “fingerprinting”

Biomarkers

Diamondoids Diamondoids (found in all petroleum: nanometer

sized) Isotopic quantifications No change during cracking

Shale PlaysNew developments: Paradigm shifts

Geologists & Shale PlaysModel heterogeneity

Explain natural and induced fractures

Discuss implications of lithology on fluid selection, etc.

Total Oil Content (TOC) and the “kitchen” (maturation processes, and timing of pulses)

Geological history Depositional Structural

“New” Carbonates

Resource plays, mature carbonates with “left behind” oil and gas in tight areas, and highly complex compartmentalized

plays

Geologists & Carbonate “Resource Plays”Often incorrectly considered a shale

Eagle Ford Bakken

Highly heterogeneous, with “sweet spots”

Geological history Depositional environment Generation / maturation / migration Fingerprinting the hydrocarbons

Geologists & “Left Behind” Oil in Mature FieldsPoor ultimate recovery due to

Reservoir compartmentalization Bakken

Highly heterogeneous, with “sweet spots”

Geological history Depositional environment Generation / maturation / migration Fingerprinting the hydrocarbons

Geologists & Complex CarbonatesSystems include complex dynamics

Hydrothermal alteration Heat flows Chertification Secondary dolomitization and porosity enhancement Diagenetic alteration (replacement minerals)

Highly heterogeneous, highly complex “sweet spots”

Geological history Uplifts Structure vs. depositional environment Self-sourcing

Multi-Disciplinary

MethodsGeologists should establish themselves as an essential component of the teams

Geomechanics Integrate microseismic / geophysics

Important for drilling, completion, producton

Engineering (direct pressure / temperature)

Petrophysics

Integrated data / Big Data Modeling Data mining Predictive imaging

Imaging / 3D SeismicGround models with reasonable geological models

Microseismic induced vs natural fractures Open vs closed Conduits

Workflows for integrating information, making decisions

Petrophysics

Integrated data / Big Data Modeling Data mining Predictive imaging

GeochemistryCombine with geological history

Structural Depositional environment

Tie to biomarkers Palynology Radioactive isotope markers

Reservoir Fluids

Core studies

Big Data / Analytics Integrate different data sets / databases

Tie seismic attributes with production information Cluster analysis to determine trends and relationships Patterns / frequencies: predictive models

Data mining of old databases

Imaging / digital sources

4D / 5D modeling