Drill horizontal development wells in high-fault reservoir

An operator planned to drill several horizontal development wells in offshore Western Australia in oil columns less than 65 ft [20 m] wide and with horizontal trajectories greater than 8,200 ft [2,500 m] long. The field comprises fault terraces that serve as structural and stratigraphic trapping mechanisms. Closure is provided by structural dip, with crossfault shale juxtaposition between terrace blocks. The lower net and interbedded nature of the field presented additional challenges, complicating reservoir steering.

Achieve maximum reservoir exposure to increase production potential

Prior use of GeoSphere reservoir mapping-while-drilling service in the same field yielded successful results. The operator selected this service to achieve similar reservoir mapping and steering objectives. The service provides real-time reservoir mapping that extends the depth of investigation to more than 100 ft [30m] from the wellbore. Using deep directional resistivity measurements from the GeoSphere service to complement surface seismic data, operators can see a clear delineation of fluid contacts and geologic structural dips. With this information, operators are better able to precisely steer the well trajectory in complex reservoirs. Data acquired during steering operations is compared with seismic information to create field development plans.