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Tech Transfer

Publications

Nissen, S. E., Carr, T. R., Marfurt, K. J., and Sullivan, E. C., in press, Using 3-D seismic volumetric curvature attributes to identify fracture trends in a depleted Mississippian carbonate reservoir: Implications for assessing candidates for CO2 sequestration, in M. Grobe, J. Pashin, and R. Dodge, eds., Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in Geological Media--State of the Art: Special Publication, American Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists.

Nissen, S. E., Carr, T. R., and Marfurt, K. J., 2007, Using new 3-D seismic attributes to identify subtle fracture trends in Mid-Continent Mississippian carbonate reservoirs: RMAG-DGS 13th Annual 3-D Seismic Symposium expanded abstract (also published in Geophysical Society of Kansas May-June newsletter: http://gsks.seg.org/newsletter/MAY-JUN07.pdf).

Rocke, B. J., 2006, Paleokarst morphologies of the Arbuckle Group and karst reservoir implications on the Central Kansas uplift, Russell and Barton Counties, Kansas: Master's Thesis, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, 210 p.

Givens, N. B., 2006, An integrated study delineating karst and fracture features affecting reservoir performance in a Mississippian reservoir, Cheyenne County, Colorado: Master's Thesis, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, 570 p.

Givens, N. B., and Nissen, S. E., 2006, Fracture and karst features affecting reservoir performance in a Mississippian reservoir, Cheyenne County, Colorado: Kansas Geological Survey, Open-file report 2006-14 [available online].

Meeting Abstracts

Nissen, S. E., Doveton, J. H., and Watney, W. L., 2008, Petrophysical and geophysical characterization of karst in a Permian San Andres reservoir, Waddell field, West Texas: abstract, AAPG Annual Convention.

Carr, T. R., and Nissen, S. E., 2007, Application of curvature attributes to Kansas subsurface data, abstract: AAPG Midcontinent Convention.

Nissen, S. E., Sullivan, E.C., Marfurt, K.J., and Carr, T.R., 2007, Improving reservoir characterization of karst-modified reservoirs with 3-D geometric seismic attributes: abstract, AAPG Midcontinent Convention.

Sullivan, E. C., Nissen, S., Marfurt, K. J., and Blumentritt, C. H., 2006, Application of new seismic attributes to identify karst and fracture related compartmentalization: Permian San Andres Formation, Central Basin Platform, West Texas (USA), abstract, AAPG Annual Convention [abstract below].

Sullivan, C., Nissen, S., and Marfurt, K., 2006, Application of volumetric 3-D seismic attributes to reservoir characterization of karst-modified reservoirs, in Slatt, R. M. et al., eds., Reservoir Characterization: Integrating technology and business practices: 26th Annual GCSSEPM Foundation Bob F. Perkins Research Conference Proceedings, p. 409-428 [abstract below].

Givens, N.B., and Nissen, S., 2006, An Integrated Study Delineating Karst and Fracture Features Affecting Reservoir Performance in a Mississippian Reservoir, Cheyenne County, Colorado: 26th Annual GCSSEPM Foundation Bob F. Perkins Research Conference Proceedings [abstract below].

Givens, N.B., and Nissen, S., 2006, Karst and Fracture Features Affecting Reservoir Performance in a Mississippian Reservoir, Cheyenne County, Colorado: AAPG Annual Convention [abstract below].

Technical Reports


Application of Volumetric 3-D Seismic Attributes to Reservoir Characterization of Karst-Modified Reservoirs

Charlotte Sullivan1, Susan Nissen2, and Kurt Marfurt1
1Allied Geophysical Labs, University of Houston
2Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas

 

Reservoir production and compartmentalization in many karst-modified reservoirs can be related to features resulting from subaerial weathering, tectonic faulting and fracturing, and/or hydrothermal processes. Critical features relating to reservoir character are often subtle and are difficult to image with standard seismic attributes. We have developed new 3-D seismic-based geometric attributes that, calibrated with geologic and engineering data, have the potential to image and quantify karst-modified reservoir features at an interwell scale not previously possible. Our aim is to develop innovative seismic-based methodologies and workflows for reservoir characterization of karst-modified reservoirs.

 

We have applied our new seismic attributes to reservoirs in Kansas, Colorado, and Texas that represent a diversity of ages, lithologies, karst processes, and porosity/permeability systems. In these reservoirs, we have mapped horizon structure, faults, and fractures with a combination of conventional seismic data, coherency, and new volumetric curvature attributes. Using horizon extractions and time slices, we have imaged the geomorphology of eroded surfaces and identified subtle attribute lineaments associated with faults and fractures that relate to reservoir production and compartmentalization. We predict azimuths of open and closed fractures by matching rose diagrams of attribute lineaments with strain ellipsoids, by calibrating to wellbore data, and by relating attribute lineaments to produced fluid volumes. We use improved spectral decomposition and acoustic impedance inversion technologies to image porosity variations in the reservoir.
Our attribute-based structural and stratigraphic models, populated with borehole and engineering data, serve as the basis for improved geomodels that we validate with reservoir simulation.

 

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An Integrated Study Delineating Karst and Fracture Features Affecting Reservoir Performance in a Mississippian Reservoir, Cheyenne County, Colorado

Natalie B. Givens University of Kansas
Susan Nissen Kansas Geological Survey

 

As part of a project to improve geologic and engineering models of mid-continent fracture and karst-modified reservoirs using new 3-D seismic attributes, we are conducting an integrated study of a Mississippian reservoir in Cheyenne County, Colorado. The focus of this study has been to integrate new 3-D seismic attributes with geological data to increase probability of identifiying fractures and karst features that are affecting reservoir performance, distribution of production has been scattered and variable throughout the area. Core and wireline log data have been used to determine lithofacies, depositional facies, diagenetic signatures, and petrophysical properties for the reservoir, as well as well-bore-scale fracture distribution and orientation. Core analysis reveals a complex history for the reservoir. Depositional environment is interpreted as a restricted lagoon with a migrating shoal. Lithofacies range from mudstone to packstone-grainstone; however, the entire section has been heavily dolomitized, obscuring primary depositional structures. Porosity is mostly intercrystalline, except where it is oomoldic in the productive zones and fractures identified in the cores are mostly filled. Geometric attributes from a 6 square mile 3-D seismic survey over the reservoir show subtle lineaments that parallel regional structural trends. These lineaments may reflect fracture orientations that controlled karst development on the Mississippian surface. Seismic attributes, correlated with log and core data are used to help delineate fractures and reservoir compartments, as well as to guide that distribution of petrophysical properties in a reservoir model. The results of this study provide key input to the synthesis of a best-practices workflow for characterizing fractured and karst-modified reservoirs in other areas.

 

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Application of New Seismic Attributes to Identify Karst and Fracture Related Compartmentalization: Permian San Andres Formation, Central Basin Platform, West Texas (USA)

E. Charlotte Sullivan1, Susan Nissen2, Kurt J. Marfurt1, and Charles. H. Blumentritt1.
1Allied Geophysical Labs, University of Houston, Houston, TX
2Kansas Geological Survey, Lawrence, KS

 

Reservoirs in the Permian San Andres carbonates of the Central Basin Platform of West Texas produce from Guadalupian shallow water ramp lithofacies. This study focuses on a 3 mi X 5 mi (4.8X 8 km) area in the northern part of the Waddell San Andres field that is remarkable for exhibiting per well fluid production that is an order of magnitude greater than production in surrounding wells. Core from wells in the this high volume (HV) area contain anhydrite cemented breccias interpreted as paleocave facies developed during a time of falling water table, with progressive top-down cave formation and collapse. These karst breccias are overprinted by vuggy porosity due to anhydrite dissolution along open fractures. Cores from outside the HV area do not appear to have major karst overprint. Seismic sections indicate broken reflectors in the area of high fluid production. Volumetric curvature attributes identify ragged fracture zones and bowl shaped depressions, indicative of sinkholes, within the HV areas. Coherency attributes indicate localized areas of less coherent reflectors that coincide with two groups of HV wells, separated by a roughly 1 km wide area with more coherent reflectors and relatively low production. Tracer surveys within the HV area waterflood indicate the area of low production constitutes a field scale permeability barrier. We conclude, based on analysis of volumetric seismic attributes, calibrated by core, that the unusual production characteristics of this field and the location of field-scale permeability barriers are the result of localized, late stage fracturing and dissolution of anhydrite cement in a heterogeneous paleocave system.

 

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Karst and Fracture Features Affecting Reservoir Performance in a Mississippian Reservoir, Cheyenne County, Colorado

Natalie B. Givens1 and Susan Nissen2
1Department of Geology, University of Kansas
2Kansas Geological Survey

 

As part of a project to improve geologic and engineering models of mid-continent fracture and karst-modified reservoirs using new 3-D seismic attributes, we are conducting an integrated study of a Mississippian reservoir in Cheyenne County, Colorado, which has scattered and variable production. The focus of this study has been to integrate new 3-D seismic attributes with geological data to increase probability of identifying fractures and karst features that are affecting reservoir performance. Core and wireline log data have been used to determine lithofacies, depositional facies, diagenetic signatures, and petrophysical properties for the reservoir, as well as well-bore-scale fracture distribution and orientation. Core analysis reveals a complex history for the reservoir. Depositional environment is interpreted as a restricted lagoon with a migrating shoal. Lithofacies range from mudstone to packstone-grainstone; however, the entire section has been heavily dolomitized, obscuring primary depositional structures. Porosity is mostly intercrystalline, except where it is moldic in the productive zones. Fractures identified in the cores are filled. Geometric attributes from a 6 square mile 3-D seismic survey over the reservoir show subtle lineaments that parallel regional structural trends. These lineaments may reflect fracture orientations that controlled karst development on the Mississippian surface. Seismic attributes, correlated with log and core data are used to help delineate fractures and reservoir compartments, as well as to guide distribution of petrophysical properties in a reservoir model. The results of this study provide key input to the synthesis of a best-practices workflow for characterizing fractured and karst-modified reservoirs in other areas.

 

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Last Modified Feb. 2008 Index Background Personel Attributes Tech Transfer Catalog