Results
The Hugoton Consortium would involve cooperation among the
personnel at the Kansas Geological Survey and the University
of Kansas, producers operating in the Hugoton, and interested
public groups. The initiative will focus on the development and
application of cost-effective high technology and use of existing
data and resources in order to address barriers to continued
oil and gas production. The initiative can be divided into four
technical components. These are:
Integrated Digital Data System for the Hugoton Embayment.--Develop
an integrated digital data environment that not only collects,
catalogs, and archives data, but provides on-line access to researchers,
regulators, operating companies, and interested groups and citizens.
Accessible products will include data, interpretative products
(e.g., maps, graphs, cross-sections, and reports), and analytical
applications. The data system will be modeled on the Survey's
Digital Petroleum Atlas Prototype (http://www.kgs.ku.edu/DPA/dpaHome.html)
and will be capable of displaying data and interpretations at
a range of spatial scales from basin-wide to individual well
bore. The goal is to develop the on-line technology that provides
access to scalable, open information management solutions within
the actual interpretation environment of the geoscientist or
engineer.
Structural and Stratigraphic Framework of the Hugoton Embayment.--The
immense size of the Hugoton Embayment's productive area at 12,000
square miles and over 11,000 producing gas and oil wells makes
a basin-wide synthesis or even effective use of the information
available nearly intractable. Even a focus on the single pay
interval of the Hugoton Gas Field proper encompasses over 4,100
square miles and 6,000 producing wells. Using traditional geologic
methods a geoscientist could spend years of continuous work to
examine just the producing wells in the area. The typical solution
has been to limit the scope of a study. We will apply new approaches
and technologies that make use of the integrated computer workstation
to use all of the available geologic data to develop a basin-wide
structural and stratigraphic framework for the Hugoton Field.
Development of an Understanding of the Structural and Stratigraphic
Evolution of the Hugoton Embayment.--A basin-wide structural
and stratigraphic framework along with targeted new geologic
data will be used to develop an improved basin-wide model for
the structural and stratigraphic evolution of the Hugoton Embayment.
Such a model can be used to resolve the geologic history that
resulted in the accumulation and production of hydrocarbons in
the Hugoton Embayment.
Develop an Understanding of the Hydrodynamic Evolution of
the Hugoton Embayment.--The overall goal is to develop a working
model to simulate the effects of basin evolution in the Hugoton
Embayment on fluid migration, accumulation, and production.
Benefits and Deliverables
End products include a comprehensive study and digital database
for the numerous producing horizons of the Hugoton Embayment.
Development and application of advanced data management, access,
and analysis tools to transform the immense volume of existing
data into a digestible form that can easily be accessed and transferred
to the interpretation environment of geoscientists and engineers
(i.e., digital products on their desktop). The proposed project
will provide an integrated digital data environment for the gas
and oil reservoirs of the Hugoton Embayment. An environment that
not only collects, catalogs, and archives data, but provides
on-line access at wide-ranging scales to raw data, interpretative
products (e.g., maps, graphs, cross-sections, and reports), and
analytical applications. The proposed system will be capable
of displaying data and interpretations at a range of spatial
scales from basin-wide, to individual township and to individual
wells. The result is an on-line interactive technology transfer
program that will help to unlock the creativity residing in operating
companies, research and policy-making organizations, and the
one unknown person with the bright idea that can lead to new
resources for the future.
Technical Products
Specific technical end products are anticipated to include:
- An online data cooperative "Bank" of digital well
data. Data to be primarily digital well-logs, but can include
other well and geophysical data. Access to the data bank will
be part of participation in the consortium. However, access to
data will be on a cost basis or will require donation of digital
log data from one well for each log accessed. The goal is to
develop broad digital data coverage for the Hugoton and to set
up a method for data exchange that reflects the relative donation
of each participant. The Kansas Geological Society Library will
be a equal participant in the databank and will digitize paper
logs from their files.
- Color Transformation and "pseudoseismic" methods
of well data visualization. Images of subsurface geology will
be captured in an electronic atlas of the Hugoton Embayment.
Electronic images and data will be accessible online for additional
analysis and customization. Color imaging and "pseudoseismic"
methods will be documented and accessible.
- Construction of a structural and stratigraphic framework
of the producing units of the Hugoton Embayment. Three-dimensional
volumes of color transformed log data will be prepared for the
Hugoton, depicting key log types and derivative parameters such
as lithology and apparent water resistivity (Rwa).
- Evaluation of the geologic history of the region will be
prepared using parameters derived from the structural and stratigraphic
framework. Detailed core work will provide the constraints necessary
to constrain depositional and basin simulators.
- An evaluation of the applicability and possible approaches
to basin-wide scale depositional and hydrodynamic modeling using
well-constrained geologic parameters. A new understanding of
the flow system will be assessed in the perspective of the observed
fluid compositional variation and natural gas and oil production
histories and may present new opportunities in exploration and
development of this resource.
- Improved methods of evaluation of gas and oil resources in
mature basins through use of the dynamic database and interactive
spatial visualization methods. This approach can serve as a prototype
for other areas.
- An improved and consistent basin-wide framework for the quantification
of reserves.
These studies and products will provide operators, and the
interested public the information and technology necessary for
improved exploration and producing programs, including infill
decisions, exploration of deeper horizons, and lateral continuity
of reservoirs.
Joint Projects
Participation in joint projects is seen as a fundamental part
of consortium activity and the source of benefits to both sponsors
and to the project. A joint project will be included in the cost
of Full Sponsorship. Additional projects and projects by Associate
and Individual sponsors can be arranged at cost (which would
be negotiated for each project and are in addition to the annual
fee). Project scope, deliverables and timing will be decided
by mutual agreement.
Possible examples of joint projects include:
- A full field reservoir characterization and simulation
- A detailed 3D-velocity volume/model for the shallow strata
in part of the Hugoton.
- A detailed evaluation of production performance (e.g., impact
of infill drilling on incremental reserves or impact of completion
practices).
- Anything else that can contribute to the project and be of
value to the individual sponsor.
It may be possible to arrange a period of confidentiality
for data and results. Personnel from the sponsoring organizations
may participate in all aspects of their joint projects. It is
expected that KU/KGS personnel will do the bulk of the work.
The results of the joint project are expected to eventually become
part of the broader Hugoton project.
Technical Publications
A significant part of the project-to-sponsor technology transfer
will be continuous publication via the World-Wide-Web, email
and direct file transfer of technical products (i.e., maps, cross-sections
and papers) the contain the results of consortium efforts. We
will publish as individual products are completed. All Sponsors
will receive periodic summary reports on all consortium projects.
Annual Report and Consortium Meeting
An annual summary report of all research results and activities
will be prepared and distributed to all Sponsors. An annual meeting
will be held in either Lawrence, Kansas or other mutually agreed
upon site (e.g., Kansas City, Wichita or Houston) for the purposes
of:
- Presentation to Sponsors by KU and Survey personnel of the
results of the previous year's work. This will typically take
the form of oral and poster presentations.
- Increasing communication among the Sponsors on projects and
questions of mutual interest.
- Providing feedback and guidance from the Sponsors to the
project on past performance desired new directions and opportunities
for new interactions.
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Kansas Geological Survey.
Updated December 2000
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