BEng (Hons) Petroleum Engineering

Course: Introduction To Petroleum Engineering Instructor Dr. Tarek Darwich

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

Course Outlines:
What is Petroleum Engineering? The Life Cycle of Oil and Gas projects, Origin, formation and accumulation of Petroleum, Oil & Gas Exploration, Appraisal of Oil & Gas Discoveries, Development of Oil & Gas Discoveries, Producing Oil & Gas Fields, Transportation of Oil & Gas, The Petroleum Industry & the Environment, Petroleum Economics.
Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

Oil and Gas Exploration

Began in 1859 (or earlier) with the discovery at Oil Creek, Pennsylvania by Colonel Edwin Drake. Started by looking for surface seepages and surface geological mapping There are a number of geophysical methods that are implemented in the exploration for oil and gas. Geophysics is the application of the principles of physics to the study of the earth. It involves taking measurements at or near the earth surface that are influenced by the internal distribution of the physical properties. The analysis of this information reveals information on the earths interior.

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering Geophysical Methods of Oil & Gas Exploration

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

Gravity & Magnetic Methods

They are passive geophysical methods as they seek out naturally occurring variations in the earths gravity and magnetic fields. Lateral variations in rock density give rise to gravity anomalies & lateral variations in rock magnetisation produce magnetic anomalies. At a relatively low cost compared to seismic surveys, gravity and magnetic techniques can provide geophysical coverage of large areas. Many explorationists consider the gravity and magnetic methods as the rough first cut to zero in on locations to set up their seismic gear. In some countries (e.g. in some Canadian states, fairly sparse but useful magnetic and gravity maps are available at zero or low cost from the State.

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering The Gravity Method

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering The Magnetic Method

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering The Seismic Method

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering The Seismic Method

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

Seismic method in hydrocarbon exploration

Seismic surveys may be differentiated on the basis of:
The geometry of the receiver system The density of measurements made over a given area The type of sensors used

Different Geometries of the receiver system

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

Seismic method in hydrocarbon exploration

Seismic surveys may be differentiated on the basis of the density of measurements over a given area. 3D surveys have a much denser number of measurements than 2D surveys. In 2D surveys:
a single seismic cable or streamer is towed behind the survey vessel together with a single sound source. The reflections from the subsurface are assumed to lie directly below the sail line that the survey vessel move along providing an image in two dimensions (horizontal and vertical) 2D acquisition lines are typically acquired several kilometer apart The method is generally used in frontier areas to produce a general understanding of the areas geological structure The weakness in the 2D surveys lies in the gaps in knowledge caused by the large spacing between the grid lines. Typically lines are not much closer than 1 or 2 km and therefore interpretation is not accurate.

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering 2D and 3D Seismic Surveys

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

Seismic method in hydrocarbon exploration

3D surveys:
usually cover areas with known geological targets that have already been covered by 2D surveys Careful planning is very important Group of sail lines are acquired Typical 3D line separation is in the order of 400 m to 800 m By utilising more than one source and many streamers from the same seismic vessel, the acquisition of many closely spaced lines (typically between 25 to 50 m) can be achieved. 3D Surveys are usually acquired with a racetrack pattern being employed. A small 3D survey is in the order od 300 km2 while a large 3D survey is in the range of 1,000 to 3,000 km2.

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

Seismic method in hydrocarbon exploration

4D surveys:
Are time-lapsed 3D surveys. They are simply 3D surveys which are repeated over the same area over a period of time. The purpose of these surveys is to get images of how the hydrocarbon reservoir is changing over time to identify any infill opportunities and maximise the hydrocarbon recovery. The have become increasingly used since mid 1990s.

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering The Seismic Method

Year 2012 - 2013

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering The Seismic Method

Year 2012 - 2013