..

OE-79. SPE 8153.1.

a CopyrightSPE 1979

SPE

8153

Geological aspects of the drilling ~f the

Buchan field

P, J. HILL
BP Petroleum Development L@. UK
Dr. PA HJll is the developxant
geologist for tbo Fonies a:.d
Buobsn fields A sradusce
of thO
Universityof Soutbempton h? joined
BP in 1972and WSS kdtiy
seconded to tbo BP ReeeszohCentre
in Sunbury-on-Thames. In 1974 he
wes posted to New Zeelaadbefore
Develop
comingto BP Petroleum
mentin Aberdeen in 1977. Since
tbsttimehohes been reqmeible for
the geologist input into the
development of the Buchan field
and Mteriy the Fonics fiel~

G. SMITH
The Analysts inland Services. UK.
Grebem J%Smith is the North See
diankt mensserwithThe Anaiysrs
Inland Services. A greduatefromthe
University of Aberdeemwith a B.SC,
(Hone) degree in Geology. He joined
The Analysts in 1973, and since
then has hen closely sssoaiated
with The Analysts weUlogging
divisin!!k che North Sea m&

*
INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL
c
BACKGROUND
The !3uchenfiel~ located some 150 km nonh east of
Aberdeenin 120 m of water, is situatedlargelyin the UK
licence block 21/1 (P.241) that was granted m Transworld Petroleum (UK) Ltd in July 1972, (Fig, 1). The
discoverywell21/! -1 was drilledin June 1974. and was
followedduring1975-76 bythreeappraisalwells,twoof
which eventually penetratedend tested the reservoir.
However, the appraisal wells 21/1-2 and 21/14 experienced serious drilling problems at rhe top of the
reset40ir section end were eventually los~ These wells
setwees illustrationsc4theextremedifhdth encounteredin
drilling this structure and proved the existence of a
complex, fault-controlledstructure with a maximum oil
column of 582 m in overprmsured,highlyfracturm low
porosity resewoir sandstone of Devonian-Lower Carboniferousage (Fig 2).
In July 1977 as a result of a farm-in agreement BP
Petroleum Development Ltd, became the operator of

IicenceP.241 and twk a 54 1/6 per cemtinterest in the

Buchenfield. In planning any devl~lopmentof the field it
beceme evident that a conventiold Nonh Sea drilliny
prediction platformwouldbe, e~onomiceily,a very high
risk pro~itiom Tiaesize and complicatednature of the
structureand reservoirsendstonesposed many questions
regarding the reliable calculation of oil in place and
recovery factor, and make the field wot%hyof the title
marginal.
As a result of feasibility studies it was decided to
aevelop the fieldfromeightwellsprcducingto a convened
semi-submersiblepladiontt.Transportationof the stabiljsed
crudewillbebyarankershuttleservicevie.sncffshoreloading
bwy locatedclose to the platform(Fig. 3). Reduction is
plannedto start in the autumnof 1979. In a time sensitive
pisn of this nature, and in viewofthe past drillinghistory.
the successful completion of the drilling phase was an
important step inthe developmentof the field
Developmentdrillin~commencedin September 1977
and was completedin early November1978. Duringthis
..,.

*.

OE-79. SPE 8153.2.

14 month periodfourdeviatedwellsweredrilledand the
previouslysuspendedweii 21/1-2ST wee m-enterd In
additiontwo satellitewellsweredrilledfromthe southern
fhinkofthe fieldandwiilbetiedintotheproductionsystem
by four subsea flowiines(P@ 4).
This paperhighlightsthe haztudouapmbiemamscwiated
with the developmentdrillingof this field and how they
were succsssfii[y overcome.

STRUCTURE AND STRATIGWHY

OF THE
BUCHAN FIEF D
Tiie Buchans mcture is so east-westorientatedhorst
that liescioeet~,dteaxisofa regionaiMesozoicsynciittein
which them i, an almost completesucwssion of Upper
Paleozoic sEilMesozoicsediments(Fs 2). This suggests
uqji~ of the horat of at least 2$00 m and from seismic
evidence at least 1,000 m of this uplift occurred during
LowerCretaceoustimes.ThroughoutmuchofthiFperiod
however,thehorstremainedbelowsealeve~althoughthe
Wt dramaticallyover the
Lower Cretaceousshales
highestpartsof the hors~
The preciseage of pre-Cretaceousmovementsof the
horst are extremely difFicultto define. However,the
overallstructureof the Buchanhorst and its continuation
as a linear highto the eaa~ is similarto the axial horstsof
major transcurrent
fault zones. It seems most likelythat
the fomtation of the Buchan structureresulted from
nonnai movementson a reactivatedfault system which
was initiated during late Paleozoic times, conterm
pxatteous withthe mqjorepisodeof transcurrentfaulting
recognisedin highlandScotland 1: is interestingm note
that the Buchan horst lies close to the northeasterly
extension of the Highland Boundary Fault C( onshore
Scotland a m~or transcurrent fauk
Faultmovemcmt
appearsto haveceasedby Maasaichtian
times(Late Cretaceous):however,closureon the Buchan
stmcture is apparentinto the Paleocene, probablydue to
the effectsof compactionaldrape.
A generalisedstratigraphyofthe Buchanfieldis shown
in Fig 5 and the Iithostratigraphicnomenclaturefollows
that proposed by Deegsn and Sdl A Recent to Lower
Cretaceous succession lies unconformably on the
Devonianhwer Carboniferous reservoir sandstones.
However. bee-we of movement of the Buchan horst
during the Cretaceous, non sequencesand variations in
thicknessoccur in the Cretaceous strata across the field.
The reservoirsequenceis similar in Iithologyto the Old
Red Sandatones of mainland Scotland and the combination
of abundantcross-baddin%finingupwardcycles,
and palaaosol developmentindicates that the sediments
arc of fluviatileorigin. Palymologica.1
dating givesan age
range of Fatrunenian to Visean(Upper DevonianLower
Carboniferous)for the upperpart of the reservoirand ail
wells drilled in tie field terminate in this sandstone
sequence.
.

DRILLING PROBLEMS IN THE WCHAN

FIELD
Duringthe discoveryand appraisaiof the Buchattfield
seriousdrilling problems were encountered.These arose
for four main reaswns(Fig. 6).
Geophysieai datx
Mappingthe topof thereservoiracrossthe Buchanfield
isa di&tcuhexercis~ QvcrthehighlyfaultedBuchanhorst

Hiii and SmitlE

the quality of the soistnicdata is poor and the reflector
This,

dle top tUSetVOushowsmany charactervathticm

together with complex variations in velocity gave

errorsof up to 133 m in the predictionsof thedepthof the
top reservoir.Hence geophysicscouldnot be reiii upon
to accuratelydetlne the depth to the top reservoirat well
locations.
OverpreestIred meervoir
Pressure data obtained from the appraisal wells ittdicatada reservoirpreasureof7,500 paigat 2926 m TVD
subsez an ovorpresauroof some 3,200 psi. The Iowcr
Cretaceousshales,immediatelybelowthechalk markthe
transition zone from the normalpressure regimeof the
upper patt of the section to the highly ovmpressurcd
regimeof the reservoir(Fi$ 6).
Pore pressure in the sealing Shales
The pore pressure builds up very rapidly in the Lower
Cretaceousshc!s section increasingfroma 1.18 SG mud
equivalent(9.8 ppg) to a 1.95 SG mudquiv~ent ( 16.3
ppg) overa 20-30 m interval.Unlessdrilledwitha high
mud weighttheoverpressuredshalesgiveseriousheaving
hole conditions, In addition a comparison of the pore
pressureandfracturepressuregradientsthroughthe chalk
indicatesthat this intervalis not capable of withstanding
the highmudwcightsneededtocontrolthesloughingofthe
LowerCrotaceouashales.
The hickness of tho,sesIingstales acrosathe 13uchan
strucwe variesfromlessthan 30 m on the crestto scverai
huudredmctreson the flanks.Hence, it is not possibleto
predictthe depth to the top of the reservoirhorn the rapid
build-upof pore pressurein the shalesimmediatelybelow
the chalk
Loss Zonos
Two majorloss zonesoccurin the stratigraphicsection
overlying the Buchan hors~ The uppermost loss zone
wcurs in sandstonesand fracturedlimestonesat the base
ofthe Danian. Duringthe drillingof well21/1-2 this zone
was uncasedwhenthe top C:de rsservoirwas penetrated
at a shallower depth than had been anticipated. The
increasein mud weightrequiredto balance the reservoir
pressureresultedinconsiderablemudlossesto the Danian
wnds and fracturedlimestones.Eventually the well was
pluggedbackto the 13%in. casingshoe inthe Eoceneand
then sidetracked
The second loss zone occurs in fractured Turonian
limestonesat the base of the chaik sectiorLWell 21/1-4
also penetrated the top of the resemoir higher than
expected aqd mud losses, this time to the fracturca
Wonien limestones,resultedin the eventwd 10ssof the
hole.
T2 SU~d~
thc h~ards in drilling on the Buchan
flcl. stem primarilyfromthe reservoirbeinghighlyover-
pressurecLand the overlying scalingshalesbeingas little
as 30 m thick The presence of two potentiai major lost
circulation zones and the uncertainty in predicting the
depthto the top of the resemoiradd furthercomplication.,
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE BUCHAN
DRILLING PROGIMMME

In drilling an economicallymarginalfield it is vital to

meet the deadlines set by the overall developmentpm
grtunme. The successful completion of the Buchan
developmentdriilingphasedependedon a thoroughundcr-

~k%icd

sSP8CUoftin+

oftbe

OE-79* sPl% 81s3.3.

Buchan fiOU

staadingcfthe geologyofthe tleldareaand theintegradon

of this data.with soud drillingpracdce.
The nine.slottemplatewas posidotwdon theseabedin
August 1977 and developmentdrilling comtnenced in
September1977 and wee catpleted in eariy November
1978. Duringthis 14 monthperiod4 deviatedwellswere
drilledthroughthetemplateanddtepreviouslysuspended
well21/ 1-2ST was recentered In addhiom two,satellite
wejlsweredrilledon the southernflack of the field In all
cases the drilling progmmme was the same end was
specificallydesignedto overcomethe problemsdescribed
shove. Much dependedon accurategeologicaldecisions.
~~hrly
in picking the 13% im and 9% in. casing
.
IAlcatios of 13% b casing Shoe
TM casing string was set below the m@or lostcircuiadonzoneinthesendstmw endfracturedchalk at the
base cfthe Denim. The shoe weeset some 30 m into the
Cretaceouschu belowthe cherts of the Meaetrichtian.
With the 13%im shoe set in the Maastrichdan chalk the
Danian 10SSzone is cased off.
Location of9% iaOC8singshe
TM casingshoe must be set belowthe loss zone in the
bsmturedTuronianchalkaadabovetheshaIestnarkingthe
topof the pressuretransidonzona Thiscasesoffthechalk
andtheTuronian loss zoneend elllowsthe mud weightto
be raisedm drill the overpessuredtransidoazone end
safelyenterthe reservoir.
In the well21/1-4 the LowerCretaceousshale interval
was only 30 m thick and the possibilityexisted that this
interval might be even thinner at structurally higher
positionson the Buchsn hors~ The optimum position at .
whichto set the shoeis closetothe topof the Cenomsnien
mudstones.In the absenceof reliabie seismicprediction
threeon-sitecriteriaweredevelopedto aid inthe pickingof
the critical 9% in casing points.

assemblageswere characterisedby en abundanceof

HedbwgellaOnttonens&
and Hedbergel!adelrionensti
togetherwiththe fmt downholerecord of Rotalipw
cwhmaniandRotalipomgrwthomensis(Fi& 7).
(iii) Pore pressure - The shales below the Turonian
chalk mark the tranaidon from the normeIpressure
regime to the highly ovarpreesured regime of the
resemoir secdom To obtain a measure of the pore
pressure whilst drillinfi the Analysts Inc, IttstantaneouaDrillingEveluadon&g(IDEL) systemwas
usedthroughoutthe 12%imaccdon(Fi~ 8), Thisonsite, computerised logging system continuously
samplesthe formation drilling response end calculates the wre pressure as an equivalent mud
weigh every heif metroof hole drilletLAs an aid to
url teiy detemtining~re pressure the important
%g
parameters - bit wear, weight on bit and
rotary s~ed - were stabilised as much as possible
during the drilliig of the 12!4 in. hole. The pore
pressure analysis by the IDEL system is baaed on
established drillingresponse theory integratedwith
basic bit perfornmncetheory.
The pore pressure log plotted every half metre
pinpointedthe pressuretransidon zone in the shales
beneadt the Turonian chalk (Fig 8).
CONCLUSIONS

By combinadon of detailed analysis of the probletm

tight stratisgraphic control sound drilling practice and
carefblmonitoringofporepressure,the 9%h casingshoe
was set in its optimumpoaidon. Accurate omsite geology
and pelaeontology ensures identification of the Cen-

manien mudstones and ensured that the loss zone of

i%actumdTuronian chalk was fully penetratedin 12%im
hole. Detailed and continual analysis of the drilling
response enabled pore pressure to be calculated and
ensured
that the pressure transition zone was not pen~
(0 Lhhology -The Upper Cretaceous is composedof
trated. This avoided the serious sloughingof the overwhitelimestones(chalk)interbeddedwithcaicartime
pressured shales and the drastic increase in mud weight
mudatu.les. Within the Turonian-Maastrichtian
with resultant losses to the Turonian chalk. The method
interval, three distinct red/brown mudstones and a
also ensured that the reservoirwas not ;.-rated and so
cherty section were found to consistently cwcur
avoidedWtential blowoutsituations.
acrr,M the Buchan structure. Below this are
With the 12%in. hole@illedno furtherthan 10 m into
Cer.~maniansndpossibly LowerCretaceousshales.
the Cenomanian mw!stones,and with a mud weight of
However,as ~itaiestringersoccurinthe Turonienthe
around 1.18 SG equivalen&the fracturedTuronian chalk
first apparance of shtdes is not a conclusive
did not giveproblems.Once the 9% in. was set at a depth
indictadon of the CenomaniamCarefttl analysis of
still in the normal pressure regime the 842 in. hole was
~nc~ings by the geologistgavegoodstradgraphic
drilledwitha mudweightaround 1.95 SG equivalentand
the overpressuredshale section and reservoirwere penetrated safely.
(?9 Palaeontolow- Ithad beenestablishedbydetailed
Figure 8 shows the situation in the first development
study of earlier wells that seven palaeontoiogicel
meJkels
Cddbereccacited
intheupper
crataeeoua well21/ 1-6. In this case althoughthe thicknesstlom the
base ofthe Turonianchaikto top rsservoiris 70 mdriiledi
secdott,These merkefiweredistinct-hd idendfiable
the thicknessfromthe base of the chalk to the top of the
and ditch cuttingswerecontinuouslydated at the rig
transition zone is only 30 m drilled. However,the top
site to ensure that the 9$6 im shoe was set in the
reservoircamein at 2626 m TVD b% some60 m highon
uppermost part of the Cenomaniatt shale intmal
the geophysicalforecaa~Had the problemsat the 9% in.
(Fl& 7).
casing
depth not been recognised and the above pro. .
cechres establishedand applied theti well21/1-6 would
The critical recognidonof the Cenomanianat the base of
almost certainly have given serious hole problems and
the UpperCretaceouswasdependenton the identificadon
much valuable time in the developmentdrillingproblem
of speciilc microfossils.These pianktonic foraminifertd
IOSL
: copyright S?Z 1979
.

,.

,,

OE-79. SPi 8153.4.

Hiiiand Smitix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paparis theresultofsmdios undertakenby stcffct
BP Petroieum Development U Dyce as part of the
&velopment pmgramme of the Buchan field We cm,
therefore, indebted to a large number of colleaguesfor
theirhelR canmenra andsuggestionsinthe preparationof
this paper. In particularthe workof T. Bumhiilcnd I. R
Vann is acknowledged.We thank the Chairman and
Boardof Directorsof the BritishPetroleumCa U and
the other partners in the BuchanMd for permissionto
pubiishthk paper.

REFERENCES
1. KENNEDY, W.Q., TheGraatGien Fault?,Quun
J Geoi Sot., London, 102,41-72.1946.
B,J., A St8Xldd
2. DEEGAN, C.E. and SCU
Iithostmtigraphic
nomenclatureforthe Centrcicnd
Nodtem Nonh Sea,IGS Repmt77/25, BuUedn1,
1977,
3. BUTMR IL, PHELAN,M%ad WIGHT,AW.,
The Buchanfield An evsluadon of a fiactumd
SVnL
sandstonereservoir. SPWLA 4th Eumoean
..
.
Trans.,Paper & 1976.

0 copyright 1979
AmoricawInstitute of Mlnin& Metaiiurgicai cad Petroioum Eugineem In&
This papar was pmpamd for the Offshore Europa 79 Confomnce 10 conjuncdon with the Aberdsan
Petroieum Section of the Society of Petroieum Engineara of AIME heid in AberdeemScotiaa4 3-7
Septambar, 1979. ?ermissim @ tzypyis metrfctedto an abatmt of not mom than 300 wortk Illustrations
aknowiedgement of wlwra and by whom the
may not be copied The abstrmt sbtmid contain conspicuous
paper is pmaanted Publication oiaewhemafter publication in tho Journai of Petroiaurn Tacimoi~ or the
Society of PetroiaumEnginaersJournai is usuaiiy granted upon request to the Editor of the appropriate
journai Provided asmementto give proper credit is mad-

NINIAN~

(!/
o

4s

SHETLANO

\.
FRIGG

0
/

(Y

.
BERYL
4, I
OlpER

TARTAN .,(

CLAYMORE #

BUCHANS

MAUREEN

NDREW- \

SCOTLAND
.

+\

v
~
p\

o
-0

r?, -

L.

,--...

-..

.---

,.

Km8

rig.

uxauon map or ma Eucnaa nets

...

OE-79. SPE 81S3 5.

GaolOgioalaspaots ofthodriUing c4rho BuohM field

OCPTH

(m)

2000
I
1

3000

., ...

.. $

2800

... . .

...

.. .-., ..
..,...,.

3200
3400
3000 1

F~

2.

FRACTURED OEVONIAN SANDSTONES

Dia~dc

SCCtiOIl sofas

tie

Buchut $UUCtUM.

TION

TANKER LOAOING AT
SINQL,E FOINT UOORINQ

/4?!

CALMLOADIN13
BUOY

t [

WELL 21/1-2ST

TEMPLATg WITH>
~\\
4 WELLS

12 LOAOINO LINE

~
FOUR 4 LINES

A-

(2

(L,

WV

,,

FLOWLINES a 2 ANNULUS LiNes)

AND CONTROL HOSE SUNOLES

Fig.3

OFF NORST SATELLITS ANO

vERTICAL SATELLITC WELLS

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

OF THE BUCHAN FIELD INSTALLATION

.

Fig. 3.

Schematic diagrsm of the Buchsn field hIstWation.

: Copyright SPE 1979

.

SUCHAN

m,tm

FIELD

o
0000

20/s21/1
I

So

s?wN

tWmmWm

2...,,,...,.::
.;..............

!00

OLD Mo

-H

1s0

1. thmthus

mfslos

$:;. :.:i..:;..:.:.:
,.,.:
., .. ,,. .:, ::..<.
.....
.... ,.
,.......................
,,
;
: ,...
..:::
.,.:;.
:.:., ,: j.::..::::.
..:...... ..... ,,.,,,...
., .....,.
.. ..J,..
..:: :.:.:
:,.... ...
:;:,;.:::,;.:::;:::.:.:.=:.2;.;

un*tO

!0 awurawy

tac rmuvair,

Dttilat

Uwml WWbdmw.
3. Wu omwroSUI14S
upmetilvIn thin OIWIW bsnwth
2. WWproowms

W,*,-

mowvolr, -

tho Ore..
of tho Ohalk.
4. Fmotwd llwaaim Ilnmstanw t 9s00 a atmtk eat w s mapr 100s
zmo, piwthw law wno 00WUO at tho toe of tn. altslk witnln
tho OMIM .
:*

I
00*00

Fi& 4.

The

Buohanffold development ddliing pmgmmme.

Fi~ 6.

WA WD

!s
.

see

. ..
...

Wnoabblw

wow

LITHOLOGICAL

LAEONTOLOGICAL
MARKER

MARKER

. .

:::.

A summery
ofthedrillingproblems in thO Buohenfield.

OLIOOCtHI

UID07EXTULARIA

TO RCCWI?

Stit$!mas
Wld Slw

Cloem,

UPPER

RSD MuDSTIMR

p-

WMIROW

auow

V6L4WWM
smdmtcm* mm

2000

Muoltonm

and Il,nota
W

MlltOLE
RED MUOSTONC

aoao

El

II

A1&NoANT
RUOC6L9ttOKRlNA
SPP

LOWKR
RIO MUOSTONR

OWOM4W TO L .CAWOW8ROUS
ale ma tinmw

CENOMANiAIA
MUOSTONC

OLO

RSO
SAtAOSTONC

OLOBOTRUNCANA
Pamwwtoaaa

rOP

OSAMULARIA

Buahmmlc

tiCOSSROELLA
- Wlttofmwis
- Od!twimm
ROTALI?ORA
- Cwhmeni
- QwmhOfn,nsls

:9

Fig 5.

Genereiised etratigrephy of the Buchsn tield,

Fig, 7.

Kc~retaceous stradgrephic msrkere over the Buohen

.,-

Gcdogical aspects
of tho driIIhw

of the Buoban fiald

OE-79. SPE 81$3.7.

)EPTH

292s

Wii
=

,
..*.

,
I

I
1

I
I

,
1
I

,
1

r
L

Iz

,
1

,
1

29s0

297S

Tw

R{ Uvoi?
3000

1==

Fig 8.

The AIMJyStSInc. Instamancous drillingevaluationlog - Buchan field.

Copyright SPE 1979

,
1

I -

/a
I m

i
I