BASIC OF

EXPLORATION
Dr.Ir.Sudjati Rachmat,DEA

20

Oil Exploration and Recovery

Major petroleum companies spend millions of pounds
each year on geologic exploration includes basic
science research and development
Basic petroleum search techniques include
gravity, magnetic, seismic mapping of subsurface
geology drill holes and well logs
wildcat drilling

20

Petroleum ExplorationGeophysical Methods

Gravity methods
Magnetic surveys
Seismic surveys

20

Principle of Gravity Surveys

Uncorrected
Gravity
+1 Gravity
-1 Value (mgal)
-2
-3

Corrected Gravity
(Bouguer Anomaly)
Meter

Salt
2.1 gm/cm3

Clastics
2.4 gm/cm3
20

Principle of Magnetic Surveys

Sedimentary Basin
Basement

Magnetization
Measured

20

5
(from xxx, 19xx)

Seismic Surveys
The seismic tools commonly used in the oil
and gas industry are 2-D and 3-D seismic
data
Seismic data are used to:
Define and map structural folds and faults
Identify stratigraphic variations and map sedimentary
facies
Infer the presence of hydrocarbons

20

Receivers
Source

Surface
Weathered layer
Horizontal reference

Basic
Seismic
Principles

Modified from Waters, 1981

7

Marine Acquisition System

Boat
Sea Surface
Source
(Airguns)

Cable with hydrophones

Incident
waves

Reflected
waves

Sea bed

Sedimentary Layers
20

Seismic Section with Log Ties

Geophysical
Well Log

20

9
Modified from Weimer and Davis,1996

Applications of Seismic Data

Make a structural model of the reservoir
Delineate and map reservoir-quality rocks
Establish gas/water contacts

20

10

- 126
00

Structural Map, VLE 196 Field

O
W

-1
22
00

-12
40

-12400

Structural interpretation
based on 3-D seismic
and well log data

-1
28
00

-1
30
00

00
26
-1

-11600

-1
2

4
0

00
26
-1

00
24

-1
1400

-1

> -11,600

- 11600

-12400

-1
26
00

ault
400 F

-12,400
-12,800

VLE

-11,600
-12,000

-11800

Sea-level datum

-12,000
-12,400

0
28

-11600

-1

0
00
-1 2

Top Misoa C-4 Sand

Elevation (ft) N

< -12,400
W

20

-1
26
00

3000 ft
1000 m

-12
40
0

0
40
12

11

Channels

Seismic
Amplitude
Map
of a
Horizon
3-D Seismic data
define reservoirquality,channel-fill
sand deposits

20

12
Modified from Brown, 1996

Fluid Level Boundaries on 3-D Data

Not Interpreted

Flat spot on seismic line indicates

20
petroleum / water contact

Interpreted

Fault

13

Modified from Brown, 1996

4-D Seismic Surveys

The 4 in 4-D seismic is time
A 4-D survey means that at least two 3-D seismic
surveys have been made at different times over the
same field
Reflection character (attributes) change through
time
These changes result from migration of the water
contact in the reservoir
20

14

Subsurface Geologic Reconstruction

20

15

20

16

 Primary

Recovery: uses only the natural energy of the

reservoir typically recovers up to 50% of reservoir oil
(average ~ 20%)
Secondary Recovery: involves adding energy to the
reservoir by injecting water to maintain pressure and
displace the oil typically recovers about 25-45% after
primary recovery (average ~ 30%)
Tertiary Recovery: other methods can recover an
additional 15 20% of oil after primary and secondary
recovery

20

17

20

18

20

19

Oil removal can have immediate geologic effects

20

20