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Tapis Story of a Giant Oil Field

Tapis : A Billion Barrel Oil Field

Anticline 3 mile x 9 miles

In 1980, > 100 wells drilled from 4 platforms, est. Oil in place is 534 MBOOIP
In 2002, 24 years of oil production & new wells, est Oil in place is 1095 MBOOIP
1980 Known: Area, Oil column, Porosity, Sw, PVT, Simulation Models

What is Unknown ?
Tapis North South Section
3-D Seismic 2006
South North

Early Growth
Steeper South Gentler North
Structure
Flank Flank

Early formed trap in favorable position to trap Oil


The First Mental Block

Tapis-1 well took a gas kick with 9.5 ppg mud.


It was wrongly concluded that this is an abnormal pressured section !
Tapis-1 well was lost without running logs
The northern traps eg. Jerneh, Sepat, Pilong & Bintang tested gas.
The southern traps eg. Duyong, Sotong found Gas.
It was wrongly concluded that the Malay Basin is gas prone !
Nearly abandon plans for further drilling in Malay Basin
Bekok well found the first oil in the Malay Basin
More oil discoveries followed.
Tapis has a 500 feet gas cap and 1564 feet oil column.
Density contrast is 11.0 ppg (Reason for the gas kick)
Lessons learned
The first well does not tell the full potential of the field
The other giant oil fields like Guntong and Seligi also have a long story
The Second Mental Block

1978 Tapis Map

OWC -6652 ft
11
Spill
5 4
3
7
GOC -5088ft
Est OWC -5982 ft
8
2
1 6

1978 map
Early Map shows West Tapis spills over to Irong
Tapis-8 found OWC at -5982ft which fits the map. Also RFT tested water.
A perched OWC was proposed.
BUT Tapis-8 pressures indicate a common pressure system for Tapis field, and
Sand to sand juxtaposition indicate pressure communication across the fault
Later Tapis-11 found OWC at -6652ft
Lesson learned: Conflicting Geologic data needs to be resolved early
Common Oil Gradient
For West/Central/East Tapis

Note : No water gradients points


The Third Mental Block

By 1980, Tapis-D development found LESS net sand westwards.


A decision was made to drop 6 wells out of 18 planned wells.
Regional geology support concept of LESS sand.
The thinner oil column on the West Fault Block added to the pessimism.
This gloomy picture for West Tapis was to remain until 20 years later
Tapis is located at Distal end of Gr J clastic Deposition
In the mean time Tapis continued to produce oil at rates better than expected.
Nobody complained.
Engineers revised the Recovery Factor
Geologists revised In-place Oil
Nobody knows exactly why?
A trap with >100 wells, known oil column, 3-D seismic, Simulation Models

Year OOIP EUR RF


1980 534 251 47
1985 556 276 50
1986 556 248 45
1987 687 274 40
1988 672 285 43
1991 672 308 46
In 1994, a detail Geologic Study of Tapis was initiated starting with Cores
The Fourth Mental Block

Definition of Net Pay


World wide experience > 15% Porosity
< 65 % Sw
Non Pay Category consists of 2 Groups
1. Bioturbated Sands
Early bioturbation ,sands remain good oil producers
Grades into unproductive shaley zones
2. Laminated Sand/Shale
Good oil producers
Difficult to tell Non Pay Category from electric logs
Trial and Error method
No Geological Interpretation
Tapis : Detail Geologic Mapping

C
B

B
J-20B

One subtidal sand bar A forms the back bone of Tapis


Reserves Gain with homogeneity between wells
Higher Confidence extrapolating beyond wells
Identified Bioturbated Sand Facies Productive B/Non Productive C
Type section for Group J - Tapis-3 well

A
J-20B > 150 mD

C < 1 mD

Porosity alone cannot distinguish Productive and Non Productive Zones


Lesson learned : Do Detail Geologic Mapping of Sand units
Tapis Lower J Sands

11 Additional 5th Order Parasequences of Heterogenous Subtidal Sand Bodies


Heterogeneity of Sand was the Order of the Day

Shale
B

B A

C
Shale

J-25B

Lesson Learned: High chance of Success, thick stack of 12 Para sequences, ~150 feet
Complacency sets in.
Detail Geologica Work was NOT carried out early
Distinguish Productive versus Non-Productive areas
Formation of Subtidal Sand bodies
Wave

Land Sea level

Clean sand on top


A
B
C
Muddy sand bottom
Bioturbation at bottom

Where is the next Subtidal Sand body ?


Tapis Sands are developed on the N & E Flanks

Is there another Sand Body on the West Flank ?

CREST
Tapis-13

Tapis-13 well found a thick Subtidal Sand Body

Also Seismic data shows Amplitude and AVO


Tapis-13 well drilled in 1995

Subtidal Bar

The Best Sand found 20 years later


13
In 1998, Tapis-E Platform to develop West Tapis with 20 wells.
An Example of Geology and Geophysics Team work !

More Surprises to come !!!!

- Tapis-13 led to renewed interest in west Tapis.


- Tapis-14 was drilled to test the southern reverse fault. The well tested oil
in 6 ohm-m sand but the side track well tested water in 5 ohm-m sand.
- The Resistivity model for Sw calculation was abandoned in favor of the
Capillary Base Model. Reserves +15%

More Surprises to come !!!!


Low contrast pay: 6 ohm-m Oil, but 5 ohm-m Wet

Wet

Wet

Wet
Tapis Upper J : 2 Minor Sands
Two 5 m thin Oil sands
Completed as Oil producers only when necessary
No Attention paid to Upper J Production until after 5 years, the Upper J
produced >100% OOIP
A detail Geology work carried out, based on Cores, electric logs &
Production Data.
Results: The Tidal Flat Model of thinly laminated pay.
Upper J OOIP revised 4 fold, from 30 MBOOIP to 120 MBOOIP
Tapis-F Platform to develop south flank with 5 wells

Previous Net Pay Model


-Underestimate Sw by averaging Sand/Shale
- + 50%
-Underestimate Gross Sands : Linearly extrapolation of Sand body between wells
ignore Sinuosity of Channels
+ 60%
- Underestimate Gross Sand trends. Large areas of Pay Sand Ignored
+ 70%
Lesson Learned: Geological Interpretation must Start from Cores first
Tapis Upper J Productive Sand

Tapis F-06 Well

J-10 Sand

Lateral Aggredational
J-15 Sand Tidal Channels
Summary of OOIP Reserves Adds

534 to 672 Revised Net Pay cutoff


672 to 720 Detail mapping of Lower J
720 to 810 Detail mapping of Upper J
810 to 860 West Tapis Development
860 to 1000 Capillary based Sw model

More Surprises to come !!!!


What about the Group I ?
In Tapis the large Gas Cap was undrilled except for 1 well
And the smaller Group I Oil accumulation was found 27 years later.
Reserves ? <100 MBOOIP
A Stratigraphic/Structural Trap
Tapis Final Picture: 5 Platforms
Group I not developed yet

B Platform A Platform
D Platform
1978 1977
1981
C Platform
1980
F Platform
E Platform 2004
1998
Latest Update
2008: 3 wells drilled from Tapis F platform to develop the non Associated Gas Group K reservoir.
2009: Plans to carry out EOR for Lower J . Estimated an addition 10% EUR by repeated
Gas injection. 4 D seismic to be carried out.
So Many Pitfalls
But
So Much Oil is Found !
Back Up Slides
Lessons learned?

Oil business No Room for Faint hearted /doomsday prophet


Oil is found First in the Minds of Geologist Wallace Pratt
Data analyses must be DETAIL
Rocks are the starting points for any Geological Interpretation
Identify Productive versus Non-productive Geology Based Sand
Development Geology provided some insight into Exploration Geology
Review the Assumptions often
3 D Seismic is useful to look for Stratigraphic/Structural traps
All these material are from PMU UDRS

Future
EOR methods ?
Is 2000 ft well Spacing Correct ?
3 D Seismic again to gain 4 D data
Undrained Oil Pockets
Convert to Multi Laterals wells ?

You are welcome to add on the list


Tapis : A Billion Barrel Oil Field

Anticline 3 mile x 9 miles

In 1980, after 10 delineation wells the reserves are 534 MBOOIP, 251 MBOEUR, RF 47%
In 2002, 24 years of oil production the reserves are 1095 MBOOIP, 394MBOEUR, RF 36%

What ? How? Why? When? Where?


The First Mental Block

Tapis-1 well took a gas kick with 9.5 ppg mud.


It was wrongly concluded that this is an abnormal pressured section !
More drilling problems followed
Tapis-1 was lost without running logs
The anticlines in the north eg. Jerneh, Sepat, Pilong & Bintang tested gas.
In the mean time, Conoco drilled Duyong and Sotong and found Gas.
It was wrongly concluded that the Malay Basin is gas prone !
The last well at Bekok found oil
Tapis-2 lead to the discovery of a Giant oil field.
Tapis has a 500 feet gas cap and 1564 feet oil column.
Density contrast is 11.0 ppg (Reason for the gas kick)
Lessons learned
Pressure from fluid density contrast is difficult to detect and predict.
Pressure data and fluid samples are important to determine the fluid systems.
Geochemistry helps to determine the source and maturation.
Nowadays wells are planned at the DHI estimated fluid contact to minimise
this problem.
The Second Mental Block

1978 Tapis Map

OWC -6652 ft
11

5 4
3
7
GOC -5088ft
Est OWC -5982 ft
8
2
1 6

1978 map

Self Fulfilling Prophesy


Tapis-8 drilled 1980 found OWC at -5982ft, but pressure points fit Field Oil gradien
A typo mistake: RFT sample recovered 0.23 cuft gas instead of 23 cuft gas
Allen diagram cannot explain fault seal
Tapis-11 drilled 1985 found OWC at -6652ft
Map revised to fit OWC
The First Mental Block

Tapis-1 (1969), first well drilled in the Malay Basin took a gas kick at 4588 feet
(crest of anticline) with 9.5 ppg mud.
It was wrongly concluded that this is an abnormal pressured section !
More drilling problems followed in the 1000ft thick water sensitive Terengganu
Shale and Gas in Group K. Tapis-1 was lost without running logs. A decision was
made to drill the easier large anticlines in the north eg. Jerneh, Sepat, Pilong,
Bintang and Belumut. These wells tested gas. In the mean time, Conoco drilled
Duyong and Sotong and found Gas.
It was wrongly concluded that the Malay Basin is gas prone !
A last minute decision to drill just one more well at Bekok and oil was found.
Tapis-2 was drilled in 1974, 5 years after Tapis-1, leading to the discovery of a Giant oil
field.
Tapis Group J is normally pressured with a 500 feet gas cap and 1564 feet oil column.
Pressure at OWC -6652 ft deepest point in the reservoir is 2794 psi (6652 x 0.42psi/ft)
Density contrast is 1564 x 0.27psi/ft + 500 x 0.068psi/ft =456psi
Pressure at top of reservoir = 2794 psi 456 psi
=2338psi
=2338/4105 x0.052 =11.0 ppg (Reason for the gas kick)
Lessons learned
Pressure from fluid density contrast is difficult to detect and predict.
Pressure data and fluid samples are important to determine the fluid systems.
Geochemistry helps to determine the source and maturation.
Nowadays wells are planned at the DHI estimated fluid contact to minimise
this problem.
In the mean time Tapis continued to produce oil at rates better than expected.
Nobody complained.
Engineers revised the Recovery Factor (Pressure depletion 29%, GI & WI 47%)
Gas Injection and Water Sweep, 1 row Water injection and 3 rows Oil Producers
Geologists revised In-place Oil
Nobody knows exactly why?
A trap with >100 wells, known oil column, 3-D seismic, Simulation Models

Year OOIP EUR RF


1980 534 251 47
1985 556 276 50
1986 556 248 45
1987 687 274 40
1988 672 285 43
1991 672 308 46
In 1994, a detail Geologic Study of Tapis was initiated starting with Cores
Regional Geology of Tapis Field Group J times
Low contrast pay: 6 ohm-m Oil, but 5 ohm-m Wet

Wet

Wet

Wet
Common Oil Gradient
For West/Central/East Tapis

Note : No water gradients points


Pressure from Tapis-8 well supports common OWC field wide at -6652 ft

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