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Petroleum Geology Conference series

Jotun Field reservoir geology and development strategy: pioneering play knowledge, multidisciplinary teams and partner co-operation key to discovery and successful development
D. BERGSLIEN, G. KYLLINGSTAD, A. SOLBERG, et al. Petroleum Geology Conference series 2005; v. 6; p. 99-110 doi: 10.1144/0060099

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2005 Petroleum Geology Conferences Ltd

Jotun Field reservoir geology and development strategy: pioneering play knowledge, multidisciplinary teams and partner co-operation key to discovery and successful development
D. BERGSLIEN, G. KYLLINGSTAD, A. SOLBERG, I. J. FERGUSON and C. F. PEPPER ESSO NORGE AS, an ExxonMobil Subsidiary, PO Box 60, 4064 Stavanger, Norway (e-mail: dag.bergslien@exxonmobil.com)
Abstract: Accumulated knowledge from the early pioneering wells and subsequent exploration history led to the discovery of several elds in the Utsira High area during the 1990s. One of these, the Jotun Field, was discovered in 1994. The Jotun Field consists of three structures and is located on the western ank of the Utsira High, close to the eastern pinchout of the Tertiary submarine fan system. The reservoir at Jotun comprises Paleocene Heimdal Formation sands shed from the East Shetland Platform and transported across the Viking Graben area onto the Utsira High by high density gravity ow processes dominated by sandy turbidites. These distal gravity ow deposits display both thin-bedded sands alternating with shales and thicker, more massive sandstones (tens of metres thick). Minor sand injections occur throughout the eld but are volumetrically insignicant. The production wells in one of the structures are completed in a slump and injection complex above thick massive reservoir sands. The Jotun Field development strategy was designed to optimize oil capture and minimize risk based on the interpreted reservoir geology. The initial development comprised 14 development wells: 12 horizontal producers, 1 water injector and 1 water disposal well. Production from the Jotun Field started in October 1999 and reached peak production in June 2000, with 140 000 BOPD. After exceeding initial expectations, declining production and rising water cut prompted an inll well programme, time-lapse seismic data acquisition and production logging in 2002. The rst two wells were disappointing due to facies transition to interbedded sands and shales on the anks of the structure and underprediction of oilwater contact movement. The newly available time-lapse seismic data were then integrated with production logging and updated depositional facies studies to evaluate additional drilling opportunities. The discovery, appraisal and development history of the Jotun Field serves as a good example of the key challenges in the Tertiary Utsira High play and the strength of applying multidisciplinary team efforts, partner co-operation and involvement to optimize asset value through tailored drilling and data acquisition programmes. Keywords: Jotun, time-lapse seismic data, distal fan, turbidites, development strategy, multidisciplinary teams, partner co-operation DVD: Core display G4 is relevant to this chapter and can be viewed on the accompanying DVD.

The objective of this paper is to review key aspects of the Tertiary Jotun oil eld and how the exploration and development strategy has been inuenced by regional play knowledge, reservoir geology, multidisciplinary integration and application of modern seismic technology. The Jotun Field is located about 190 km west of Stavanger on Blocks 25/8 and 25/7 (Fig. 1), in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. It is expected to produce about 170 106 BBL barrels oil. The Jotun Field consists of three Paleocene geological structures Elli, Elli South and Tau produced through a wellhead platform (Jotun B) and a oating production vessel (Jotun A FPSO). Production started in 1999 and the initial development drilling was completed in 2000. Additional inll drilling commenced during the summer of 2002, in parallel with time-lapse seismic data acquisition. The eld currently has 16 horizontal producers and one water injector (Fig. 2). Two wells drilled so far have been left uncompleted due to poor sand penetration in the oil zone, one in each drilling phase. The Jotun Field top reservoir structure and stratigraphy is illustrated by Figures 3 6.

Utsira High play history and the Jotun Field


Esso was one of the exploration pioneers in the Norwegian North Sea and drilled the rst Norwegian well, 8/3-1, on

license 001 as early as 1966. The Permian Rotliegendes Formation was the main play going into the rst exploration programme along the ank of Old Grandad, today called the Utsira High. The undivided Mesozoic/Permian section held some hope and even the Tertiary was viewed to offer some potential. The rst oil to surface came from a FIT in 25/11-1, the second Norwegian well in 1967. This oil from early Eocene beds on the ank of the Balder Field set the scene for the Utsira High Tertiary play. The early drilling in the Utsira High area and elsewhere in the North Sea also revealed that the Jurassic/Triassic interval was prospective. Esso discovered an oil column of 25 m, indicating commercial amounts of oil in the Balder Field in 1974, and also discovered gas in the Jurassic Sleipner Field the same year (Hanslien 1987; Ranaweera 1987; Jenssen et al. 1993). Application of newly developed concepts within seismic and sequence stratigraphy was key to the discovery of the Balder Field. These concepts identied that the reservoir had been deposited in a submarine fan setting (Mitchum et al. 1977; Sangree & Widmier 1977). The Paleocene Heimdal Gas Field, discovered in 1972, was declared commercial in 1974 and, later, came the discovery of the Paleocene Sleipner East Gas Field (1981), the Triassic Sigyn gas-condensate eld (1982) and several smaller

BERGSLIEN , D., KYLLINGSTAD , G., SOLBERG , A., FERGUSON , I. J. & PEPPER , C. F. 2005. Jotun Field geology and development strategy. In: DORE , A. G. & VINING , B. A. (eds) Petroleum Geology: North-West Europe and Global PerspectivesProceedings of the 6th Petroleum Geology Conference, 99 110. q Petroleum Geology Conferences Ltd. Published by the Geological Society, London.

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Fig. 1. North Sea structural elements and Paleocene deposition. The Jotun Field is located on the western margin of the Utsira High. Paleocene and Eocene sands are derived from the East Shetland Platform 50100 km to the west-northwest. Jotun, Balder, Grane and Sleipner East are all located near the eastern limit of sand deposition.

accumulations both in the Mesozoic and Tertiary (Mure 1987; stvedt 1987). The accumulated knowledge from 30 years of involvement in Utsira High exploration and development of the Sleipner and Balder elds was used in a focused exploration programme that led to a number of discoveries in the 1990s: Grane, Hanz, Jotun and Ringhorne. The Elli prospect was rst identied as a lead in 1984 and developed into a drillable prospect in the early 1990s based on 2D seismic structural mapping. Flat spots in the Paleocene section were

mapped as potential direct hydrocarbon indicators (DHIs) and highlighted the risk for gas versus oil in the area. However, based on the oil water contact seen on seismic data in the Balder Field, the prospect was given a fair chance for oil. In addition, a larger potential trap was dened in a Jurassic horst block beneath the Paleocene Elli closure. In 1994 the Jotun discovery well 25/8-5S was drilled as a deviated well to penetrate both the Paleocene and Jurassic component of the Elli prospect. Oil was discovered in Paleocene massive sands, whereas the high risk Jurassic closure

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Fig. 2. Jotun Field development.

Fig. 3. Jotun Field top Heimdal Formation depth structure map.

proved to be dry. 3D seismic data were acquired coincident with the drilling of 25/8-5S. Detailed Utsira High Paleocene play knowledge and information learned from the Sleipner and Balder eld developments were utilized to fast track the Jotun Field development. Appraisal drilling was planned and executed successfully in parallel with development planning to shorten the time from discovery to rst oil.

Field history and development strategy


The Jotun Field development is an example of a fast track development that took only ve years from discovery in 1994 to

rst oil in October 1999. A total of four wells and three side-tracks were drilled in the exploration and appraisal phase. The Jotun Unit partners are Esso, Norske Shell on behalf of Enterprise Oil, Det Norske Oljeselskap (DNO) and Petoro. The eld is mainly located in Block 25/8 (PL 027B) and a smaller part of the eld stretches westward onto licence PL 103 on Block 25/7 (Fig. 2). The Jotun Field was discovered in 1994 by well 25/8-5S penetrating an oil column in the Elli structure (Figs 2 and 5). A 3D seismic survey was acquired while the discovery well was being drilled. In 1995 well 25/7-3 proved oil in Elli South. The same year 25/8-8S, with its side-tracks 8A and 8B, demonstrated that the Tau structure contains both oil and a gas cap (Fig. 2). The appraisal programme

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Fig. 4. Generalized stratigraphical column, composite log and seismic horizons.

Fig. 5. Jotun Field structural/stratigraphical well-log cross-section.

was carefully designed based on regional Tertiary play controls, the 3D seismic interpretation and available wells in the area. The 25/8-8 well with its three deviated penetrations of the reservoir interval was planned to cost-effectively complete the appraisal drilling while, in parallel, planning the eld development. The objectives of the 3 branch 25/8-8 well were to: (1) prove and dene the hydrocarbon column at Tau; (2) investigate hydrocarbon type; (3) conrm the regionally mapped eastward Paleocene sand pinchout; and (4) dene depositional facies and investigate local variability in the reservoir quality along the sand pinchout. All the objectives with these three penetrations were met: oil and gas were found; the pinchout was conrmed; and local variability in reservoir quality and distribution were revealed (Figs 2 and 5). A Jotun eld-wide oil water contact of 2091 mTVDSS was initially dened through averaging contacts observed in individual wells. Further data from pilot wells in the initial phase of development drilling supported the interpretation that there are only a few metres difference in the oil water contacts between and, in part, within the three structures.

The initial development plan comprised 14 wells: 11 horizontal oil producers and three water injectors. However, based on reservoir simulations and early production data, the programme was altered to include two more producers and only one injector was drilled in the initial phase. Of the initial 14 wells, 12 are completed as horizontal producers, and one as a vertical water injector. The B-12 well in northern Tau, drilled to test the resolution of seismic attributes, was completed as a water disposal well because it failed to nd sufcient reservoir for completion in the oil zone. During the 2002/2003 inll drilling campaign another ve wells were drilled. All ve wells were drilled with designated pilots, to optimize location of the horizontal producer. Two producers, B-23A and B-21A, were drilled prior to the time-lapse seismic data becoming available. The B-23 pilot found that the oil water contact had moved and was now several metres shallower than predicted by simulation. The well demonstrated lateral change of facies from thick massive into thinner sands interbedded with shale on the eastern anks of Elli. In the B-21 pilot the oil water

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Fig. 6. Jotun Field arbitrary seismic section.

contact was close to prediction but the net reservoir sand was lower than expected. The B-21A producer was not completed due to insufcient net sand. All three wells drilled subsequent to the time-lapse seismic interpretation have met prognosis and been completed successfully. One example of this is illustrated by the positioning of the 25/8-B21C well on the northeastern side of Elli (Figs 2, 3, 7 and 8). In the pilot (25/8-B21B) the position of current oil water contact mapped by time-lapse seismic data was correctly predicted within 1 m and the horizontal producer was deviated laterally to maximize the distance to the mapped waterfront (Fig. 8). The depositional facies in the B21C area was predicted successfully based on well data tied to seismic attributes to be channel margin to off axis, fairly thin, interbedded turbiditic sand and shale with net:gross in the range 0.5 0.6. The producer was placed along the top surface of the uppermost sand and the well has performed as predicted and initially raised oil production from about 40 000 to 60 000 BOPD. The B-29 pilot well, drilled into a fairly small low relief structure between the three main structures, found oil down to the level of the original oil water contact as predicted from simulation and time-lapse seismic data. The westernmost well, B-28, required two pilots to constrain the well path of a horizontal producer with only 7 8 m stand-off from the moved oil water contact. The horizontal producers are completed with open-hole screens and a typical completion length is 800 1000 m. Initially, the wells were produced at rates of around 20 000 BOPD. Water coning started within the rst year and water cut steadily increased towards 70 90% by 2002. The latter is somewhat earlier than anticipated pre-start-up of the eld and ascribed mainly to be a result of production at higher rates than originally planned. Consequently, inll drilling commenced earlier than originally planned. Seven of the wells have been production logged in order to establish distribution of uid ow into the wells and evaluate well-intervention opportunities. Coiled tubing clean-up was performed in two of the producers. Unfortunately, no water shut-in opportunities have been identied and currently some wells are choked back and periodically shut in due to the high water cut. The use of timelapse seismic data, combined with production logging, proved critical in dening drilling opportunities during the second drilling phase.

Geological model Trap and structural denition


The Jotun Field comprises three structures connected through a common saddle area (Fig. 3). The oil column is fairly thin: 45 m at Elli, 33 m at Tau and only about 15 m at Elli South. Elli and Elli South both display four-way structural closure. The eastern Tau structure is a combination structural and stratigraphical trap. The Tau accumulation is limited to the east and southeast by the pinchout of the fan system and westward by structural dip. A complicating factor for Jotun is that Tau has a gas cap not seen at Elli, even though the crest at Elli is above the gas oil contact observed at Tau. This may indicate lack of effective communication between the two structures, but it can also be explained in terms of hydrocarbon migration. The migration path to the structures from the Jurassic source may be through an area where the Chalk is eroded south of Tau. The Tau structure will, in this case, be lled rst and spill to the western structures. In this scenario Tau is underlled with respect to gas and, consequently, the gas never migrated to the Elli structure. The gas oil contact in Tau is at 2057 mTVDSS. Evidence for reservoir compartmentalization is the variation in the oil water contact between and within the Jotun Field structures. The oil water contact level only varies by a few metres around 2090 mTVDSS, except in northeastern Tau, which is about 10 m shallower (Fig. 2). The denition is, however, not straightforward, as contact denition in part is conicting, based on evidence from pressure and log data. Uncertainties associated with the depth measurements and error cone around the true vertical depth correlations also come into play. A number of small faults exist throughout the eld, with increased density along the anks (Fig. 3). Some of these are compactional slump faults, but detached faults triggered by reactivation of the Jurassic faults below are also present. Clear evidence of segmentation is seen in Tau, with a deeper contact in the south (2094.4 mTVDSS dened by well 25/8-8B) and the shallower contact(s) in the northern 25/8-B12 area (OWC 2088 mTVDSS in B12A and WUT 2076 mTVDSS in the B12 toe pilot). Within the Elli main structure there is also some evidence of segmentation. The western exploration wells (25/8-6 & 6T2) demonstrate a contact at 2089.8 mTVDSS, whereas pressure measurements from the B2 and 5S wells in the east indicate a shallower contact at 2086 mTVDSS. Top reservoir is mapped directly by the Top Heimdal marker. This seismic event is tied and correlates with well data. The Base Upper Heimdal is mapped with good condence

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Fig. 7. Well 25/8-B-21C arbitrary seismic line and B-21B log. Time-lapse seismic data predicted that the moved OWC 2002 would be at 22075 m. The pilot well B-21B found the contact at 22074 m. The log from B-21B also demonstrates the good sweep at Jotun. Seismic facies change from transparent at the B-1/B-2 wells to high amplitude continuous reectors at the B-21 wells. This coincides with a change from channel-axis massive sand to interbedded channel margin facies, documented by B-1/B-2 and B-21B penetrations.

throughout the eld and an intra Upper Heimdal marker can also be identied in some areas (Figs 4 and 6). These internal reectors are used to dene overall reservoir geometry, whereas further breakdown of the reservoir is based on well data (log and core) and seismic facies mapping. A DHI, corresponding to the oil water contact, is present and can be mapped across

most of the eld, especially at the Elli structure. The gas cap in the Tau structure causes a phase reversal at the Top Heimdal marker level (Fig. 6). Multiple derivative seismic cubes have been generated from the Jotun 3D seismic volume. These have been used separately and in combination for attribute studies utilized in the reservoir mapping.

Fig. 8. 3D depth image of Elli 2002 OWC from time-lapse seismic data. Phase II B-21C producer was positioned by time-lapse seismic data and curved to maximize the distance from the mapped waterfront. The waterfront reaches the crestal Phase I producers (red). Horizontal well penetration is about 1 km in all the Elli producers.

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Reservoir stratigraphy
The reservoir of the Jotun Field belongs to the Heimdal Formation and has been divided into four zones (Figs 4 and 5). The denition of the zones is based on log correlation and core description, as attempts to subdivide the reservoir based on palaeontological studies have failed due to insufcient resolution. Correlation of the sub-zones has been used to dene reservoir geometry for 3D geological modelling and reservoir simulation and to optimally position the development wells. Zone isochore maps were constructed from the well data, guided by the overall isochore dened by the seismic surfaces. The general stratigraphy of the Heimdal, Lista, Sele and Balder formations in the Jotun wells has been established via biostratigraphical data.

Depositional facies
The depositional facies interpreted in the Jotun Field are modied from earlier publications (Bergslien 2002) in that the sandy turbidite deposits are now subdivided into high and low density turbidites. A set of seven generic facies is currently used to describe the Jotun Field reservoir section (Fig. 9): . . . . . . . Facies Facies Facies Facies Facies Facies Facies 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: high density turbidite; low density turbidite; sandy debrite; muddy debrite; turbiditic shale; hemipelagic shale; injectite.

In recent studies, massive sand beds previously described as sandy debrites have, to a large degree, been reinterpreted to be high density turbidites. Sandy debrite beds also occur but are probably not as frequent as described earlier (Bergslien 2002). The differentiation between beds described as high density turbidites and sandy debrites is problematic because clear evidence of a turbiditic origin, such as grading, lamination, imbrication or other evidence of internal organization, commonly are delicate. However, after re-interpretation, the massive sandstone intervals in the Jotun Field are now considered to be dominated by turbiditic deposition. Detailed description of the seven facies is given in the Appendix. Core descriptions and photos of selected core intervals are also presented in Core display G4 on the accompanying DVD.

Stacking pattern, reservoir architecture and geometry


Weakly conned channel features with a compensational stacking pattern have been observed within and between the Jotun Field structures by well log correlation and seismic stratigraphical interpretation. Core and well log observations linked with seismic channel facies and isochore trends show that high density turbidites dominatined deposition along the channel axis. The term channel is used here to refer to an elongated area of preferred deposition, and is likely to represent a connement, rather than an erosional, channel feature. The channel axes consist of massive sand deposits which are compensationally amalgamated into elongated sandbodies with little or no internal shale beds (Fig. 10). Away from the channel axes and especially towards the eastern pinchout, low density turbidites become more common and dominate deposition, together with thinner high density turbidite intervals (1 5 m thick). The change in facies is also reected by thinning of the isochore away from the channel axis (Fig. 10). Elli and Elli South have a high percentage of amalgamated high density turbidites. Turbiditic shales and occasionally hemipelagic shales separate the channel sandbodies. The two structures were viewed earlier to contain mainly massive channel axis sand interbedded with some thinner shales throughout the reservoir.

Elli inll drilling linked with seismic facies analysis revealed that the internal reservoir architecture is more heterogeneous than described earlier. Interbedded channel margin sand and more off axis shale-prone facies are common towards the anks of Elli, particularly towards the southeast (Fig. 11). The trend towards more heterogeneous depositional facies continues eastward into the Tau structure, both in a vertical and lateral sense. The turbiditic facies in the Tau region form a more layered, sheet-like reservoir sequence, where sand continuity and reservoir connectivity are dened better laterally than vertically (Fig. 5). Within Elli and Elli South the reservoir connectivity is interpreted to be fairly uniform and, in part, excellent, both vertically and laterally within the channel axis facies. Interbedded channel margin sand and shale, and off axis turbiditic shale facies may act as bafes and potentially as local barriers within the Elli structure. The hemipelagic shales, which can be correlated across the entire eld, may act as barriers. However, small faults (5 10 m) are mapped with a fairly high frequency across the eld. These faults increase cross-stratal connectivity over hemipelagic and turbiditic shales through fault juxtaposition. Minor erosion by turbiditic currents may also create cross-stratal connectivity by removal of earlier shale deposits. At Elli South most of the oil is contained in a Zone 4 slump complex, with sand injections interpreted from the 25/7-3 core and well log correlation. The slump and sand injection complex, combined with fault juxtaposition, creates connectivity through the hemipelagic shale separating Zone 4 from the underlying massive sand section in Zone 3. Minor sand injections are also observed in core from Elli and Tau but these are insignicant volumetrically and likely to play a minor role in the overall reservoir characterization. However, the observed sand injections can also increase crossstratal connectivity in these structures. The geological model described above is in general agreement with earlier geological models for the Jotun Field (Bergslien 2002; Guargena et al. 2002). However, as commonly observed in turbiditic reservoirs, the complexity has increased as more data have been acquired. The major difference is in the larger degree of lateral facies variation from massive amalgamated sand to interbedded sand and shale observed within the Elli structure. It is questionable based on the available data whether the degree and, hence, importance of sand injections for crossstratal communication is as severe across the eld as suggested by Guargena et al. (2002). The largest sand injection observed in core from the Jotun Field is shown in Figure 9h. Clear evidence of severe sand injection processes, observed in other North Sea elds, has not been documented from the Jotun well and seismic data (Jenssen et al. 1993; Newman et al. 1993; Dixon et al. 1995; Lonergan & Cartwright 1999; Bergslien 2002; Purvis et al. 2002; Hurst et al. 2003). The exception is the Elli South area, as discussed above.

Reservoir quality and characteristics


The reservoir quality of the Jotun Field is excellent, with porosity in the range 25 32% and permeability from 0.5 3 D. The API of the oil is 35 378 and the GOR is in the range 200 500 SCFSTB21. Production rates around 20 000 BOPD have been achieved in most wells. On a eld scale the connectivity between sands is generally good both within the Jotun oil reservoir and to the regional Heimdal Formation aquifer. This is evidenced by the pressure decline over time due to production from nearby elds seen in exploration and appraisal wells before start up of Jotun Field production (Bergslien 2002; Fig. 12). However, slight differences in original oil water contacts and the uneven rise of the oil water contact during production documented through integration of conventional logs, PLT logs and time-lapse seismic data, indicate that reservoir heterogeneities act as bafes and barriers in some areas within the eld (Figs 7, 11 and 12). This is documented

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Fig. 9. Core sample photos: (a) High density turbidite, vfm grained; (b) high density turbidite with dish structures; (c) low density turbidite vfm grained; (d) low density turbidite with ripples; (e) muddy debrite, vfm grained with shale clasts; (f) turbiditic shale; (g) hemipelagic shale; (h) sand injectite. Photographs (b), (e) and (f ) are from deviated wells.

further by the difference in pressure drop across a shale unit in 25/8-B29 well and seen between the different structures of the eld (Fig. 12). The pressure plot shows that the three structures have responded differently to the nearby production. Based on the pressure development it seems clear that the Elli structure is best connected to the strong regional aquifer, whereas Elli South and Tau have a similar but slightly poorer connection. These differences correspond to connectivity predictions that can be inferred from the overall depositional packages (Fig. 10). The only water injector, well 25/8-B10, is placed between Elli and Tau to

support the Tau and eastern Elli production. The strong water drive from the aquifer has proven sufcient to support production in the remainder of the eld. Although compartmentalization exists as discussed above, logs, time-lapse seismic data and production data show that the sweep efciency is generally good throughout the sands of different facies. Not surprisingly, the water has risen more quickly through channel axis sand facies than in the more interbedded parts of the eld (Fig. 7). Local erosion and fault juxtaposition of sands along slump faults may also contribute to the good vertical

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Fig. 10. Jotun Field channelized depositional pattern.

communication experienced in some areas across more laterally continuous off axis and hemipelagic shale, as for example between the Zone 3 massive sand and the thinner and interbedded Zone 4 sand and shale. The interpreted change in depositional facies to high density turbidite-dominated facies from sandy debrite-dominated facies, was an important element in the evaluation of inll well potential. This understanding, integrated with the observed compensational stacking patterns, was important for the prediction of net sand away from well control. The new interpretation of facies, linked with seismic facies mapping and the mapped waterfront (dynamic OWC) from time-lapse seismic data, reduced the uncertainty in oil sand prediction. The ability to make detailed reservoir facies predictions inuenced the well strategy in the last three inll locations drilled at Jotun, B21B&C, B29 and 29A, B28 and 28A&B (Figs 2, 3, 7 and 11). If the deposition in the Elli area had been dominated by sandy debrites it would point towards a less heterogeneous reservoir architecture. Tested by the drill bit the predictions held up at all three locations tested after the change in depositional facies interpretation.

Work processes and multidisciplinary teams


Appraisal drilling, platform design, development strategy and reservoir management planning is, by and large, performed in parallel in a fast track development. For such a work process to succeed, good communication between the different parties and disciplines involved is essential. In the case of the Jotun Field development this was successfully achieved by forming taskorientated multidisciplinary teams. The multidisciplinary Jotun Integrated Work Team (JIWT) proved particularly important in the co-operation between the disciplines of geoscience, reservoir engineering, drilling and completion in planning and executing the two phases of development drilling. The team also included a representative from facilities to ensure an effective communication link for integration between the subsurface work and the facilities side of the eld. This was inherited from the Balder Field development. Frequent resource committee meetings ensured communication with, and input from partners. Sharing differences of opinion on, for example, well strategies, shale distribution and

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Fig. 11. Elli East random seismic line and structuralstratigraphical log cross-section. The original OWC (22086 m) is dened from pressure data in well 25/8-B2 and 25S. The seismically transparent massive sand Channel axis facies in the B2 & 5S area grades laterally into channel margin interbedded sand and shale with high amplitude continous seismic facies. The depositional facies in the massive sand is interpreted to be mainly high density turbidites in the B2 and 5S cores.

reservoir simulation results, was important for describing and understanding the eld development uncertainties. Collective understanding of key issues proved especially important in the critical phase when the 4D seismic data were acquired and interpreted in parallel with developing and prioritizing drilling opportunities for the second drilling phase. A process involving resource committee work meetings and inter-company workshops, besides the formal resource committee meetings, proved particularly helpful to allow the synergy of the different company experience bases. 3D geological models and reservoir simulation were used in conjunction with well and seismic data to locate and position optimally the well trajectories (Bergslien 2002). It has been commonly experienced in elds with deep-water turbiditic reservoirs that detailed reservoir geology and production history differ considerably from the early simplistic reservoir models (Dromgoole et al. 2000). Modern technology, such as advanced

seismic interpretation techniques from multiple seismic cubes, time-lapse seismic data and 3D visualization, was applied successfully to mitigate this problem and narrow the uncertainty ranges in the Jotun Field. One of the critical challenges in predicting the dynamics of the eld has been bridging the gaps in scale and resolution between the different datasets in construction of the 3D geological models. Core was obtained from exploration and appraisal wells and one development pilot. Distance between wells is typically several hundreds of metres to over a kilometre. Stratigraphical information is somewhat limited as the development wells are all horizontal. Seismic facies and attribute studies were used to map reservoir facies and architecture of channel complex scale (Figs 7, 10 and 11). However, the seismic resolution is only about 20 m vertically, with peak frequency in the 25 35 Hz range. Consequently, this does not allow direct facies prediction away from well control using seismic attribute analysis at bed-set scale to predict shale geometries. Outcrop analogues

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Fig. 12. Pressure data. The pre-Jotun start-up pressure decline from hydrostatic water gradient is caused by production in nearby elds sharing the regional Tertiary aquifer. The larger pressure decline in the discovery well 25/8-5S versus 25/8-8 and 25/7-3 appraisal wells shows that Elli is better connected to the regional aquifer than Elli South and Tau.

have, therefore, been helpful in constructing reservoir architectures in 3D geological models. Reservoir engineers and geoscientists participated in a eld seminar at one of the outcrop analogues (Annot sandstone Annot, southeast France) to improve the collective understanding of facies and communication between the disciplines. This improved the scale-up process and history matching of the simulation model to reduce ultimately the uncertainty in predicting the elds production dynamics. Innovative toe pilots in some of the initial producers and regular pilots for all the wells in the second phase were used to narrow the stratigraphical uncertainties during the development of the Jotun Field (Bergslien 2002). Time-lapse seismic data, PLT logs and 3D visualization techniques proved to be very valuable tools in the integration of geological and dynamic data to position well trajectories for the second phase producers.

the different disciplines in the development phase. It was particularly useful during well planning and operations. Good communication with partners through formal and informal work processes was an important element to the successful development of the eld. Frequent partner resource committee meetings and focused technical workshops proved particularly helpful in capturing the collective experience base in decisions dening the inll drilling phase.
The authors thank the Jotun Field partners, Norske Shell, handling Jotun on behalf of Enterprise Oil, Det Norske Oljeselskap (DNO), Petoro and Esso Norge AS, for permission to publish this paper.

Appendix A: Detailed facies description


. High density turbidite is a term used for thick beds of massive sand with internal organization such as grading, lamination and imbrication. Generally, they display a delicate homogeneous grading from medium and occasionally coarse sand at the base to ner sand upwards. The high density turbidite beds are commonly several metres thick, but beds less than a metre to a few metres thick occur and commonly grade up into one of the shale facies. The thicker beds typically contain evidence of amalgamation surfaces, revealing the basic depositional units to be generally of a few metres thickness. Evidence of erosion by truncation of underlying beds is often observed at the basal bed boundaries. The Bouma sequence terminology can be used to dene further these beds in core descriptions. Ta and Tb units are observed, whereas the lower ow regime Tc, Td and Te units are generally absent. The appearance is generally homogeneous, with occasional waterescape dish and pillar structures (Figs 9a and b). Bouma Te and Td units are occasionally observed in association with the high density turbidites as interbeds rather than part of continuous ning-upward sequences. The massive Ta/Tb units often grade up into ner units, with increasing clay, mica and partly imbricated aky clasts of shale and organic debris. Where present, this cap, with ner-grained matrix material, often displays characteristics of mass ow deposits such as lack of internal organization, oating coarser grains and soft sediment slump-like ow structures. Low density turbidite is used to describe units containing classical Bouma sequence units. Bouma Tb, Td and Te units are

Conclusions
. The experience from more than 30 years of exploration and development in the Utsira High area was the main component in the denition of prospects that led to the discovery of Jotun and several other elds during the 1990s. Detailed knowledge from the development of the Sleipner East and Balder elds was particularly valuable for a successful fast track development of the Jotun Field. The reservoir architecture reects the compensational stacking of the turbiditic sand facies. Clear evidence of larger-scale erosion has not been observed. Massive sands from channel axis deposits grade laterally into interbedded sand/shale channel margin deposits. Minor syn-sedimentary slump and compaction faults exist throughout the eld and probably contribute to good vertical connectivity. The eld is developed with a total of 16 horizontal producers and has pressure support from a strong regional aquifer and a single water injector. Evidence of compartmentalization is observed, but the sweep efciency from the horizontal producers seems to be very good. Time-lapse seismic data used to dene the dynamic oil water contact surface proved to be more accurate than reservoir model simulator predictions and was used to dene inll well locations and trajectories. The application of multidisciplinary teams proved to be an efcient way to ensure good communication between

110

D. BERGSLIEN ET AL.

most common and beds from low concentration turbidites are thin, typically less than a metre thick. Tc units occur occasionally and are from a few centimetres to 10 20 cm thick. A few observations of climbing ripples have been made. The grain size of units described as low density turbidites is from ne to medium, but generally in the lower ne to very ne, grading into laminated silt and clay in the Td Te units (Figs 9c and d). Sandy debrite is a term used to describe sands deposited by debris ows. These sand deposits are normally several metres thick, with both upper and lower boundaries sharp and conformable to the over- and underlying beds. Internal grain organization is referred to as random, in that these beds lack grading, bed-sets or lamination. Typically, the beds lack primary sedimentary structures and display a homogeneous, structureless distribution of sand grains. Coarser grains are distributed randomly from top to base, oating in a ne- to medium-grained sand host interval which is moderately sorted and contains mica and clay particles in the matrix. Dish, pillar and other water-escape structures are common in these deposits. The content of ner-grain fractions, such as silt and clay is commonly less than 2% to a few percent. The key criteria to recognize a sandy debrite from a high density turbidite is the random distribution of the sediment grains within beds lacking internal primary sedimentary structures, such as lamination, grading and imbrication. Muddy debrite is used to describe sand beds with high clay (mud) content. These beds contain poorly sorted very ne to ne sand with common coarser grains, including rounded to angular clay clasts. The beds often show clear evidence of soft sediment ow structures (Fig. 9e). Larger clay clasts often occur dispersed throughout the beds and are typically deformed, together with the bed ow structure. As for the sandy debrite, the upper and lower boundaries are sharp. Occasionally, terrestrially derived organic material in the form of coal and other plant fragments is evenly distributed throughout the muddy debrite beds. Turbiditic shale is a term used to describe shale beds containing thinly laminated turbidites of very ne sand and silt. The thin turbiditic beds are of centimetre to millimetre scale and commonly occur as laminae rather than graded beds. The turbidites are typically either found at rhythmical intervals of a few to tens of centimetres or the entire bed is nely laminated by very thin turbiditic deposits (Fig. 9f). Bioturbation is minor, if present at all, and the turbiditic shale facies commonly contains terrestrial organic material. Hemipelagic shale is a mudstone with low silt content and a high degree of bioturbation (Fig. 9g). The hemipelagic shale commonly has a waxy appearance and is non-ssile, blocky with mottled colouring consisting of greenish-grey, dark and light grey and reddish-brown. Organic content is very low. A diverse trace fossil assemblage is normally present. Among the most common burrows are Zoophycos and Chondrites. Occurrences of these and other horizontal detritus-feeding forms are indicative of a quiet, deep-water environment. Sand injectite is a term used to describe sand injection dyke and sill complexes (Hurst et al. 2005). This facies previously has simply been referred to as Injectite (Bergslien 2002). Sand injections are recognized in cores based on the sharp cross-cutting stratal relationships at upper and lower contacts with the host shale (Fig. 9h). Commonly, the sand injections contain shale clasts from the host rock and can be described as a shale breccia. Injections parallel to bedding are also observed. They are normally dened from core where they contain shale breccia, wedge out, or are part of a larger injection complex. Sand injecting into sand is rare but has also been observed in cores. The grain size and reservoir quality of injections is very

similar to the massive unconsolidated Paleocene reservoir sands from which the injections originated.

References
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