Near field resource evaluation

The project will support the mapping and updating the reservoir potential and integrity of storage in near field areas for hydrocarbons, CO2, H2 and waste waters. We will produce workflows for the quantitative use of geo-and reservoir characterization methods and re-source evaluation including quantitative uncertainty estimation. The strategy is to integrate the quantitative geophysical techniques and rank the geological scenarios using all relevant background data and co-operation across other projects in WP1, WP2 and WP5.

Evaporitic sequences play an important role in the future energy mix. Their impermeable properties make them excellent locations for underground storage caverns, and their high thermal conductivity and associated thermal gradients are ideal for geothermal energy. Salt deformation can contribute to form traps in the pre- and post-salt sequences (for CO2 or hydrogen storage and hydrocarbons); in either hydrocarbon reservoirs or aquifers. However, evaporites are not just salt (halite), but they are layered evaporitic sequences (LES) con-sisting of sedimentary rocks such as claystones, sandstones, carbonates. The proportion of these varied components determine the sealing and thermal properties of the LES.

The characterization of the fluid connectivity from reservoir levels to the surface can be used to evaluate the ability of the overburden to keep fluids (hydrocarbons or injected CO2/H2) trapped in reservoirs or identify leakage pathways through the overburden. In this project, we will use the strontium isotope system 87Sr/86Sr as a natural tracer to identify connect-ed bodies of formation waters and help pinpoint important flow barriers in reservoirs and overburden. The strontium patterns will be integrated with other types of dynamic data (pro-duction, pressure, density ...) that equilibrate at different time scales with the seismic data to identify and characterize low permeability barriers to fluid flow away from the well path.

The transition from petroleum-dominated to a low-emission energy mix requires a new pe-troleum system type of model that will be as applicable to nearfield hydrocarbon exploration as to the storage of CO₂. In this context, we will develop a holistic and process-oriented mod-el that will focus on the interaction between petroleum-brine from source, reservoir to over-burden, and brine-CO₂ from reservoir to overburden levels. The model will be constrained by multidisciplinary data, including analogue modelling, borehole, static and dynamic fluid data, and seismic data.

Landmark Graphics provide software and solutions to build new subsurface workflows to ensure geological plausibility in all steps when creating complex geological models. The use of these tools is particularly important in mature areas where the vast amount of 4D data can hinder the efficiency of geoscientists due to issues in identifying and accessing the right dataset. In this context, DecisionSpace Geoscience and Permedia software can be utilized to accelerate the development of near field holistic models for evaluating the potential of geo-thermal energy and CO₂ and H₂ storage.

Schlumberger’s Petrotechnical Suite hosted in DELFI offers many solutions for subsurface mapping, interpretation, characterisation and forward modelling. These solutions have a long history track of efficiency in the context of traditional O&G projects. The geological, petro-physical and geophysical insights gained through the usage of these solutions are essential for safe and successful reservoir and seal integrity assessments for net-zero energy produc-tion and storage. The solutions are deterministic, Machine Learning driven or a combination of both. They address the structure of the subsurface as well as properties, integrating a variety of available data (seismic, well logs, geological processes, interpreters’ knowledge, etc.).