Worldwide Pore Pressure Prediction: Case Studies and Methods

Abstract

The paper presents methods and multiple examples of published case studies of pore pressure prediction in worldwide deepwater exploration. The case studies show that seismic data were mostly used to carry out predrill pore pressure prediction, especially for wildcat frontier areas. It is critical to process seismic data to obtain more reliable fit-for-purpose velocity models and to apply appropriate pore pressure models. Real-time updating with newly acquired data allows the uncertainties of the predrill pore pressure prediction to be reduced ahead of the bit. This paper gives a brief introduction on worldwide deepwater exploration activities, provides a summary of the most common and frequently used pore pressure and fracture gradient methods, and captures best practices on pore pressure prediction for deepwater exploration. Distribution of Worldwide Deepwater Petroleum ExplorationThe easy-to-find found petroleum reservoirs located land and offshore continental shelf have mostly been discovered. The oil and gas industry has now focused on how to exploit, discover, develop, and produce petroleum in remote and increasingly challenging locations such as offshore deep water areas. Deepwater operations of all worldwide discoveries are distributed in Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Asia Pacific region. AfricaDeepwater operations in Africa are relatively immature because activities in the region began in earnest only in the early 1990s. Most deepwater operations and activities in Africa are currently concentrated in West Africa and North Africa. Angola leads all aspects of deepwater operations in Africa, accounting for 45% of discovered fields and 45% of fields onstream in Africa. The potential for profitable deepwater prospects in Africa is huge, especially in the deepwater and ultra deepwater areas expected to come on-stream between 2008 and 2012. Africa field prospects represent 28% of worldwide field forecasts (Iledare, 2009). EuropeEurope accounted for 7% of deepwater fields discovered in . Approximately 12% of discovered deepwater fields brought on-stream during this period were in Europe (as of end-of-year 2007). The bulk of deepwater activity in 1983-2007 was concentrated in Norway--Nearly 75% of deepwater petroleum reserves discovered in Europe in 1983-2007 were in Norway (Iledare, 2009).

3D geomechanical modeling in complex environments using the neural network

“…XX Congresso Brasileiro de Mecânica dos Solos e Engenharia Geotécnica IX Simpósio Brasileiro de Mecânica das Rochas IX Simpósio Brasileiro de Engenheiros Geotécnicos Jovens VI Conferência Sul Americana de Engenheiros Geotécnicos Jovens 15 a 18 de Setembro de 2020 -Campinas -SP Saggaf et al, (2003); Arzuman (2009); Tang et al (2011);Suárez-Rivera et al (2003); and Sadiq & Nashawi (2000) also applied neural networks in properties prediction, performing rock characterization, lithological classification, among other related issues. Neural networks present themselves as a good option to estimate subsurface properties, especially when there is poor availability of wells.…”