Upstream Lifecycle · 03
Reservoir characterisation integrates geological, petrophysical, rock, fluid and pressure information to establish how the reservoir is structured, where hydrocarbons are stored and how fluids can move through it.
Integrated reservoir understanding
A reservoir model is only as reliable as the geological and engineering evidence used to construct it. Characterisation therefore brings together observations from seismic data, wells, logs, cores, fluids, pressure measurements and production history.
The objective is not simply to calculate porosity or permeability. It is to establish the spatial distribution, connectivity and flow behaviour that will control field performance.
Reservoir workflow
Reservoir characterisation progressively integrates different forms of evidence. Each discipline constrains another, reducing uncertainty in the description of the reservoir and its expected flow behaviour.
Establish the structural, stratigraphic and depositional framework that controls the distribution and continuity of reservoir properties.
Key activities
Integrate well logs and core information to quantify reservoir properties and identify productive intervals.
Key activities
Use laboratory measurements to establish the physical properties that control storage, flow and reservoir performance.
Key activities
Characterise reservoir fluids and their pressure-volume-temperature behaviour for reservoir and production analysis.
Key activities
Integrate pressure measurements, well-test information and production evidence to understand reservoir communication and behaviour.
Key activities
Integrate geological, petrophysical and engineering data into a reservoir model that can support development and production decisions.
Key activities
Evidence foundation
Different measurements describe different aspects of the reservoir. Their integration is what creates an engineering understanding of storage capacity, connectivity and flow behaviour.
Reservoir evidence
Integrated disciplines
The resulting reservoir description becomes the technical foundation for well placement, development planning, production forecasting and recovery optimisation.
Engineering chain
Once the reservoir framework is sufficiently understood, the engineering focus shifts toward how the resource should be developed: where wells should be placed, how many wells are required, how they should be produced or injected, and how expected field performance can be forecast.
Next stage
With the reservoir understood, the next challenge is to turn the subsurface model into a development strategy, well programme and production concept.