CASE STUDY

Murphy Oil Evaluates Pore Pressure from Petroleum

Systems Modeling for Real-Time Drilling Support
PetroMod software improves pressure prediction ahead of the bit to reduce
drilling risk in the salt diapir environment, Mississippi Canyon
CHALLENGE Navigating potential drilling hazards
Improve the accuracy and timeliness of Murphy Oil Corporations deepwater prospect well was planned in the Mississippi Canyon in the
pore pressure prediction to support drilling vicinity of salt diapirs, which induce smaller sub-basins. The drilling targets were disconnected
efficiency and safety. Miocene turbidite sand reservoirs with varying overpressures, depending on their geometry and
pinchout toward the salt.
SOLUTION
Use PetroMod* petroleum systems modeling Isolated overpressured sands are often dangerous to drill. A number of techniques exist for predicting
software in conjunction with support from the pore pressure from well logs to seismic data. However, these stand-alone techniques, such as seismic
Schlumberger Exploration Hub to integrate all pore pressure prediction and using data from offset wells, have only limited resolution or are not
data in a calibrated 3D model for predicting representative when disconnected target sands are present. Integrating these techniques in a full
pore pressure with greater resolution. 3D earth model and modeling all geological processes responsible for increasing pressure through
geological time can provide higher confidence in pore pressure prediction.
RESULTS
Accurately predicted pore pressure Murphy Oil recognized the need for an integrated geological approach to basin modeling to identify
and fracture gradient for optimizing well potential hazards during drilling. The model would require real-time updating capability for new
performance while reducing cost and risk. information acquired while drilling.

Building a calibrated, high-resolution model in PetroMod software for

pore pressure prediction
Schlumberger proposed building a 3D earth model in PetroMod petroleum systems modeling software
to fully integrate seismic attributes, geological information, well log data, and drilling information.
Recent PetroMod software developments enable coupling classic pore pressure models with 3D
stress models, especially for fracture gradient prediction. This in turn supports a more accurate under-
standing of significant 3D effectssuch as compaction history and pressure development coupled to
three-component stress behaviorthrough geological time in the vicinity of salt.

Volume fraction 90CalMUD 10SILT

Upp Miocene SE 1[%]
100 Sand

Salt
50

0 Shale

In high-resolution petroleum systems modeling, the seismic attributes drive the facies.

Software
CASE STUDY: Murphy Oil reduces drilling risk with pore pressure from PetroMod software, Gulf of Mexico

10,000
Fracture Gradient
11,000 PetroMod software fracture gradient

12,000 Offset well fracture gradient

Pore Pressure
13,000 Leakoff test while drilling
PetroMod software pore pressure

14,000
Seismic method (shale) pore pressure
Depth, ft

15,000

Seismic method (sand) pore pressure

16,000

17,000

Formation tester pressure while drilling

18,000

19,000
Mud weight used
while drilling
20,000

8.00 8.50 9.00 9.50 10.00 10.50 11.00 11.50 12.00 8.50 8.00 8.50 8.00 8.50
Mud density, ppg

The base case model was initially calibrated using an offset well and then updated while data was acquired during drilling.

A two-step workflow was developed, with the models built by the Accurately predicting pore pressure ahead of the bit
Murphy Oil team in Houston and supported locally by Schlumberger The workflow in PetroMod software enabled integrating all available data
experts in collaboration with the Schlumberger Exploration Hub in into the geological model for daily update and simulation. The results from
Aachen, Germany. the simulations provided useful information on whether to follow the
original drilling plan or modify it to avoid drilling hazards. The pore pressure
The first step was identifying the layers responsible for overpressure and
was consistently accurately predicted for the well ahead of the bit and then
modifying their lithological composition to match calibration data from
the models performance refined by calibration to the measured data.
offset wells. This regional pore pressure model also accounted for regional
faults, pressure relief points, sub-basin distribution, and salt deformation The drilling engineer used the predicted pore pressure and fracture
through time. gradient to optimize well performance and thus reduce drilling costs and
risk in the expensive, hazardous subsalt drilling environment of the Gulf
In the second step, a higher-resolution geological model was built over a
of Mexico. The well was successfully drilled under budget and without
focused area of interest by using high-resolution structural maps and facies
safety incidents.
maps based on seismic character. The high-resolution model for the area of
interest could be run in under 12 hours, powered by recent improvements
in PetroMod softwares simulator speed. This speed enabled completing
full model runs overnight to provide pore pressure prediction results ahead
of the bit for morning meetings.

The model was calibrated daily using leakoff test results, logging-while-
drilling formation pressure data, and information on drilling events.

slb.com/PetroMod

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