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Course O-1003
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U. S . D E PA RT M E N T of E N E RG Y
OF FI CE of F O S S IL EN E RGY
E N V I R O N M E N TA L B E N E F I T S
of A D VA N C E D O I L and G A S E X P L O R AT I O N
and P RO D U C T I O N T E C H N O L O G Y
EXPLORATION
TODAY, FINDING BLACK GOLD IS A HIGH-TECHNOLOGY VENTURE. HIGHER SUCCESS
RATES MEAN FEWER DRY HOLES, FEWER WELLS DRILLED, AND LESS IMPACT ON THE
ENVIRONMENT.
SPE, 1993
E N V I R O N M E N T A L B E N E F I T S of
ADVANCED E&P TECHNOLOGY
CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY
R E V O L U T I O N I Z E S E X P L O R AT I O N
The Gulf of Mexicos coastal transition zone is economic limit. New fields now being
among the most prospective, unexplored oil discovered in the United States are generally
and gas regions in the country. Yet, the regions smaller in size and found in deeper, more
geological and operational complexities have subtle, and more challenging geologic form-
long hampered E&P activities. Now, thanks to ations. Yet, despite the increased difficulty
next-generation 3-D seismic imaging, new drilling of discovering remaining domestic resources,
capabilities, and associated technologies, the technology developments have enabled the
zone is coming alive with new discoveries
oil and gas industry to maintain or, in many
including successful strikes in old fields. For
cases, improve upon, historical levels of
example, Spirit Energy 76 (Unocal Corporations
exploration success.
E&P unit) recently began drilling deeper targets,
based on newly acquired 3-D seismic data, Today, experts can interpret geological and
around the 40-year-old Vermilion 14 field, located geophysical data more completely; manage,
in State waters off central coastal Louisiana.
Advanced technologies like seismic
imaging have raised exploration success visualize, and evaluate larger volumes of data
Barry Gouger, Central Gulf asset manager,
rates by 5 0 percent or more. simultaneously; and communicate interpre-
reported in 1998 that 10 million barrels of oil
Photo: Texaco Production Operations
tations based on these data more accurately.
equivalent had been added to the fields
reserves since the acquisition of 3-D seismic. Advanced techniques now allow the scientist
to virtually see the inside of the formation.
The 3-D seismic has allowed us to sharpshoot
for bypassed pay and new targets within the S EARCHING FOR HYDROCARBONS
today is about as far removed as possible
from old movie images of wildcat drillers
Three-dimensional seismic technology, first
commercially available nearly 25 years ago,
field and new opportunities around the field,
Gouger explained. The effort and expense of hoping for a gusher. It involves teams of bounces acoustic or electrical vibrations off
acquiring 3-D seismic over these older giant geologists, geophysicists, and petroleum engi- subsurface structures, generating massive
fields is well worth it. We are finding significant neers seeking to identify, characterize, and amounts of data. Then powerful computers
new reserves in and around the field, and just pursue geologic prospects that may contain manipulate the data to create fully visualized
as important are the wells that we do not drill
commercial quantities of oil and gas. Because multidimensional representations of the sub-
because of the 3-D coverage. Its a story being
these prospects lie thousands of feet below surface. Even more exciting is 4-D time-lapse
replicated throughout the Gulf transition zone,
the earths surface, uncertainty and trial-and- imagingan emerging technology developed
where 3-D seismic is minimizing environmental
disruption by effectively targeting new
error pervade the exploration process. It is a only within the past 5 to 10 yearswhich
prospects and extending the life of existing painstaking and hugely expensive enterprise, adds the dimension of time, allowing scien-
reservoirs. with low success rates. Historically, new tists to understand how the flow pattern of
Source: American Oil & Gas Reporter, April 1998
field wildcat exploration has succeeded at a hydrocarbons changes in the formation
rate of one productive well for every five to over time.
10 wells drilled.
Over time, the more easily discovered
resources in the United States have been
found, developed, depleted, and then plugged
and abandoned when they reached their
28 E N V I RO N M E N TA L B E N E F I TS
E N V I R O N M E N T A L B E N E F I T S of
EXPLORATION
ADVANCED E&P TECHNOLOGY
Fundamentals of Exploration
Searching for Oil and Gas Despite a dwindling resource base, U.S. exploration
success rates continue to improve.
Identifying the best location to drill an exploratory well to test the structure.
23%
Drilling exploration and delineation wells to determine where hydrocarbons 16%
are present and to measure the area and thickness of the oil- and/or
1990s
gas-bearing reservoir.
14%
Logging and coring wells to measure permeability, porosity, and other properties
1980s
of the geologic formation(s) encountered.
hydrocarbons.
Source: American Petroleum Institute
about 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE)* BOE New Reservoir and New Field Reserve
Fewer Dry Holes, More Additions per Exploratory Well
in the 1970s and 1980s to over 40,000 BOE
Production and Reserve in the 1990s. (Million barrels of oil equivalent per well)
target, and production per well is increased, In aggregate, technology improvements have
in some cases by 100 percent. slashed the average cost of finding oil and gas 0.30
1996
1991
reserves in the United States from roughly
Today, fewer than half as many wells are
$12 to $16 per BOE of reserves added in the 1986
required to achieve the same reserve addi- 0.15
1970s and 1980s to $4 to $8 today. 1981
tions as two decades ago. Annual reserve 1976
additions for new exploratory drilling have *Natural gas is converted to barrels of oil equivalent 0 1971
quadrupled, from a per-well average of on the basis of 0.178 barrels of oil per thousand cubic
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
feet of gas.
Satellite-derived gravity and bathymetry data that enable remote sensing for
New Resources in Old Fields offshore deepwater exploration
30 E N V I RO N M E N TA L B E N E F I TS
E N V I R O N M E N T A L B E N E F I T S of
EXPLORATION
ADVANCED E&P TECHNOLOGY
SPE, 1993
with 4-D seismic, compared to 25 to of subsurface fluid flow, not just for
30 percent with 2-D technology and oil and gas, but for groundwater
40 to 50 percent with 3-D technology. monitoring and pollutant transport.
Outfitted with state-of-the-art
Advances in geological and geo-
electronics and computers,
physical technologies have assisted in
seismic survey vessels collect and
More Advances in improving our overall understanding
process invaluable subsurface
Exploration Technology of earth systems, or the major
geological data to aid
processes influencing activity in the
offshore exploration.
BEYOND ADVANCED IMAGING, earths crust.
other new exploration approaches are being Improved logging and interpretation
applied throughout the country to reduce technologies have helped us learn
environmental impacts, particularly in sensi- more about the characteristics of the
tive environmental areas. Redesign of drill earths crust.
Exploration Drilling Techniques
rigs has minimized surface loading. Seismic from Land to Deepwater
techniques also have been redesigned to Drillship
reduce impacts resulting from explosive Semisubmersible
EXPLORATION
TECHNOLOGY Locations: Worldwide, onshore and offshore
3-D Seismic
CASE STUDIES
Answering environmental
Advancements in -D data
1970 17%
Trudy A. Transtrum
(202) 586-7253
trudy.transtrum@hq.doe.gov
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATION
TECHNOLOGY Locations: Worldwide, onshore and offshore
4-D Visualization
CASE STUDIES
Java Sea
METRICS
goal: to improve oil recovery and cut energy use. The data gener- 3-D 4050%
ated helped direct the injection process and identify both swept
4-D 6570%
and unswept zones. Due to the projects success, Caltex started
baseline surveys in six new areas, and other companies are also
Source: Harts Petroleum Engineer International, January 1996
initiating use of time-lapse monitoring.
Gras, Cox, and Sagert. 3-D Ramshorn, C., and R. Sagert. Track Production with 4-D
Visualization, Automation Speed Interacting with Data in Virtual Technology. The E&P
Interpretation Workflow. World World Leads to Better Real- Connection.
Oil, 9/98. World Decisions. The American
Williams, P. Time-Lapse Seismic.
Oil & Gas Reporter, 7/98.
He, Wei, et al. 4-D Seismic Helps Oil and Gas Investor, 5/98. U.S. Department of Energy
Track Drainage, Pressure Texaco E&P Center Allows Office of Fossil Energy
Compartmentalization. Oil & Visual Probe of 3-D Data 1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Gas Journal, 3/27/95. Volumes. Oil & Gas Journal, Washington, DC 20585
7/1/98.
He, Wei, et al. 4-D Seismic Edith C. Allison
Monitoring Grows as Production Tippee, B. Immersive (202) 586-1023
Tool. Oil & Gas Journal, 5/20/96. Visualization Provides an edith.allison@hq.doe.gov
Insiders View of Subsurface. Oil
Locke, S. Advances Reduce Trudy A. Transtrum
& Gas Journal, 6/1/98.
Drilling Costs. The American Oil (202) 586-7253
& Gas Reporter, 7/98. trudy.transtrum@hq.doe.gov
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATION
TECHNOLOGY Locations: Worldwide (especially deepwater)
Remote Sensing
CASE STUDIES
Trudy A. Transtrum
(202) 586-7253
trudy.transtrum@hq.doe.gov
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATION
TECHNOLOGY Locations: Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, and other salt formations
Subsalt Imaging
CASE STUDIES
Camp, W., and D. McGuire. Earth View Associates. Subsalt Prutzman, J., and G. Coburn.
Mahogany Field, A Subsalt Exploration Methods Technology Pinpoints Base of
Legend: A Tale of Technology, Information Brochure. Salt. The American Oil & Gas
Timing, and Tenacity. Houston Reporter, 7/98.
Hoverston, G., et al.
Geological Society Bulletin,
Magnetotellurics for Petroleum
10/97. U.S. Department of Energy
Exploration. Case for Sea MT.
Office of Fossil Energy
Coburn, G. 3D Full Tensor
Minerals Management Service. 1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Gradient Method Improves
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Washington, DC 20585
Subsalt Interpretation. Oil & Gas
Subsalt Exploration.
Journal, 9/14/98. Edith C. Allison
Petzet, G. Anadarko Find, (202) 586-1023
Cold War Stealth Technology
Technology Gains Renew edith.allison@hq.doe.gov
Can Aid Seismic Interpretation.
Subsalt Hopes. Oil & Gas
Journal of Petroleum Trudy A. Transtrum
Journal, 8/17/98.
Technology, 1/98. (202) 586-7253
trudy.transtrum@hq.doe.gov