PRINCIPLES OF MAPPING WITH PETREL©

INSTRUCTORS: Laurie Green MSc PG

DISCIPLINE: Geology, Geophysics

COURSE LENGTH (DAYS): 4

CEUS: 3.2

PUBLIC/ IN-HOUSE/ BOTH: In-House Only

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Geologists, geophysicists, and reservoir engineers who want to integrate sound mapping practices
into their workstation interpretation workflow.

PREREQUISITE:
Attendees should have prior exposure to subsurface mapping interpretation skills and practices, and
a basic knowledge of Petrel© software applications and user interfaces. This course is ideally suited
for those who have previously attended SCA’s Applied Subsurface Geological Mapping course.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course provides participants with the knowledge and techniques needed to make more
accurate and geologically correct maps through; 1) proper data management, 2) integration of
fundamental geologic mapping principles with Petrel© mapping software tools, and 3) establishing
an iterative process for ensuring consistency between the maps and data. The course bridges the
gap between the “tried and true” geologic principles taught in traditional pencil and paper mapping
courses, and the advanced computational tools available from the workstation interpretation
platform.

This course covers Petrel’s© mapping workflows and the geologic principles behind those
workflows. Emphasis will be placed on generating geologically valid maps of faulted surfaces, and
the inclusion of horizontal well data in unconventional plays. Exercises will include procedures for
selecting appropriate gridding algorithms, creating control contours and verifying results.

The instructor and participants will perform various workflows presented in the course, offering an
interactive exploration and dynamic visualization of the data in different structural settings.
Participants will manipulate data to solidify their understanding of the principles being taught and
will leave the course with the ability to apply core knowledge to projects on their own Petrel©
workstations.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Provide a basic understanding of:

 Subsurface geologic mapping methods as implemented in Petrel©.

 Petrel’s© mapping workflow.

  Data selection and quality control.

 Gridding simple and faulted surfaces with well and seismic data.

 Creating consistent surfaces with horizontal well data.

 Grid modification and quality control.

 Single and multi-surface operations (Grid math).

 Mapping well properties (e.g., porosity).

 Quick-look volumetrics and introduction to uncertainty.

 Other map types – bubble maps, log signatures, curvature.

 Automating the workflow.

 Creating effective presentations with standardized templates.

 Documenting procedures and results.

TOPICS:

 The Mapping Workflow in Petrel©

 What makes a “good” map?

 “Map” and “Grid” – Definitions

 Common Map Types

 Project Setup – Coordinate Systems

 Significance for Data Import/Project Sharing

 Data Selection and QC

 Wells, Well Logs, Well Tops

 Seismic Lines and Volumes, Horizons, Faults

 Project Organization

 Efficient Project Design

 Use of Search Filters and the Favorites Pane

 Gridding Techniques for Unfaulted Surfaces

 Grid Geometry – Fundamentals

 Gridding Algorithms
  Convergent Interpolation Algorithm – the
Default

 Minimum Curvature Interpolation Algorithm

 Moving Average Interpolation (Inverse

Distance) Algorithm

 Cos Expansion Interpolation Algorithm

 Isochore Gridding Algorithm

 Conformal Gridding Algorithm

 Trend Mapping

 Kriging Algorithm

 Collocated Cokriging

 Grid QC and Modification

 Quantitative Grid QC – Residual error

reports

 Truncating and Merging Surfaces/Filling

Gaps/Spot-editing/Smoothing

 Use of Control Points and Contours

 Integration of Horizontal Well Data

 Problems Unique to Resource Plays

 Adding Well Tops to Horizontal

Wells

 Use of Zone Logs to Constrain

Wellbore Placement

 Gridding Horizontal Wells with the

Conformal Gridding Algorithm

 Mapping Faulted Structures

 Fault Surfaces, Sticks, Polygons, Well Cuts

 Connect / Truncate Fault Surfaces

 Grid Surfaces with Fault Polygons

 Faulted Grid QC
 Isochores in Faulted Structures

 Single and Multi-Surface Operations

 Grid Calculator Operations

 Single and Multi-Surface Operations

 Well Property Mapping

 Well attributes such as average porosity, pay thickness, Sw, dominant facies and N/G
can be calculated and mapped for each stratigraphic zone from logs

 Drape a Property Map Over Structure

 Surface-Based Volumetrics

 Single-surface

 Two-surface

 Map-based, with Uncertainty Workflows

 P10/50/90 Cases

 Volumes per DSU

 Other Map Types

 Bubble Maps

 Log Signature Maps

 Automating the workflow

 Simple Workflow to Repeat Gridding Processes

 Map Elements for Effective Presentations

 Map Templates

 Required Map objects

 Presentation Tips

 Documenting Procedures and Results

 Data inventories

 Workflows

 Results