Geochemistry: Tools for Effective Exploration and Development - MGT

Undiscovered reserves in prolific, mature basins and bypassed petroleum in developed fields are key targets for increasing reserves at minimal cost. Geochemical tools can dramatically improve discovery and development success by identifying and characterizing these targets in both conventional and unconventional systems. Course participants learn to interpret geochemical logs, map organic facies variations, identify petroleum systems using multivariate data, and predict vertical and lateral variations in oil quality and gas-to-oil ratios. The course teaches how to integrate geochemical, geological and engineering data to identify reservoir compartments, allocate commingled production, identify completion problems, and monitor flood progression. The course also explains how to optimize development by predicting vertical and lateral variations in API gravity and viscosity. Attendees learn interpretive guidelines to evaluate geochemical data. Interpretation pitfalls are illustrated using exercises. Sample collection techniques are discussed. No background in geochemistry is needed.

Exploration and development geologists, geophysicists, geochemists, petroleum engineers, managers, and technical personnel. No background in geochemistry is needed.

You will Learn:

Participants will learn how to:

• Characterize exploration risk in conventional and unconventional petroleum systems by assessing regional variations in organic facies, source maturity, source volumes, petroleum volumes generated, gas-to-oil ratios, and the risk of oil biodegradation.
• Integrate geochemical, geological and engineering data to identify reservoir compartments, allocate commingled production, identify completion problems, and monitor flood progression to optimize field development.
• Recognize pitfalls in geochemical interpretations.
• Use geochemical tools, including Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance, geochemical logs, gas chromatography, stable isotope ratios, biological markers (biomarkers), mud gas isotope data, and mud gas compositions.
• Determine if hydrocarbon "stray gases" found in a aquifer are, or are not, related to petroleum drilling activities in a given area.
• Design geochemical studies and collect samples.