Carbonate Reservoir Characterization

The course introduces the participants to modern carbonate environments and explain how the constituents of a carbonate sediment become lithified and changed after deposition to provide potential reservoir rocks. Modern carbonate environments from particularly the Arabian/Persian Gulf and the Caribbean are examined in detail to provide a sense of scale and perspectice. Large scale carbonate architectures are discussed and illustrated from a sequence stratigraphic perspective with seismic scale examples illustrated from outcrop.

There are numerous illustrations of outcropping carbonates and evaporites from a wide range of depositional settings throughout the Phanerozoic.Petrophysical approaches to reservoir characterization of fields are illustrated with emphasis on fracture modelling, fluid saturation modelling and hydraulic flow units. A selection of carbonate oil and gas plays and fields from various parts of the world are discussed. Presentations are interspersed with videos and exercises. The participants are given the course notes in electronic form upon completion.

DAY ONE - CARBONATE ESSENTIALS AND MODERN DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT

• Carbonate Grains and Classifications
• Carbonate Study Techniques
• Carbonate Ramps and Platforms

Examples from Middle East, Alps, UK, and the Bahamas

• Modern Carbonate Depositional Environment

DAY TWO -  CARBONATE FACIES AND SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY

• Aeolian Deposition and Deflation
• Evaporites
• Modern and Ancient Microbial Mats (Stromatolites and Thrombolites)
• Modern and Ancient Reefs
• Carbonate Sands with emphasis on grain stone accummulations, including Oolites
• Bioturbation by fauna and flora
• Resedimented Carbonates
• Sequence Stratigraphy with rock outcrop examples

DAY THREE - DIAGNETIC ALTERATIONS AND RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION

• Diagenetic Alterations
• Reservoir Characterization

DAY FOUR - ANCIENT CARBONATE SEQUENCES

• Exercise in Predicting Depositional Environments
• Carbonate Source Rocks
• Ancient Carbonate Sequences
• Triassic Dolomites of the Italian Alps with emphasis on the Sella Platform
• Lower Carboniferous Ramp and Platform Carbonates of the UK
• Miocene carbonates of the Mediterranean

DAY FIVE - Case Studies of Carbonate Plays and Fields:

SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGION:

• Indoneisa - Arun (North Sumatra), Kangean BD (East Java Sea), Madura (East Java Sea), Kampang Buru (Sulawesi), Walio (Salawati Basin, Irian Jaya), Kasim (Salawati Basin, Irian Jaya), Kempang Buru (East Java), Tonasa carbonate platform/ramp (Sulawesi)
• Malaysia: Natuna (Sarawak), Luconia Province (Sarawak)
• China: Liuhua (Pearl River Mouth Basin, offshore China)
• Philippines: Nido reef complex (Palawan Basin), Sarap carbonate platform (offshore Palawan Island),
• Vietnam: Offshore build-ups, Da Nang (offshore central Vietnam)

INTERNATIONAL:

• North Africa - Vuggy and fractured carbonate reservoirs of Tunisia and Libya
• Far East - Miocene carbonate plays from China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia
• Mexico - The Golden Lane Plays
• Offshore Brazil - Pre-salt microbial carbonates of Santos and Campos Basins
• Gulf of Suez - Miocene Carbonate Reservoirs
• North Sea - Permian Zechstein, Cretaceous Chalk
• Arabian Gulf - Middle Jurassic Araej Fm., Upper Jurassic Arab Fm., Lover Cretaceous Thamama Gruop, Aptian Shuaiba Fm. Cenomanian Mishrif Fm., Maastictian Simsima Fm.
• Etc

Tony Kirkham has 40 years of experience in the industry as an employee of major oil companies and
as a consultant. He mostly worked within reservoir engineering teams in international development projects and had long term assignments in Norway, Egypt, Turkey and Abu Dhabi. He was employed for 20 years by BP Exploration prior to working as Geology Specialist for Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Operations (ADCO). He then became Senior Consultant for Landmark in Abu Dhabi, followed by Managing Director of Reservoir Characterization, Research and Consulting (RC)2 in London with responsibility for Europe, Middle East and Africa. During 2001, Tony joined Technoguide (Petrel) as Manager of Consulting Services prior to several years as a Principal Geologist with Schlumberger. Recently he has operated as Director and Consultant for his own company.

He received his BSc from Aberystwyth University 1970; his MSc from Imperial College London 1972; and his PhD on carbonates from Bristol University 1977. Carbonate sedimentology, reservoir characterization and 3D modeling are his particular interests. Tony designed and led six-day eld-based carbonate training courses on the classical modern arid coastline carbonates and evaporites of Abu Dhabi for worldwide sta of BP and BP Aliates and has led numerous carbonate eld trips repeatedly for other major oil companies including, ADCO, PDO, Occidental and Statoil, as well as for organizations such as the AAPG and SPE. He has also taught numerous class-based courses on 3D modeling and geostatistics, Petroleum Geology and other subjects for ADCO, Landmark, (RC)2 and Schlumberger.

DR KIRKHAM’S Selected Publications:
Kirkham,A., 2003. Glauconitic Spherules from the Carboniferous-Triassic Unconformity of SouthWest England: Probable Microtektite Pseudomorphs. Proceedings of the Geological Association, London. V.114, 11-21.

Kirkham,A., Juma,,M.B., McKean,T.A.M, Palmer,A.F., Smith,M.J. and Thomas,A.H., 1996. Fluid Saturation Predictions in a "Transition Zone" Carbonate Reservoir, Abu Dhabi. GeoArabia. V.1, 551-566.

Kirkham,A., 1998. Pleistocene Carbonate Seif Dunes and their Role in the Development of Complex Past and Present Coastlines of the U.A.E. GeoArabia. V.3, 19-32.