Our March 21st Forum covered a range of exciting new innovations, from 'broadband' 3D offshore to the introduction of ideas from medical imaging into interpretation.
However, the clearest theme to emerge was that PRM - Permanent Reservoir Monitoring - is absolutely key to understanding the dynamics of oil and gas reservoirs. Some key points are:
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9:30
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David Bamford - - New Eyes Exploration
Welcome & Introduction
David Bamford is well known around the oil & gas industry both as an explorer and a geophysicist. He holds a Physics degree from the University of Bristol and a Ph.D in Geological Sciences from the University of Birmingham.
Since 2004, he has been a non-executive director at Tullow Oil plc, being recruited for this position especially for his exploration knowledge. He serves on the Nominations and Remuneration Committees, and was chairman of the latter, and Senior Independent Director, for 3 years prior to his retire from the board at the end of April 2014.
He was on the board of Premier Oil from May 2014 to May 2016.
He retired from BP plc in 2003, his last four positions being Chief Geophysicist (1990-1995), Business Unit Leader (General Manager) for first West Africa and then Norway (1995-1999), and finally Head of Exploration until 2003.
He has served on the boards of Paras Ltd, a small exploration and IS/IT consulting company in which he held 22% equity, until its sale to RPS Energy in 2008 and Welltec a/s, a Danish well engineering company, as the nominee of the private equity investor Riverside.
From 2012 to 201 he was on the board of ASX-quoted Australia Oriental Energy as a non-executive director.
He was a founder of Richmond Energy Partners, a small oil & gas research house, and several media companies that focus on the oil & gas sector, and has served as an advisor to Alliance Bernstein, Opus Executive, the Parkmead Group plc, and Kimmeridge Energy LLP. Since retiring from BP, he has undertaken asset and company valuation projects for investment banks, hedge funds and small oil companies.
New Eyes Exploration
New Eyes Exploration, founded by David Bamford, explores new ways to discover Oil and Gas.
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9:40
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Martyn Millwood Hargrave - Chief Executive Officer - Ikon Science
Geophysics from Static Art to Dynamic Science - the use of geophysics in predicting dynamic reservoir properties:- rocks , fluids and pressures
Martyn founded Ikon Science in 2001. He has over 30 years experience in new ventures and technology application in the oil and gas industry, working in International Geoscience and commercial roles for GSI Inc, Candecca Resources plc, Hardy Oil and Gas, Jebco Inc, Acre Oil plc and BG Plc. Prior to IKON Science, he was Managing Director of IKODA Ltd and built the company from a start up to one of the largest independent upstream consulting groups dealing with some of the highest profile upstream deals over the past decade including the North Caspian PSA negotiations and awards to the OKIOC consortium and related deals including a half billion dollar disposal of these assets.
He has a long term interest in the public role of Geoscience and has provided this expertise on the board of a number of Industry R&D "think tanks" such as the Petroleum Science and Technology institute (PSTI) and Centre for Marine and Petroleum Technology (CMPT). He is currently a member of the CeREES Geo-Energy board of Durham University. He has been a founding shareholder or director of a number of oil companies including the Africa focused AIM listed Fusion Oil and Gas plc, Virgo Energy plc a private oil and gas explorer sold to Encore oil plc in 2006 and Ophir Energy Plc.
Martyn earned an Honours degree in Geology from Durham University UK and a post graduate qualification in Geophysics from Queen Mary College University of London. He is an active member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Institute of Petroleum, and the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain.
Ikon Science
Ikon Science is a global geoprediction technology company providing industry leadership in the prediction of reservoir properties, pressures and fluids. It's RokDoc® software, Quantitative Interpretation, GeoMechanics and GeoPressure services all leverage the power of rock physics to integrate well, geopressure and seismic data to understand the subsurface. Ikon Science's RokDoc software platform and related services are used in over 200 leading oil, gas, energy and service companies throughout the world.
Ikon Science, founded in 2001, has over 200 staff and operates from 19 offices across the world. The company is privately owned and investors include Fleming Family & Partners and Tullow Oil plc.
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10:15
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Eivind Fromyr - Chief Geophysicist - PGS
The value of broadband seismic for imaging and reservoir geophysics
Talk Description.
Seismic vessels have essentially operated in the same manner for the past sixty years. The principles of an acoustic source and hydrophone receivers have remained the same. Sensors have been placed on the seabed, in cables or nodes, but the majority of all marine seismic remains by towed streamer. Unfortunately the data quality is affected by the ghost - the result of an almost perfect reflection of the acoustic wavefield from the sea surface. Up-going waves are reflected back as down-going waves with a reversed polarity, and interfere constructively for certain frequencies and destructively for other frequencies. This phenomenon occurs both on the source side and on the receiver side and the affected frequencies depend solely on source and receiver tow depths. In 2007 PGS launched a dual-sensor streamer and broadband seismic became reality. The ability to separate the up-going and down-going wavefields is set to revolutionise the quality of marine seismic. In 2011 PGS took the next step and developed a ghost free source. Removal of both acquisition effects provides a broader bandwidth with improved noise characteristics ideal for accurate imaging and reservoir property analysis.
In this presentation we will review the enabling technologies, but mainly concentrate on the value of the resulting data for exploration and production. Improved imaging results from better penetration. Reservoir delineation and geobodies detection are improved due to increased signal to noise ratios and broader bandwidth. The broadening of the low frequencies represents a key improvement for lithology and fluid prediction and seismic reservoir property estimation. The need for a-priori information is considerably reduced by relying more on the data and less on a low frequency background model. As we will demonstrate, increased reliability on the data also delivers increased confidence in the resulting estimated properties and leads to reduced risk.
In concluding, we will also look ahead to future developments – use of the separated wavefields and also a towed streamer for electromagnetics.
PGS
PGS is a leading, international, marine geophysical company. Our business is technology driven and we provide a range of products and services including MultiClient data, as well as tailored acquisition, and imaging.
Our large, modern data library comprises ~850 000 sq. km 3D and ~670 000 km of 2D seismic data that targets areas of high prospectivity, where oil companies have potential to access acreage. Around 44% of the 3D data in our library and 60% of the 2D data have been acquired with multisensor GeoStreamer® technology. That proportion is growing.
PGS is the industry's most experienced provider of multisensor broadband data.
Worldwide, PGS operates three larger sales and imaging hubs in Europe and North America, and has local offices in 13 countries. The PGS headquarters is in Oslo, Norway and the PGS share is listed on the Oslo stock exchange (OSE: PGS).
PGS activities are organized into three business areas.
.Sales & Imaging promotes and sells seismic services including tailored acquisition contracts, MultiClient library data, and imaging services .New Ventures designs and markets new MultiClient campaigns and manages strategic projects .Operations & Technology plans, manages and executes all our acquisition projects, and develops new technology solutions
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11:20
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David Bamford on behalf of Sam B Upchurch and Tom Herbert - Director - Finding Petroleum
Reservoir Dynamics and the New Geophysics
Talk Description.
Observing reservoir dynamics
1. When a reservoir, any reservoir, is put under production, fluid compositions change, for example oil may be partially replaced by water or gas, gas may be expelled from oil, and so on. However, what is also well-documented and of significance is the fact that fluid pressures drop, changing the ‘internal stresses’ on the reservoir rock. Tempting as it may be, however, it is not possible to understand the (time-varying) geophysics of reservoir rocks by theorising an isotropic pore space responding to fluid changes and changing ‘internal stress’…………
2. Several studies have shown that the hydraulic conductivities of faults and fractures in reservoirs can be influenced by geomechanical perturbations due to production operations and it is reasonable to anticipate that such dynamic permeabilities will be manifest as changes in flow-rates at production and injection wells. Heffer & co-workers (Edinburgh University) have shown that statistical correlations in flow-rate fluctuations between wells from fields in the North Sea appear to bear out this expectation; they are characterised by high correlations over very large separation distances between wells, and appear to be stress-related and fault related. Heffer has proposed that the most likely geomechanical mechanism to explain such orientational characteristics of correlations relative to stress state is dilatation or compaction of aligned compliant fractures in en echelon patterns and at critical densities, also previously proposed by others as active in the nucleation of shear failure. This mechanism is also consistent with an independent empirical feature of production data: the observed frequencies of directionalities in flooding schemes.
3. These reservoir engineering observations lead to the conclusion that time-lapse geophysics - any observations of any reservoirs over time - must be based on the understanding of the physics of fluid-filled, parallel, compliant, fractures/micro-cracks – dilating or compacting as the reservoir is produced. This physics, this New Geophysics, has been documented over many years by Crampin, based on understanding and observing the effects of closely-spaced stress-aligned fluid-saturated microcracks on seismic shear-wave splitting (SWS) in the crust and upper mantle. Critically, seismic observations of P-wave propagation and P-waves are relatively insensitive to fluid-saturated microcracks, whereas SWS is wholly determined by parallel microcracks and can be measured with first-order accuracy. Thus SWS is a second-order quantity (small changes in shear-wave velocities) that can be read with first-order accuracy- thus there is tremendous resolution.
4. Consequently, there are significant implications for geophysical, especially seismic, monitoring of reservoir dynamics:
• First of all, we can say that conventional 4D seismics – towed streamer surveys for example – only discern changes in P-wave reflectivity and thus offer at best an incomplete view of reservoir dynamics, one that is unquantifiable, allowing only empirical comparisons,
• Secondly, a complete, quantifiable, view of reservoir dynamics requires 3C seismic acquisition (and strengthens the case for permanent installations).
• Thirdly, changes in stress can be monitored by changes in SWS so that stress-accumulation before fractures in reservoirs (and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) can stress-forecast the time, magnitude, and estimate location of impending fractures (and earthquakes and eruptions).
Finding Petroleum
Finding Petroleum was established to help the oil and gas industry network, and stay up to date on the latest technological developments. It does this via hosting regular events and with an online social network of nearly 10,000 members.
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11:55
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Phil Nash - Chief Scientist - Stingray Geophysical Ltd
Listening with Light® - Permanent Reservoir Monitoring Using Fibre-optic Sensors
Talk Description.
In this age of increasing oil demand and reducing reserves, great importance is being attached to techniques to increase reservoir yield. An important element in this is a better understanding of the location and movement of oil and other fluids within the reservoir, and one of the key future tools will be seismic imaging of the reservoir through Permanent Reservoir Monitoring (PRM) using networks of seismic sensors installed on the seabed above the reservoir. This application, which is becoming increasingly widely adopted, makes great demands on the reliability and stability of the sensors over an operating lifetime which can be in excess of 20 years. Other important factors are the ability to safely install such systems in water depths of up to 3,000m.
We describe the Stingray approach to PRM, which involves the use of fully fibre-optic sensors. These are robust, simple, electrically passive sensors which require no underwater electronics, and are combined together using a highly efficient multiplexing architecture. This architecture means that large numbers of sensors can be combined together using a small number of optical fibres, so minimising cable and connector requirements. We describe how we have optimised this architecture to maximise reliability, and we describe how sensor stability has been achieved through a combination of careful mechanical design and rigorous qualification. Finally we explain how system deployment techniques have been optimised to minimise cost and risk during the installation phase. All these attributes combine to ensure that the full value of PRM is recognised throughout the operating lifetime of the field.
Phil Nash, Chief Scientist of Stingray Geophysical, a TGS Company, has 25 years’ experience of fibre-optic sensor development, beginning with deployment in 1986 of the world’s first seabed optical hydrophone array while working for Marconi.
He later held various positions in UK defence research laboratories and QinetiQ, where he pioneered the use of fibre-optic acoustic technology for non-defence applications such as seabed seismic. He has published over 35 papers and authored 15 patents. He currently has overall responsibility for the core “listening with light®” technology used in Stingray PRM systems.
He has a BSc in Physics from Imperial College, London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics.
Stingray Geophysical Ltd
Stingray Geophysical, a TGS Company, provides advanced Permanent Reservoir Monitoring (PRM) solutions to the global oil and gas industry, enabling increased production and recoverable reserves at lower through-life cost and risk through improved reservoir management strategies. By 'listening with light®' using Stingray's reliable, permanently installed fibre-optic sensing arrays, oil companies benefit from high quality, cost-effective and repeatable seismic on demand in all field scenarios. Together with its global network of trusted partners, and as a part of TGS, Stingray delivers complete, integrated seismic PRM from planning, through active and passive seismic acquisition, to processing and reservoir solutions.
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12:30
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Gaynor Paton - - Foster Findlay Associates (ffA)
Geological Expression – A new approach to volume interpretation
Gaynor has a PhD in Neurophysiology and therefore brings a unique approach to arriving at solutions in volumetric seismic interpretation. She has spent over a decade with ffA, been involved in over 300 seismic interpretation projects and has unparalleled expertise in applying image processing techniques to answer some of the most challenging interpretation enigmas. During this time, Gaynor has been instrumental in developing geology driven workflows so that the software produced by ffA is both intuitive and effective. In her current role as Director of Geoscience Operations, Gaynor oversees the Services division of the company and guides the development of new leading edge Geological Expression workflows to accelerate progress in global Exploration and Production, as well as to keep ffA at the forefront of innovation.
Foster Findlay Associates (ffA)
Foster Findlay Associates Limited ('ffA') is a world leader in the development and commercialisation of 3D seismic image processing technology for the oil and gas industry.
ffA provides world-leading geological expression software and services to the majors, NOC's and independents worldwide
Its flagship application GeoTeric, bridges the gap between processing and 3D interpretation by directly translating geophysical data into geological information.
GeoTeric, gives the interpreter the power to make the most informed seismically driven decisions and provide the basis for increased well success across a variety of geological environments.
GeoTeric has powered 350 successful projects for more than 200 E&P companies worldwide.
ffA is a UK company with offices in Aberdeen, Perth, Houston, Rio de Janeiro, Kuala Lumpur, Newcastle upon Tyne, and London.
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13:05
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Prize Draw (iPad, kindly donated by Stingray Geophysical), followed by lunch & refreshments
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RPS Energy provides a range of technical, commercial and project management support services to the international energy industry, covering geoscience, engineering and HS&E, with offices around the world.
Stingray Geophysical, a TGS Company, provides advanced Permanent Reservoir Monitoring (PRM) solutions to the global oil and gas industry, enabling increased production and recoverable reserves at lower through-life cost and risk through improved reservoir management strategies. By 'listening with light®' using Stingray's reliable, permanently installed fibre-optic sensing arrays, oil companies benefit from high quality, cost-effective and repeatable seismic on demand in all field scenarios. Together with its global network of trusted partners, and as a part of TGS, Stingray delivers complete, integrated seismic PRM from planning, through active and passive seismic acquisition, to processing and reservoir solutions.
Jeremy Lynch
Principal Geophysicist
Assala Energy
United Kingdom
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tamir tal
COO
Geomage Ltd
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Eivind Fromyr
PGS
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Brian Sowerby
IT Architect
BG
United Kingdom
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Richard Spoors
Director
Greensand Exploration Ltd.
United Kingdom
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John Clure
Managing Director
Phoenix Hydrocarbon Resources Ltd
United Kingdom
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Michael McCullough
Senior Geophysical consultant
Blue Diamond Exploration Ltd
United Kingdom
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Paul Helm
Director O&G
Hewlett-Packard
United Kingdom
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Jerry Lunn
Group Information Manager
Premier Oil
United Kingdom
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chris roberts
principal
BS consultants
United Kingdom
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David Jenkins
Director
Hurricane Energy plc
United Kingdom
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Josh King
Analyst
RAB Capital
United Kingdom
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Ken Gardiner
Business Development
Business Development Consultant
United Kingdom
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Rhydian Williams
BD Manager EAME
Ikon Science
United Kingdom
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Christopher Walker
Owner
Red Hand Geophysics Ltd
United Kingdom
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David Forecast
Cairn Energy Plc
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Lauren King
Marketing
Ikon Science
United Kingdom
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Roger Doery
Retired
Retired
United Kingdom
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Heather Pratt
Geomarket Director Europe
CGG
United Kingdom
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Julianne OBrien
Marketing
IKON SCIENCE
United States
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Nick Bright
Retired
United Kingdom
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ron evans
Geophysicist
Consultant
United Kingdom
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Martyn Millwood Hargrave
CEO
Ikon Science Ltd
United Kingdom
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Robert Snashall
Consultant
RGSConsult
United Kingdom
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John Summers
Geologist
Consultant
United Kingdom
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Luis Merida
Imperial College
United Kingdom
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Martin Smith
Business Development Manager - Operations
RPS Energy
United Kingdom
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Dave Howe
geophysicist
consultant
United Kingdom
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Adedapo Adepoju
Independent
United Kingdom
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Chris Page
Seismic Processing Manager
RPS Energy
United Kingdom
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Ian Jack
Mostly Retired
Consultant
United Kingdom
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Abdulmohsin Dolaijan
Consulatant
Independent
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JOHN GEORGIOU
EXPLORATION CONSULTANT GEOPHYSICIST
RPS ENERGY
United Kingdom
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John Hall
Consultant geophysicist
Consultant
United Kingdom
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Alexander Baki
Business Manager
ITC Global
United Kingdom
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Dawn Murton
Events Manager
RPS Energy
United Kingdom
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Eleanor Jack
Consultant
United Kingdom
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jonathan bedford
Director
JXT
United Kingdom
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Rob Jones
Schlumberger
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Dan Kunkle
Director
Count Geophysics
United Kingdom
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Paul Lyon
Management Consultancy
KPMG
United Kingdom
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Stephen Warner
Petrel Marketing Manager
Schlumberger
United Kingdom
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Rick Donoghue
Director
Crescus
United Kingdom
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Rod Makin
Consultant
LK Exploration
United Kingdom
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Stephen Pickering
NExT Director Learning Content and Delivery
Schlumberger
United Kingdom
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Jane Wheelwright
Technical Application Specialist
DGI
United Kingdom
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Tore Karlsson
Director
MemeTree Ltd.
United Kingdom
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Adenike Adediran
CEO
SEGMENT OIL & GAS LTD UK
United Kingdom
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Zoë Simms
Multi-client Survey Operations
Dolphin Geophysical
United Kingdom
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Benjamin de Poumeyrol
Managing Consultant
Molten
United Kingdom
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Omotunde Adenikinju
Senior Consultant/Partner
SEGMENT OIL & GAS LTD UK
United Kingdom
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Brian Donnelly
Consultant Geophysicist
Donnelly
United Kingdom
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Helen Turnell
Principal Consultant
NR Global Consulting Ltd
United Kingdom
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Glyn Roberts
Director
Spec Partners Ltd
United Kingdom
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Ed Tree
Geophysical Consultant
Ed Tree Consulting
United Kingdom
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Keith Nunn
Managing Director
Nunngeo Consulting Ltd
United Kingdom
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vicki freeman
Geophysicist
svenska
United Kingdom
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Martin Blindheim
Managing Director
Energy Growth Partners Limited
United Kingdom
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Amit Sharma
Principle Consultant
Opus Sterling
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Derric Richardson
New Venture Manager
Tesla Exploration
United Kingdom
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Richard Bayes
Geophysicist
EOG Resources
United Kingdom
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Seadhna Wilson
OTM Consulting
United Kingdom
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Hassan Masoomzadeh
Senior Research Geophysicist
TGS
United Kingdom
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Gaynor Paton
ffA
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Shahnawaz Vahora
Consultant
OTM Consulting
United Kingdom
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Philip Nash
Chief Scientist
TGS Reservoir
United Kingdom
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Adam Marmaras
Event Organiser
Finding Petroleum
United Kingdom
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Stuart MacCormack
Senior Consultant
OTM Consulting Ltd
United Kingdom
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Rob Ross
Client Solutions Director - PRM
TGS Reservoir Solutions
United Kingdom
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John Finder
Sales Manager
Finding Petroleum / Digital Energy Journal
United Kingdom
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fiona goodfellow
Geoscience project leader
P A Resources
United Kingdom
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Lena Schweizer
Tsunami Development
Germany
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Margherita Maraschini
research geophysicist
Fugro Seismic imaging
United Kingdom
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Yasmin D'Este
Business Development Director
Petroleum Geo Services
United Kingdom
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Hugh Ebbutt
Associated Director
WSS Energy Consulting
United Kingdom
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Kirsti Karlsson
Marketing Manager
GEO ExPro
United Kingdom
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David Bamford
Petromall Ltd
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Syed M.H. Abedi
Managing Director
Zawiyah Assicates Ltd
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Martin Hodge
Business Development & Project Geophysicist
Geokinetics
United Kingdom
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M. Al-Chalabi
Head
Petrotech Consultancy
United Kingdom
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