In the eight years since Apache purchased the Forties Field from BP over 100 infield targets have been drilled with an overall success rate of 74%. As a result of this infill drilling campaign the field production rate has been held at a plateau rate of 60,000 bopd despite an average rate of 41,000 bopd in 2003, the year of purchase from BP. Indeed the success of this campaign has resulted in a shortage of sidetrack donor wells so there has been a return to surface drilling on all five platforms. Furthermore, to enable the full exploitation of the forward target portfolio Apache is installing a new 18 slot platform, the Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP) in 2012. Key to Apache's success on Forties has been a constant drive to push the boundaries of 4D seismic interpretation and lithology prediction from seismic and the ability to integrate this information with local production and well data. In this paper case histories are presented to illustrate our approach to target generation and the evolution of target generation over time is evaluated. The above methodology has led to many convincing successes over the years. The acquisition of a new 4D seismic volume in 2010 has resulted in a significant boost to our drilling results, allowing us to have our most productive drilling 6 months to date, including one well with an initial production rate of 12,000 bopd, the highest initial rate recorded in the field since 1992.
The Beryl Field is one of the largest oil fields in the UK Continental Shelf. Mobil commenced production in 1976 via the Beryl Alpha platform. Production peaked at approximately 200 000 BOE/day in 1993 before declining to around 50 000 BOE/day in 2012.Apache assumed operatorship in 2012 and, along with partners Shell, has arrested and reversed production decline on platform production through investment in 3D seismic data, drilling, workovers and improvements to operational efficiency. Redevelopment to date by the Beryl area partnership has focused on strategic wells across multiple play types and fields. These wells have realized an 88% success rate and have led to the delineation of additional, lower risk, drill locations. Drilling flexibility, a deep target inventory and effective partner relationships help to expedite the most valuable opportunities and maintain the drilling campaign.In the future, production growth is anticipated through cost-effective developments of new and existing near-field opportunities, including the recently discovered Callater Field with first oil planned in 2017.Three case studies will illustrate: the importance of structural compartmentalization in under-developed fields; the opportunities remaining in mature fields as a result of historical field management practices; and the value of near and new field opportunities for extending field life.
The Eocene age Brimmond Sand Fairway is situated along the north-eastern flank of the Paleocene Forties Field (UKCNS blocks 21/10 and 22/6). Located along the western margin of this Brimmond Fairway are well imaged remobilized sands that form the reservoir interval for the Maule and Tonto Fields and, along with deep-water channels, the Brimmond Field. These Eocene Brimmond sandstones are encased in the Horda Shale which provides the sealing lithology.The interpretation of these remobilized and injected sands is driven from geometries derived from 3D seismic and historic logging of thin sandstones in the Eocene interval. Conical shape features with sills and steep dykes are mapped, with seismic evidence of injection along active faults and fractures.The developments of the Brimmond, Maule and Tonto Fields has been successful due to impressive seismic imaging with inversion and Direct Hydrocarbon Indicator (DHI) volumes allowing the identification of hydrocarbon bearing remobilized sandstones, along with 4D data imaging un-swept areas.
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