From Basin Analysis to Prospect Evaluation

This case study aims to integrate the different approaches from a basin scale to a prospect scale.This course is especially designed to give attendees a global overview and a methodology from basin analysis to play definition and to prospect evaluation. It will accelerate their understanding of the exploration process and speed up their autonomy to exploration process.

1. Equip geologists and geophysicists with a robust methodology from basin analysis to play definition and to prospect evaluation. 
2. Clarify and organize the technical different steps of a basin exploration study and bring all the data into coherence.
3. Help attendees to generate key documents for helping the management to make clear choices. 
    

This course is a case study necessitating an active participation of attendees with hands-on practical exercises. Attendees will work by pairs, ideally one geologist and one geophysicist.
All the results are reported during the week on a summary document A0 called "Basin Analysis Summary" which allows a general synthesis of the work, effective for a final presentation exercise.

The work is done on paper (seismic, well, "Basin Analysis Summary" document).

The case study is interspersed with short presentations (15 - 30 minutes) when necessary (geodynamics, mega sequences, chronostratigraphic diagram (Wheeler), play, prospect evaluation, etc. ...). All documents are provided.

No specific requirement for this course that can take place in any meeting room with validated HSE characteristics, in your company premises or elsewhere. 

One week (35-40 hours) is the ideal time. The case can be shortened or lengthened according to the request. 

• Presentation of the case study and data set: 1 regional seismic line (200km), calibrated by 10 wells simplified in terms of lithologies, age and depositional environment
• Geodynamic context: What kind of basin? How many superposed megasequences?
• Interpretation of the seismic line (about 15 markers)
   

• Interpretation of the seismic line (continued) - Highlighting of geometries (toplap, downlap, onlap, prograding systems, depocenters, erosion, etc.).
• Report lithologies from wells on the seismic line. Control of consistency of basin geometry and depositional environments. 
• Elaboration of a global tectonic and stratigraphic framework.
   

• Construction of a chronostratigraphic diagram (Wheeler diagram) and coherence control of deposits and geological ages. Calibration in time of the basin.
• Identification of the reservoir/seal pairs, source rocks and oil and gas kitchens (on the interpreted seismic line).
• Illustration of the place of the basin modeling in the sequence (data, limitations, results). Petroleum event chart.
   

• Integration of the previous oil results of the basin and construction of a schematic section illustrating the different "plays" existing in the basin.
• Status of the different “play” in the basin: proven plays, tested dry or conceptual
• Focus on a "play" defined on the seismic line on map at the basin scale ("play" extension map provided).
   

• Definition of the different prospects associated with the "play" and for each one of them, assessment of the risks necessary for a full evaluation before drilling.
• Discussion and choice of the least risky prospect
• All the results are reported during the week on a summary document A0 called "Basin Analysis Summary" which allows a general synthesis of the work, effective for a final presentation exercise.