The Brent Field: improving subsurface characterization for late field life management

Abstract

The Brent Field was discovered in 1971 and is now a mature asset. In order to increase oil and gas ultimate recovery, the field commenced depressurization in 1997. The re-development of the field has been underpinned by extensive static and dynamic modelling studies. Developments in geological computing and the numerical processing power of reservoir simulation platforms have significantly improved the quality of the Brent Field static and dynamic models. These models have been used for a range of studies including gas cap volumetrics, by-passed oil investigations and to select the appropriate reservoir access well technology. The constant optimization of hydrocarbon recovery from the structurally and stratigraphically complex reservoir sequence of the field requires, however, that the static reservoir models are continually revised as new data become available and existing data is re-interpreted. A new 3D seismic survey was acquired in 1995. Interpretation commenced in mid-1996 and immediately showed that significantly improved subsurface resolution had been obtained. This initiated the next major iteration of static reservoir modelling which will ultimately result in the next generation of static and dynamic reservoir models. As the first results of this work have become available, the reservoir modelling effort has focused on some of the most complex areas of the field.