Evaluate formation ahead of development well drilling

Offshore Libya, an operator sought to enhance future gas production when drilling 13 development wells during Phase II of its FDP. A lack of image data and core analysis meant that the field’s subsurface geology was unclear prior to campaign commencement.

For optimal results within the FDP, the operator decided to acquire image logs—subsurface images would enable better understanding of the heterogonous carbonate formation. With improved visibility, the drilling team could accurately determine formation tops, measure the maximum and minimum in situ horizontal stresses, and identify vuggy intervals for the best perforation zones in development wells. Such data were critical as the operator planned a vertical well completion design.

Obtain high-resolution subsurface images for better visualization

The geoVISION service plays a critical role in illuminating subsurface geology, clarifying structural uncertainties, and avoiding misinterpretation by providing high-resolution images with a nearly core-like level of detail. The service enables interpretation in memory mode or real time without interrupting drilling operations, saving valuable rig time.

In this application, the geoVISION service was deployed with ELANPlus analysis, the sonicVISION service, and true stratigraphic thickness points to enable comprehensive structural and sedimentological reservoir performance analysis. The advanced interpretation of images provided through the geoVISION service was performed using the Techlog platform.

Identify critical reservoir characteristics to improve planning

Schlumberger experts used the geoVISION service and Techlog platform to interpret the subsurface geological images to provide a better understanding of carbonate facies and vuggy distributions, even in a formation with resistivity exceeding 2,000 ohm. The interpretation also provided a detailed knowledge of the basin’s geology for better drilling decisions throughout the FDP. With reduced uncertainty around the characteristics of the formation, the operator was able to design well completions that would mitigate undesired water breakthrough in highly vuggy carbonate formations and identify the best perforation zones.

The enhanced images from the geoVISION service enabled the operator to confidently identify vugs, fractures, and bed boundaries. With this structural and stress analysis was performed to identify fracture direction for use in the drilling of planned horizontal wells.

Looking ahead, the operator used the improved correlation certainty, confirmed lateral positions within the reservoir, and a better understanding of reservoir properties to design a stimulation program for optimal future development wells in the area.