Harbour Energy performed an analysis of a siliciclastic Paleocene play that spans the cross-border between the UK and Norway’s Central Graben area of the North Sea. The primary focus was to identify sweet spots on the Norwegian side of the border.
Senior Geologist Alenka E. Črne in Harbour Energy explains that they integrated different types of well data to gain a deeper understanding of previously overlooked plays in the Paleocene.
Using TGS Facies Map Browser (FMB) data sets used in conjunction with Geoactive’s stratigraphic software IC, they could effectively screen regionally at a play level and work with well data in more detail.
The study exemplifies the true potential of digitalization, which lies in the utilization of digital tools to get easy access to data, cross-analyze data, and generate quick-look or perform screening over a large area in a significantly shorter timeframe than traditional exploration approaches.
What would typically take several months to complete a regional study can now be accomplished in much less time due to the power of digital tools.
A third of the wells showed charge
In this study, Harbour Energy examined 351 wells from the Norwegian Sector and 427 wells from the UK wells, including their side tracks. By utilizing various datasets, such as lithology, reservoir thickness, core porosity, core permeability, and depositional environment, they could identify the reservoirs’ presence and quality and evaluate any potential seal risks.
To further enhance their analysis, they cross-combined the lithology and reservoir information with hydrocarbon fluids and shows information from the FMB database.
Nearly one-third of the wells with Paleocene rocks present had been charged at the Paleocene stratigraphic level. Among the 235 wells with hydrocarbon fluids or shows in the Paleocene, over half of the wells (133 wells) exhibited moderate to strong shows or flowing hydrocarbons, while the remaining 102 wells were classified as having weak or unknown shows by FMB.
To analyze the Paleocene play in the Norwegian Central Graben, Harbour Energy utilized a well-structured database and software that facilitates analysis and visualization at different scales, ranging from well to basin scale. The database-software combination enables quick screening and visualization of well-defined data sets, aiding in the data-driven decision-making process for companies considering entry into a new market.
Do you want to hear more about this exciting study or are you interested in the application of new technology and well data set integration in exploration? Attend the DIGEX 2023 conference in Oslo (Gardermoen) on March 28 – 30th and hear more about it.