Welcome to the Virtual Highlight: Third EAGE/SPE Geosteering Workshop

The 3rd EAGE/SPE Geosteering Workshop included a one day virtual highlight event that took place on the 2nd of November 2020 with key industry specialists discussing a variety of subjects within Geosteering.
An overview of all the talks that were presented have been added below.

Virtual Highlight: Third EAGE/SPE Geosteering Workshop
Programme

2nd November 2020 I ONLINE
13:00 - 15:30 CET

The Virtual Highlight: 3rd EAGE/SPE Geosteering event will be hosted and moderated by Mohammad Sarraj, Saudi Aramco (left) and Maurizio Mele, ENI (right). 

2nd November 2020
13:05 CET

Platform for 3D Reservoir Characterization and Geosteering Planning on the Cloud. Jean-Michel Denichou, Schlumberger

New developments in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence-based interpretations are bringing a step change in the integration of multi-physic evaluations and management of reservoirs in real time.This communication is sharing experience of a web-based collaborative platform integrating realistic geological models and advance multi-dimension modeling and inversion supporting latest Logging While Drilling formation evaluation workflows.

2nd November 2020
13:20 CET

Optimum well placement in an operational challenging sub surface. Arve Thorsen, Baker Hughes

In most geosteering applications the target is to ensure the best possible well placement for optimum production. In many fields there are identified operational challenges which compete with the optimum well placement. Potential solutions are discussed with emphasis on operational efficiencies and compromises between sub surface challenges and optimum production.

2nd November 2020
13:35 CET

Geosteering with uncertainty quantification: man vs machine. Sergey Alyaev, NORCE 

Consistent uncertainty quantification makes geosteering decision-making both better informed and more complex. We held an experiment where 54 experts and one AI bot were competing to maximize NPV of a well by performing decisions in a controlled environment using an ensemble-based uncertainty tool. Even though experts possess insights due to prior experience, an AI bot gives reliable and consistent decisions. But who will keep the crown for best geosteering?

2nd November 2020
14:00 CET

An Operators Perspective on the Future of Geosteering and Well Placement  Solutions. Monica Vik Constable, Equinor 

Innovative interpretation methods for mapping structure, fluids and reservoir properties around horizontal wells while drilling are critical for future success on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).  The challenge is to establish more efficient workflows for integrating geological knowledge with standard logs, ultra-deep azimuthal resistivity and seismic through new digital solutions to enable geosteering and well placement solutions from 3D mapping and characterization in real-time. Key benefits of the integrated workflows will be demonstrated with examples from NCS well placement operations.

2nd November 2020
14:15 CET

Using a real-time 3D reservoir mapping tool to image a complex deep-water reservoir in a producing oil field. Darren Baker, Woodside Energy Ltd and Haifeng Wang, Schlumberger

The Laverda Field is a deep-water slope canyon on the North-West margin of Australia operated by Woodside Energy Ltd. with Mitsui E&P Australia Pty Ltd as a Joint Venture Participant.  Development drilling in 2018-2019 comprised five long producer and injector wells that were geo-steered in thin high quality oil bearing reservoirs.  The field successfully came on stream in July 2019 but a re-drill of one production well, located 30 metres downdip and parallel to the original well, was required in June 2020. The re-drill offered the chance to use new real-time 3D reservoir mapping tool technology.  This new technology significantly improved the imaging of the reservoir in both a vertical sense and up to 30 metres laterally either side of the wellbore including the original well.  Its greater depth of investigation and higher resolution enabled an optimised well path and a successful completion programme in a geologically complex reservoir.

2nd November 2020
14:30 CET

From near wellbore LWD measurements to real-time 3D Inversion of Ultra-deep EM data, the evolution of well placement. Nigel Clegg, Halliburton

Near wellbore measurements from gamma, density, neutron and shallow resistivity tools, are as important today as they have ever been.  These tools, used for correlation with offset data to identify the stratigraphic position of a well are still valuable, even though they provide little notice of formation or fluid changes, to validate EM inversion models. As azimuthal tools became available, the benefit of identifying in which direction a formation or fluid change takes places allowed better well placement decisions, but with a limited depth of investigation it was not always possible to avoid a reservoir exit.

The advancement to ultra-deep inversions that identify formation and fluid changes over 100ft from the well bore, allow decisions to be made much earlier and it is vital that there is high confidence in the inversion results when these decisions are being made.  Statistical tools are available, but added confidence is provided by shallow LWD tools and azimuthal images to validate the identified formation and fluid boundaries.As ultra-deep EM inversion advances into the 3D realm applying the lessons of the past becomes even more important, to maintain high confidence in the inversion results to enable optimal well placement.