AUSTRALIA ARGENTINA CANADA EGYPT NORTH SEA U.S. CENTRAL U.S. GULF

The Maule Field: An Economic Small

Field Development

J. Pyle*, K. Koster, G. Barker and P. Rose

The Maule Field: An Economic Small

Field Development

J. Pyle*, K. Koster, G. Barker and P. Rose

IntroductionIntroduction

Maule

Brimmond

Forties

Eocene penetrations with

logs, no sand

Brimmond sands present

2

Brimmond Sand FairwayBrimmond Sand Fairway

Maule Field Area

(100% Apache above Forties)

Brimmond Field

Outline

Forties O

WC

Maule Field

Outline

Brimmond Approximated Gross

Thickness

3

B. Kilhams et al.,

Petroleum Geoscience,

Vol. 17 2011, pp. 127-

142

Wet Sands Clearly Visible – NEAR STACKWet Sands Clearly Visible – NEAR STACK

2005 Near Stack Data

Dike

1

Wet sands have a class I AVO

character

4

A

A’

-ve

A

mp

litu

de

+

ve

Offset/Angle

1

Wet Sand

A A’

+ve Amplitude

-ve Amplitude

Discovery Well

(14m TVD net pay)

2

2p

Pay Sand

Forties Field

Pay Sands Have Class II AVO Response – FAR STACKPay Sands Have Class II AVO Response – FAR STACK

2005 Far Stack RAI Data

Dike

Possible OWC -1960m

Discovery Well

(14m TVD net pay)

1

2

Forties Field

5

A

A’

-ve

A

mp

litu

de

+

ve

Offset/Angle

1

2

2p

Wet Sand

Pay Sand

A A’

Continuation of discordant bedding

on far stack highlighting the oil leg

of the Maule field above a notional

OWC of -1970m TVDss

+ve Amplitude

-ve Amplitude

Maule Discovery OverviewMaule Discovery Overview

2005 Near Stack Data

Dike

Sills

Dike

Possible OWC -1960m

Discovery Well

(14m TVD net pay)

1

2

Very distinct ramp and flat

geometry on near stack data

indicating the presence of injectites

at Maule

Forties Field

6

A

A’

-ve

A

mp

litu

de

+

ve

Offset/Angle

1

2

2p

Wet Sand

Pay Sand

A A’

+ve Amplitude

-ve Amplitude

Maule Reservoir Injected Sands: Outcrop ThoughtsMaule Reservoir Injected Sands: Outcrop Thoughts

5/19/2011 7

‘Irregular, intrusive bodies with sharp lateral margins and irregular scalloped tops’ (Thompson et. Al.

1999, 2007). Images from excellent injected sands volume: AAPG Memoir 87 ‘Sand Injectites: Implications for hydrocarbon

Exploration and Production’. Editors: Andrew Hurst and Joseph Cartwright.

7

Diagnostic Signs for Eocene Sand InjectionDiagnostic Signs for Eocene Sand Injection8

Sand at base Oligocene - only

penetration of this ‘age’ sand in the

area. Well crosses a fault at this depth.

Steep dips from

density image data

‘Jacked up’ structures above injected sand

Steeply dipping seismic character’s (in places penetrated by wells)

Top Eocene Depth

9

Pre-Drill Depth MapPre-Drill Depth Map

• Anticipated

STOIIP of c.

6MMBO mean

case

• Recoverable

reserves of

2.9MMBO

10

Pre-Drill Pay Thickness DistributionPre-Drill Pay Thickness Distribution

A55x Horizontal Pilot HoleA55x Horizontal Pilot Hole11

A55w Production WellboreA55w Production Wellbore12

Pre-Drill Concepts Confirmed; Finer Details EmergePre-Drill Concepts Confirmed; Finer Details Emerge

Rugose tops, high dips

especially on entry and exit

Nearby injected lobe at a lower

elevation (as seen in discovery)-

creates sharp dip boundary at

horizontal heel

OWC -1960m?

OWC -1960m?

Seismic Top Reservoir

Oil Sand Indicator Seismic (Far Stack RAI)A55 (Pilot)

10.1m TVD

A55w

50m

A55x

A55y

23

23

5m

5m

50m

F

?

13

2010 4D Snapshot Records Sweep Pattern2010 4D Snapshot Records Sweep Pattern

2000 Far-Far Stack

Quadrature

Blue = soft

Far stack soft pick

4D hardening pick

A55w

00-10 Full Stack Difference

(4D Volume)

Red = hardening (interpreted as

water displacing oil)

Data is excellent quality with a

low signal/noise and good 4D

response

Far stack soft pick

A55w

4D hardening pick80m

Well Curtain Section

Seismic boat shot lines over Maule 4-6 weeks

after production commenced

20

00

Amp2

01

0

Incr

ea

se i

n S

w

-ve +ve

Amp

14

+ve Amplitude

-ve Amplitude

NW SE

15

A48

A11

A52

H

4D Signal Early in Field Life

T

A55w

A48

A11

A52

HH

T

A55w

2010 Far Stack Depth Map 2000-2010 4D Hardening

150m150m

+ve Amplitude

-ve Amplitude

Maule Field Project Timeline & Production HistoryMaule Field Project Timeline & Production History

Current production

steady at c.1000bopd

Initial production just 9 months

after TD of the discovery well

0.62MMBO Cumulative Production

16

SummarySummary

Economic development made possible by:

� Nearby facilities

� Small field allowance

� Flexible, low cost drilling operations

� Sense of urgency both at Apache and DECC (capitalising on 4D survey data for future development wells)

The future for Maule:

� 2nd producer location identified (aided by 4D data) & planned for Q4 2011

� Potential for further infill location(s) in thinner ‘wings’

17

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

u Andrew Hurst & Aberdeen University

u Apache’s:

u Klaas Koster

u Gregg Barker

u Phil Rose

u Paul White

18