Carbonate Depositional Systems and Reservoirs

Day 1
Module 1 – Getting familiar with carbonates – where they are from

The first day will commence with a deep-dive into the topic of carbonates. This session brings you up to speed about how and where carbonates are formed and provides the basis for the main differences between carbonate and clastic reservoirs. The first day will continue with overview of carbonate facies, with a discussion about which ones tend to form the best reservoirs. At the end of the first day participants will learn how facies recognition helps for prediction of permeability distribution.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a highly theoretical day during which the main stage is set for the following four days filled with exercises, teamwork and simulations.

• Introduction to carbonates
• Main definitions, nomenclature, and sedimentary concepts
• Main differences between carbonates and clastic reservoirs
• Carbonate source rocks overview
• Carbonate facies description, distribution and differences
• Porosity and permeability distribution across different facies
• Oil & gas exploration and production context

Day 2
Module 2 – A journey through time – how carbonates change

During the second day of the course, a journey of carbonates through geologic time will be discussed with the focus on, how carbonates change and why that is important to know in a petroleum-geological context.. The class will continue with the concept of diagenesis with an overview of main diagenetic processes in carbonates. This will be followed by the overview of types of karst with details about why and how does it form, and its effect on reservoir, how to recognize it on seismic, during drilling, on logs, core, thin sections. Reservoir case studies and exercises will be integrated into the second day sessions. The day will finish with discussion about deep-burial diagenesis and fractures.

PLEASE NOTE: : The second day sessions contain reservoir case studies: chalk, karst and dolomite reservoirs exploration and production. Participation in this session is obligatory to successfully accomplish the training.

• Diagenesis: overview of main diagenetic processes in carbonates
• Karst and its typology
• Unconformity-related karst and its effect on reservoir
• How to recognize it on seismic, during drilling, on logs, core, thin sections
• Hydrothermal karst
• Dolomitization: where to expect it and why
• Dolomitization effect on reservoirs
• Deep-burial diagenesis: where to expect it and why,
• Deep-burial effect on reservoirs
• Fractures in carbonates

Day 3
Module 3. How carbonates stack – connectivity of reservoir units

The day three will start with presenting different carbonates platform configurations and geometries and their effect on subsequent oil and gas exploration and production. The concept of sequence stratigraphy will be introduced through a set of interactive exercises and teamwork. The second part of the day will be spent on learning about variety of seismic expressions and seismic responses.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a highly practical day filled with teamwork, exercises and simulations. Students must be prepared for actively participating in the sessions.

• Connectivity of carbonate reservoir units
• Carbonate platform configurations and geometries
• Concepts of sequence stratigraphy
• Carbonate sequence stratigraphy
• Eustatic sea-level changes through geological time
• How a carbonate platform accumulates with relative sea-level changes
• Seismic expression of carbonates
• Seismic response issues of carbonates

Day 4
Module 4. Carbonates reservoirs – volumetrics and recovery issues

Day four will commence with discussing volumetrics and recovery issues of carbonate reservoirs followed by learning about petrophysical issues related to differences between carbonate and clastic reservoirs. A set of exercises will be performed to allow participants to get familiar with the critical issues of petrophysical evaluation and volumetric uncertainties. This will also include carbonates storage capacity of carbonate fields.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a highly practical day filled with teamwork, exercises and simulations. Students must be prepared for actively participating in the sessions.
The four-day sessions contain petrophysical case studies: chalk, karst and dolomite reservoirs exploration and production. Participation in this session is obligatory to successfully accomplish the training.

• Carbonate reservoirs – volumetrics and recovery issues
• Petrophysical evaluation process in carbonates:
• Petrophysical critical issues and differences with clastics
• Volumetrics uncertainties:
• Evaluation of volumetrics – do’s and don’ts
• Storage capacity of carbonate fields
• Recovery issues in carbonate reservoirs.

Day 5
Module 5. Carbonate reservoirs in the oil and gas context

The first half of the last day will be spent on discussing the main issues of E&P processes when dealing carbonate reservoirs. The best practices and a variety of global examples with be presented. The second half of the day will include final assessment in a form of simulation where participants need to evaluate a carbonate reservoir from the petrophysical, geophysical and geological perspective.

PLEASE NOTE: The final simulation will include seismic, petrophysical and geological evaluation of carbonate reservoirs and E&P proposal for development. Participation in the final assessment is obligatory for all participants to successfully accomplish the training.

• Main issues with exploration and production of carbonate reservoirs
• Best practices and global examples of E&P in carbonate reservoirs
• Learnings of this course recap
• Final assessment – simulation