The objective of this work package is to develop a holistic petroleum system model and exploration for sustainable use of the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The growth in energy demand combined with climate change requires the use of new integrated strategies and multi-disciplinary methods for characterizing the sub-surface as an integrated complex multi-dimensional system. This approach will allow the long-term sustainable exploitation of subsurface energy resources and storage capacity to reach the net-zero emission goals by 2050. In this work package, we want to 1) Produce an integrated geological holistic model and workflows for a selection of nearby existing infrastructure (hubs; ca 50km radius) to provide energy and storage opportunities; 2) Unlock yet-to-find reserves in mature, near-field areas and provide new energy opportunities to extend the life of existing infrastructure; and 3) Map fluid migration pathways and model basin-scale fluid dynamics to identify locations of best reservoir facies, reduce failure in exploration drilling, and reduce environmental impact caused by leakage from storage sites.
Deliveries:
- WP1 will contribute to forming young carrier scientists through several post-doctoral, PhD and MSc projects over the course of the NCS2030 centre.
- Report on the seismic data assessment in the Sleipner and Volve fields.
- Method/workflow for quantitative cross-disciplinary resource evaluation.
- Database of case study area available for integrated interpretation.
- PhD thesis and report ranking of storage prospects in salt and selection criteria.
- Method for characterizing basin scale fluid connectivity.
- Database of case study area available for integrated interpretation.
- Report ranking of prospects and selection criteria
Work package 1 summed up
In WP1, we want to understand how the water, gas (methane, CO2 and H2) and hydrocarbons move inside and between rock formations, and how the fluids interact between them and the rocks.
Seven projects have been defined:
The project will support the mapping and updating the reservoir potential and integrity of storage in near field areas for hydrocarbons, CO2, H2 and waste waters. We will produce workflows for the quantitative use of geo-and reservoir characterization methods and re-source evaluation including quantitative uncertainty estimation. The strategy is to integrate the quantitative geophysical techniques and rank the geological scenarios using all relevant background data and co-operation across other projects in WP1, WP2 and WP5.
Evaporitic sequences play an important role in the future energy mix. Their impermeable properties make them excellent locations for underground storage caverns, and their high thermal conductivity and associated thermal gradients are ideal for geothermal energy. Salt deformation can contribute to form traps in the pre- and post-salt sequences (for CO2 or hydrogen storage and hydrocarbons); in either hydrocarbon reservoirs or aquifers. However, evaporites are not just salt (halite), but they are layered evaporitic sequences (LES) consisting of sedimentary rocks such as claystones, sandstones, carbonates. The proportion of these varied components determine the sealing and thermal properties of the LES.
The characterization of the fluid connectivity from reservoir levels to the surface can be used to evaluate the ability of the overburden to keep fluids (hydrocarbons or injected CO2/H2) trapped in reservoirs or identify leakage pathways through the overburden. In this project, we will use the strontium isotope system 87Sr/86Sr as a natural tracer to identify connect-ed bodies of formation waters and help pinpoint important flow barriers in reservoirs and overburden. The strontium patterns will be integrated with other types of dynamic data (pro-duction, pressure, density ...) that equilibrate at different time scales with the seismic data to identify and characterize low permeability barriers to fluid flow away from the well path.
The transition from petroleum-dominated to a low-emission energy mix requires a new pe-troleum system type of model that will be as applicable to nearfield hydrocarbon exploration as to the storage of CO₂. In this context, we will develop a holistic and process-oriented mod-el that will focus on the interaction between petroleum-brine from source, reservoir to over-burden, and brine-CO₂ from reservoir to overburden levels. The model will be constrained by multidisciplinary data, including analogue modelling, borehole, static and dynamic fluid data, and seismic data.
Landmark Graphics provide software and solutions to build new subsurface workflows to ensure geological plausibility in all steps when creating complex geological models. The use of these tools is particularly important in mature areas where the vast amount of 4D data can hinder the efficiency of geoscientists due to issues in identifying and accessing the right dataset. In this context, DecisionSpace Geoscience and Permedia software can be utilized to accelerate the development of near field holistic models for evaluating the potential of geo-thermal energy and CO₂ and H₂ storage.
A 2-years postdoc for applying cloud-based computing, data analysis, and machine learning on regional, basin-scale problems of interest to the NCS2030 centre such as identification of North Sea reservoirs for CO2/H2 storage, and geothermal plays. This project will develop the tools to be used in a new PhD project that will start in 2025.
Schlumberger’s Petrotechnical Suite hosted in DELFI offers many solutions for subsurface mapping, interpretation, characterisation and forward modelling. These solutions have a long history track of efficiency in the context of traditional O&G projects. The geological, petro-physical and geophysical insights gained through the usage of these solutions are essential for safe and successful reservoir and seal integrity assessments for net-zero energy produc-tion and storage. The solutions are deterministic, Machine Learning driven or a combination of both. They address the structure of the subsurface as well as properties, integrating a variety of available data (seismic, well logs, geological processes, interpreters’ knowledge, etc.).
