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Geocellular Modeling of the Cambrian to Eocene Multi-Reservoirs, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan

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Abstract

Geocellular modeling has become extremely important, linking all petroleum disciplines, and being widely used in simulation and production forecasting in complex basin studies. In this study, we focused on the Minwal–Joyamair Fields in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), Pakistan, which contains Cambrian to Eocene reservoir formations. Changes in sedimentary environments and structural activities within the UIB have resulted in reservoir heterogeneity, which has adversely affected reservoir performance, and it is still not fully understood. Geocellular modeling was used in this study to better understand the structural framework of the Cambrian to Eocene formations in the UIB. The 2D seismic and well log data from the Minwal–Joyamair Fields are the primary data for building the geocellular model for the Eocene (Chorgali, Sakesar) and Paleocene (Lockhart) reservoirs. The developed structural model is then populated with petrophysical properties such as porosity. The upscaled porosity for the Eocene carbonate rock units ranges 1–3%. On the other hand, the Cambrian and Permian (Tobra & Khewra) clastic reservoirs bear porosity of 3–10%. The upscaled porosity can be utilized to predict the lateral and vertical distribution in these reservoirs. Furthermore, the evaluated upscaled correlation for Eocene reservoirs (80–90%), whereas for Permian (Tobra) and Cambrian (Khewra) reservoirs, it lies between 60 and 70 %. Apart from data availability, a complete geocellular model of the field was produced, encompassing the petrophysical and facies model. The geocellular models created a high-resolution 3D reservoir model of this complex geology that can be applied to similar geology worldwide to identify prospective zones.

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Notes

  1. mmboe = millions of barrels of oil equivalent; 1 barrel of oil equivalent = 6.1178632 × 109 Joules

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their utmost gratitude to the Directorate General of Petroleum Concession (DGPC) of Pakistan for providing the essential data required for this research. Furthermore, our special thanks and appreciation to LMK Resources Pakistan (Private) Limited (LMKR), Islamabad, Pakistan, Petrel, and the Geophysical Lab of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bahria University Islamabad, Pakistan, for providing the necessary platform and software to successfully conduct this research within the stipulated timeframe. Deep thanks and gratitude to the Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2023R351), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for funding this research article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bahria School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Bahria University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Muhsan Ehsan & Muhammad Ali Umair Latif

  2. Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Abid Ali

  3. Faculty of Geography and Geology, Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-387, Kraków, Poland

    Ahmed E. Radwan

  4. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Attique Amer

  5. Department of Geology and Geophysics, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Kamal Abdelrahman

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  1. Muhsan Ehsan
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Ehsan, M., Latif, M.A.U., Ali, A. et al. Geocellular Modeling of the Cambrian to Eocene Multi-Reservoirs, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan. Nat Resour Res 32, 2583–2607 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-023-10256-7

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