Bahrain Field – An Integrated Simulation Study of 15 Reservoirs

Abstract

Abstract The Bahrain field is an asymmetrical anticline trending in the North-South direction. The field was discovered in 1932. The field is a multi-stack carbonate and sandstone reservoirs most of them oil bearing. The fluids range from tarry oil in Aruma zone to dry gas in the Khuff zones. The geology of the field is extremely complex with a large number of faults especially in the Wasia group formations, which contain the major oil reservoirs of the Bahrain field. These reservoirs are at different stages of the production cycle. Following a 3-D seismic acquisition campaign in the year 2000, Bapco took up an integrated study to develop numerical models as the main tool to assess alternative production mechanisms. This integrated study faced a significant number of challenges, which had to be overcome with innovative ideas. The challenges included representing communication between reservoirs through faults, complex rock and fluid distribution from heavy oil to gas condensate, gas injection, aquifer encroachment and fracture intensity. Although the hardware required for handling the large simulation models was meticulously selected based on benchmark data of the various machines, the geological complexities posed serious problems while running the simulation models. This paper describes the challenges faced by the joint Bapco-CGG team and the approaches adopted to overcome these challenges.