(OTC 23952)Geological, Geophysical and Petrophysical Characterization of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in South China Sea Deep Water Block 29/26

摘要

In 2004, Block 29/26 Production Sharing Contract (PSC) was signed between Husky Energy Inc. and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). The block is located about 300 km offshore Hong Kong (Figure 1), on the north east slope of the gas-prone Baiyun (White Cloud) Sub Sag of the Zhu-II sub-basin in the larger Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB). The water depth on the block is from 650 m to 1500 m. A total of 27 deep water exploration and appraisal wells were drilled in the period between 2006 and 2011. Three commercial gas fields, Liwan 3-1-1, LH34-2 and LH29-1, were discovered in April 2006, September 2009 and December 2009, respectively. Several sub-economic gas accumulations were also discovered in the same period. Reservoir and hydrocarbon detection and trap delineation, were the key challenges faced by the exploration team. An integrated subsurface approach, including extensive 3D seismic surveying and high quality processing, seismic inversion, accurate structural/stratigraphic mapping, accurate depth conversion and seismic-based geomorphology, played a key role in making these discoveries. At the time of writing this paper, Block 29/26 is the only deep water block in South China Sea (SCS) with commercial discoveries, and boasts the most extensive deep water database in the region, including large amounts of seismic, conventional and side-wall cores, wireline logs, pressure and fluid samples as well as subsequent lab analyses data. Full investigation of the available information can be expected to provide the necessary guidance for future exploration and development activities in this region.