Shallow Gas in the Dutch part of the Miocene

Eridanos Delta.

by

Erik Sens,

Supervision:
Hugo Poelen, Harald de Haan and Christel Hartkamp; EBN
Prof Poppe de Boer (UU)

EBN and Utrecht University

September 2009 – March 2010

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Abstract:
For many years, shallow gas was only seen as a hazard for drilling operations. In the last
decades shallow gas fields became more interesting after successfully development of gas
field A12-FA. However shallow gas fields have small volumes and a high risk and therefore it
becomes more important to better understand this type of gas play.
Attention is paid to the shallow gas play of the Northern Dutch offshore. In the A, B, D, E and F
blocks shallow gas is present. Most of the shallow gas is located above the MMU (Mid Miocene
Unconformity) in the very large Eridanos Delta system.
Based on well core data and by looking at the seismic the model it the Eridanos Delta is
interpreted to be a wave dominated delta. With this assumption the bright spots visible on 2D
and 3D seismic were categorized in four types of depositional environment: A (fluviatile
deposits), B (coastal deposits), C (slope deposits) and D (toe deposits).
To verify whether or not the depositional environments determine the quality of a reservoir, the
depositional environment of drilled reservoirs were linked to the measured reservoir
porosities. The results were plotted against depth and it appeared that depositional
environment and depth (due to compaction) together are the dominant factor for the
differences in porosity of the different reservoir types.
The volume of gas of one prospect in F06 has been estimated. This volume estimate is based
on very little information because no well has been drilled through the prospect yet and
therefore the uncertainty is very high. The porosity and expansion factor have been estimated
based on known porosities and expansion factors from other wells at the same depth. The N/G
(net over gross) has been estimated from a nearby well and it is assumed that the reservoir
layer is laterally consistent. The gas saturation factor is based on experience from other wells.
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The GIIP of the prospect in F06 is estimated to be 367 *10 m . With the current economical and
infrastructural situation this GIIP is not high enough to be economically profitable. However
with new technologies and higher gas prices this reservoir may become profitable.