Seismic Geological Modeling Study on Tight

Sandstone Gas Reservoir in Ordos Basin

Xin-ning Zou(&), Jin-bu Li, Bin Fu, and Hao Jin-mei

Exploration and Development Research Institute, Petrochina Changqing Oilfield

Company, Beijing, China
zxn_cq@petrochina.com.cn

Abstract. Su xx block is located in the west of Sulige gas field, Ordos Basin.
He8 target zone shows tight reservoir, strong heterogeneity, complex gas-water
relationship, low well control degree, and high risk of remaining reserves uti-
lization. Based on the seismic, geologic and production performance data, a
geological modeling method combined with object modeling and multi-point
facies simulation was proposed. Under the constraints of structure model,
seismic sandstone prediction results and geologic knowledge base, 3D reservoir
geological models were built. Through comparison and verification, the model
results reflect the drilling situation of actual sand-body better, and the predic-
tions of channel bar between wells have a good fit with the drilling situation of
effective reservoir in drilled horizontal wells. Optimizing the attributes modeling
under the constraints of multiple static and dynamic parameters, the established
Sg model reflects actual gas-bearing reservoir distribution preferably, and much
more match with gas well production performance. Based on the modeling
results, the reservoir development obtained better implementation results
including the screening of enrichment areas, deployment of target zones,
selection of well locations, and horizontal wells’ trajectory design, tracing and
production. For the low-permeability tight sandstone gas reservoir with complex
gas-water relationship and low well control degree, it will has very important
guiding significance to realize avoiding water development effectively, and
enhance reserves utilization degree and development effect.

Keywords: Tight sandstone reservoir
3D geological modeling
Multi-point

geostatistics
3D seismic sandstone probability distribution
Geologic
knowledge base
Ordos Basin

1 Preface

Sulige gas field lies in the northeast of Ordos Basin, and its regional structure is
subordinate to Shanbei Slope (see Fig. 1). The two major gas-bearing intervals include
Shanxi Group and Lower Shihezi Group, both with fluvial sedimentation. The target
zone in this study is He8 formation within Lower Shihezi Group. The Upper He8
formation belongs to meandering river deposition, and braided river deposition for
Lower He8 formation. He8 is a typical low-permeability tight sandstone gas reservoir,
and it is characterized by bigger gas-bearing area but only the parts are relatively
enriched, large scale compounded sand body with multistage stacked layers vertically,
quick change gas-bearing property horizontally, and strong heterogeneity.

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
J. Lin (Ed.): IFEDC 2020, SSGG, pp. 2468–2479, 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0761-5_233
 Seismic Geological Modeling Study on Tight Sandstone Gas Reservoir 2469

Fig. 1. Location map of Su xx block in Sulige gas field

Su xx block is located in the west of the gas field and covers over 1500 km2. In the
block, there are 70 2D seismic lines totaled near 3500 km and 2 3D seismic zones
covered near 300 km2, and above 300 wells have been drilled and gone into operation
since the block was put into development in 2009. The reservoir development is faced
with main problems as follows: (a) Solid foundation and lower utilization degree in
reserves, and great potential in remaining reserves. (b) Lower well control degree,
developed low amplitude structures and small size fractures [1, 2], and complex gas-
water distribution relationship [3]. (c) Small-scale effective sand body, it is based on
isolated type and transverse locally-connected type. And some stacked compounded
sand bodies are developed in local favorable zones [4]. The reservoir shows strong
heterogeneity transversely and vertically, and forecasting of effective sand body is very
difficult.
So, based on the seismic data in the block, this paper described the low amplitude
structures and fractures finely through the well-seismic combination, applied the
seismic structure interpretation and sand body prediction results, geologic knowledge
base and production data to build 3D reservoir geological models by joint constraints. It
has very important meaning to improve the reserves utilization degree and development
effects on the complex tight sandstone reservoir.
2470 X. Zou et al.

2 Seismic Structure Interpretation and Structure Modeling

2.1 Seismic Fault Interpretation
The past drilling practice in the block confirmed the existence of faults. The effective
recognition and description of the faults play an important role on drilling design,
adjustment and implementary effects of the gas wells. However, owing to small fault
throw and short extension range, it makes the recognition and accurate description of
the faults more difficult.
In this study, on the basis of the formation parameters from geology, geophysics
and well logging in the block, the fracture forward modeling was carried out, and the
fault interpreting models with different fault throw and dip were built. The results of
fracture forward modeling indicate that:
a. On the background of low amplitude structure, when seismic reflectors only
show twist features, it is difficult to identify and judge the fault, and the features should
be interpreted as low amplitude nose structures.
b. The seismic data can be used to recognize those faults with over 20 m fault
throw and higher dip. On the seismic sections, this type of fault characterizes as clear
leaps for the reflectors and obvious complex wave in the declining plate, it has distinct
difference with lower amplitude structure.
Through comparison with multiple different seismic attribute sections, the features
of fracture are more evident on the conventional seismic stack sections. Using the
seismic sections, the faults in the block were interpreted by the characteristics of fault
models (see Fig. 2). The interpreted results reveal that the faults are of mainly higher
dip (over 80°), have more clear reflector leaps (over 20 m fault throw), and can be
discriminated with reflector twists of lower amplitude structure. Finally, 116 fractures
were identified, and most of them are steep ones. The fractures mainly develop in the
west and east of the block, respectively. The strikes of the fractures present north-west
trend mostly, and north-east trend secondly.

Fig. 2. 2D seismic fault interpretation section of Line 076807

 Seismic Geological Modeling Study on Tight Sandstone Gas Reservoir 2471

(a)

(b)

Fig. 3. 3D structure features of Lower He8 top surface (a) and 3D structure model of Su xx
block (b).
2472 X. Zou et al.

2.2 Structure Features and Structure Modeling

First, the seismic structure result maps in time domain were obtained from the inter-
pretation results of seismic horizons and faults in the block. And then the velocity field
was built from time-depth relationship calibrated by well-seismic combination, the
time-depth conversion and variable speed mapping were conducted for the seismic
interpreted horizons. Finally, combined the regional structure background, and accu-
rately described the structure features of the block (see Fig. 3a).
As a whole, the structure of the block characterizes as “north high south low, east
high west low”, and the formation leans slowly from north-east to south-west direction.
7 groups of “nose structures” aligned in parallel in near east-west direction were
interpreted, the width of nasal eminence is 3–6 km, the height of fluctuation is 10–
30 m, and total 18 structure high points were recognized. The formation structure
presents good succession, and the main 2 groups of fracture belts with north-west and
north-east directions are distributed in the block.
The isochronal formation framework results, which were gained from the strati-
graphic subdivision and comparison of drilled wells, were regarded as the hard data,
and combined with above-mentioned seismic structure interpretation results, mean-
while, joined the constrains from the fault breakpoints, and built the fine structure
model of the block finally (see Fig. 3b).

3 Seismic Sand Body Prediction

3.1 Seismic Reservoir Forecasting in 3D Areas

The results of He8 reservoir rock physical analysis and forward modeling from the
drilled wells in the block indicate that the intersection of Vp and Vs can make a certain
extent distinction among shale, dry sandstone, water-bearing sandstone and gas
sandstone. At the same time, by crossplotting of Vp/Vs and Vp, it can be concluded
that: For the gas sandstone, Vp/Vs is 1.4-1.7; for the dry sandstone, Vp/Vs is 1.7–2.0;
and for the shale, Vp/Vs > 2.0. The prestack geostatistics inversion was conducted in
3D areas, and Vp/Vs was used to discriminate sandstone and shale, ultimately, the
probability distributions of He8 sandstone were obtained [5] (see Fig. 4a).

3.2 Seismic Reservoir Forecasting in 2D Areas

Aimed at the problems of small impedance difference between He8 gas-bearing
sandstone and shale, and more difficulty in reservoir prediction based on conventional
P-wave impedance inversion, a fitted acoustic curve was reconstructed. Through the
fitted acoustic broadband constrained inversion, the vertical resolution of the inversion
results and the recognition effect on the sandstone and shale were improved effectively
(see Fig. 4b). On the basis of the inversion results, the distribution segments of
sandstone and shale were differentiated on the sections, and the drawing sand body
borders and river trend lines were regarded as the constrained conditions of geological
modeling in 2D areas.
 Seismic Geological Modeling Study on Tight Sandstone Gas Reservoir 2473

(a)

(b)

Fig. 4. 3D seismic prestack geostatistics inversion section (a) and 2D seismic broadband
constrained impedance inversion section (b).

4 Establishment of Geologic Knowledge Base for Reservoir

Sand-Body

4.1 Establishment of Geologic Knowledge Base on Braided River

Distinguished from the channel bar sedimentary features, 6 main braided rivers in
outcrops were covered. The maximum average channel bar width was 326 m, and the
minimum was 170 m. The maximum average channel bar length was 675 m, and the
minimum was 305 m. The maximum average channel bar thickness was 6.5 m, and the
minimum was 5 m. The maximum average length-width ratio was 2.07:1, the mini-
mum was 1.63:1, and the median was 1.84:1.
In the infilled well patterns area of the gas field, the channel bar length was 500–
1000 m, channel bar width was 200–400 m, channel bar thickness was 3–6 m, average
length-width ratio was 2.3:1, and width-thickness ratio was 50:1–80:1.
2474 X. Zou et al.

Based on the measure and survey from 11 braided rivers of contemporary sedi-
mentation, the average channel bar width was 330 m, average channel bar length was
705 m, length-width ratio was between 1.85:1 and 2.45:1, and the average was 2.14:1.
In the horizontal wells’ overall development zone, tracked and compared the sand-
bodies from drilling cuttings, gamma ray and gas logging, and determined and
described their continuity and drilling locations. By the quantitative sand-body anat-
omy on 21 groups of horizontal well, 17 channel bars were drilled, and the channel bar
maximum length was 1068 m, the minimum was 428 m, and the average was 748 m;
the channel bar maximum thickness was 8.5 m, the minimum was 4 m, and the average
was 6.2 m. The maximum length-thickness ratio was 148:1, the minimum was 102:1,
and the average was 125:1.
According to the above-mentioned quantitative sand-body anatomy results of
horizontal wells in study area, and referring other statistical data as supplement and
verification, the geologic knowledge base on He8 braided river was built (see Table 1,
Table 2).

Table 1. Geologic knowledge base on braided river–single period channel.

Table 2. Geologic knowledge base on braided river–channel bar.

4.2 Establishment of Geologic Knowledge Base on Meandering River

Based on the quantitative channel sand-body research results of meandering river from
home and abroad scholars, the geologic knowledge base on He8 meandering river with
high bend was built (see Table 3).
 Seismic Geological Modeling Study on Tight Sandstone Gas Reservoir 2475

Table 3. Geologic knowledge base on meandering river.

5 Reservoir 3D Geological Modeling

5.1 Lithofacies Geological Modeling and Model Verification
Under the constraint of He8 reservoir prediction results in 2D and 3D areas, respec-
tively, based on the 3D training images from the established braided channel geologic
knowledge base [6–8], and the lithofacies geological model of the block was built by
using multipoint geostatistics method (see Fig. 5a).
By comparing He8 sand body thickness map extracted from the lithofacies geo-
logical model with man-made one based on the drilled wells data, a higher degree of
coincidence was gotten, and it is consistent with current geologic understanding of the
gas field development.
By comparing and verifying with 106 horizontal well groups in the block, the
predicted results of channel bar sand body between wells from the geological model
have a better fit with the effective reservoir drilling situations from the horizontal wells,
and the coincidence rate reaches 82%.
During the drilling tracking of 2 horizontal wells, the lithofacies of designing
trajectory was extracted from the model, the drilling effect was forecasted effectively,
and it has a better match with the drilling results.

5.2 Reservoir Property Modeling on Porosity and Gas-Bearing

Saturation
Utilizing He8 reservoir well logging data of porosity and gas-bearing saturation, after
the data coarsening, conducts variation function adjustment under the constraint of
lithofacies geological model, and thus the property models of porosity and gas-bearing
saturation were built (see Fig. 5b, Fig. 5c). During the property modeling, by adding
dynamic classification constraint from producing wells, which makes the property
models more consistent with production performance and static geological conditions.
2476 X. Zou et al.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Fig. 5. Reservoir lithofacies geological model under the constraints of seismic data and geologic
base in Su xx block (a), reservoir porosity model under the constraint of lithofacies in Su xx
block (b), and reservoir gas-bearing saturation model under the constraint of production
performance in Su xx block (c).
 Seismic Geological Modeling Study on Tight Sandstone Gas Reservoir 2477

6 He8 Reservoir Prediction Results from Geological Models

6.1 Distribution of He8 Sand Body
On the basis of the lithofacies geological model in the block, the sand body distribu-
tions in four single layers are characterized as follows:
a. In the first single layer within Upper He8, the meandering river sand body is
more developed, and the thickness of sandstone in point bar areas is over 8 m.
b. In the second single layer within Upper He8, the thin sand body is mainly
developed.
c. In the first single layer within Lower He8, the braided channel sand body is most
developed, and the thickness of sandstone in superposed areas of channel bar is over
15 m.
d. In the second single layer within Lower He8, the distribution of braided channel
sand body still presents a certain scale, the thickness of sandstone in channel bar
superposed areas is 9–13 m, and the shale is more developed in overbank flood plain.
The two single layers within Lower He8 are the main production target layers in the
block.

6.2 Distribution of He8 Gas-Bearing Sandstone

On the basis of the property model of gas-bearing saturation in the block, the gas-
bearing sandstone distribution characteristics in two single layers within Lower He8
show that the channel bar sand bodies are more developed, and present better physical
property and gas-bearing property. Controlled by structures and sand bodies, reservoir
gas-bearing property in the east of the block is better than the west obviously.

6.3 Distribution of He8 Effective Sand Body

After the channel bar sand bodies were extracted from the lithofacies geological model,
the effective sand bodies were screened out on the basis of the property model of gas-
bearing saturation, and then by calculation, each single layer’s effective sand body
distribution map was obtained. The distribution features of single layer’s effective sand
body show that:
a. For the first single layer within Lower He8, the braided channel effective sand
bodies are most developed and present larger scale, the net pay in channel bar stacked
areas is above 10 m and presents large plane distribution.
b. For the second single layer within Lower He8, the scale of effective sand body is
smaller than the first one, and the net pay in channel bar stacked areas is above 8 m and
presents larger plane distribution.
As a whole, the effective sand bodies within Lower He8 are more developed. The
majority of them are distributed in the main channel, and mainly concentrated on the
eastern sand body belts in the block.
2478 X. Zou et al.

7 Screening of Production Target Favorable Zone and Well

Location Selection

Lower He8 was regarded as main target horizon, the results of structure (fracture),
effective sand body between wells, and reservoir physical property and gas-bearing
property were integrated to screen the favorable zones. At last, 21 Type I+II gas
relative enrichment regions were screened out, and the total area covered near 500 km2.
Based on the screening results, 6 production target favorable zones were deployed.
In order to ensure the avoiding water development effect, the well locations were
deployed at the higher positions of structures. Finally, 56 vertical-directional wells and
8 horizontal wells were selected. Among the drilled wells, the ratio of Type I+II was
92.3%, and the reservoir development obtained better implementation result in the
block.

8 Conclusions
A. Through comparison and verification, the model results reflect the drilling situation
of actual sand-body better, and the predictions of channel bar between wells have a
good fit with the drilling situation of effective reservoir in drilled horizontal wells.
B. Optimizing the attributes modeling under the constraints of multiple static and
dynamic parameters, the established Sg model reflects actual gas-bearing reservoir
distribution preferably, and much more match with gas well production
performance.
C. Based on the modeling results, the reservoir development obtained better imple-
mentation results including the prediction of He8 effective sand-bodies, screening
of enrichment areas, deployment of target zones, selection of well locations, and
horizontal wells’ trajectory design, tracing and production.
D. For the low-permeability tight sandstone gas reservoir with complex gas-water
relationship and low well control degree, it will has very important guiding sig-
nificance to realize avoiding water development effectively, and enhance reserves
utilization degree and development effect, by integrating geophysics and geology
tightly, and building high-accuracy reservoir geological models on the basis of
static and dynamic data, and geologic knowledge base.

Acknowledgments. The project is supported by National Science and Technology Major

Project “Tight gas enrichment law and E&P key techniques” (Grant No. 2016ZX05047).

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