Geochemistry - A Tool for Identification of Compartmentalization for Pab Sandstone, Sui Gas Field, Pakistan*

Hamid Hussain1, Fareed Iqbal Siddiqui1, Syed Asif Ahsan1, Rashid Hassan Gilani1, and Muhammad Faisal1

Search and Discovery Article #20138 (2012)

Posted March 12, 2012

*Adapted from oral presentation at PAPG/SPE Annual Technical Conference 2011, Islamabad, Pakistan, November 22-23, 2011

1
Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Karachi, Pakistan (s_fareed@ppl.com.pk; H_Hamid@ppl.com.pk)

Abstract

Sui Gas Field, located in the Sulaiman sub-basin of the Indus Basin (Pakistan), was discovered in 1952 and to date 93 wells have been
drilled in it. Structurally, the field is located in the first set of folds emerging from the Indus flat planes, west of the Indus River. The
major axis of the structure at the surface is about 55 km long and in the east-west direction. The surface dips are gentle and range from 1º
to 4º. It is an almost dome-shaped structure, exposing surface rocks down to lower Siwaliks that are marked by the rocky outcrop forming
low hills and cliffs all around. Gas has been discovered in three reservoirs to date, with two reservoirs from Ypresian age and one
Maastrichtian age. Further hydrocarbon potential, possibly tight gas, exists in the deeper formations.

The two Ypresian reservoirs, Sui Upper Limestone (SUL) and Sui Main Limestone (SML), were discovered in 1952 and contain a major
portion of the reserves with 1.28 Tcf in SUL and 12.5 Tcf in SML reservoir. The SUL and SML reservoirs are laterally continuous and are
interlain by the laterally continuous Ghazij Shale. The third discovery in the field was made in 1999 in Maastrichtian aged Pab Sandstone
reservoir by Sui-87(P) which tested 40 m of gross sand above the gas water contact (GWC). Since then, the Pab reservoir has been tested
in five wells out of which three wells, Sui-90(P), Sui-91(P) and Sui-92(U), were drilled inside the GWC identified in the discovery well.
Unexpectedly, well Sui-90(P) is in a possible graben, while well Sui-92(U) is in a zone with a shallower GWC, indicating possible
compartmentalization of the reservoir. The fourth appraisal well was deepening of existing well Sui-52(U/M), located beyond the
identified GWC and was dry.

2D seismic data with an average line density of 1500 to 4000 m is available but is not enough to identify either structural or stratigraphic
compartments in the reservoir. In the absence of detailed support from the seismic, we have used geochemical data from the wells
supported by the drilling, logging and production data to confirm the existence of compartments in the Pab reservoir. Gas and water
samples from the producing wells Sui-87(P), Sui-91(P) and the downhole gas and water samples collected from the formation tester run in
Sui-92(U), suspected to be in a different compartment, were sent for detailed geochemical analysis to ascertain compartmentalization of
the Pab reservoir. Gas samples were analyzed for δ13C and hydrogen isotope, while strontium isotope analysis was performed on water
samples.

The results show that gas samples from Sui 87(P) and Sui 91(P) have similar isotope values which are significantly different than Sui
92(U) samples. This strongly suggests that Sui 87(P) and Sui 91(P) lie in one compartment different from Sui 92(U), which is further
corroborated by formation evaluation data. The isotope results will be used in combination with the 3D seismic data to reduce the risk in
appraisal and development of Pab reservoir at Sui Field.
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
2011
Geochemistry- a Tool for Identification of Compartmentalization for Pab Sandstone-
Sui Gas Field (Pakistan)

Coauthors: Dr. Fareed Iqbal Siddiqui

Hamid Hussain
Syed Asif Ahsan
Deputy Geologist Rashid Hassan Gilani
Pakistan Petroleum Limited Muhammad Faisal
ENERGY SECURITY THROUGH INDIGENOUS RESOURECES
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Objective
• Workflow
• Results/Discussion
• Conclusion
• Implication for Pab Appraisal/Development
• Acknowledgement

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr.Fareed Siddqui et.al Slide 1
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Introduction
Sui Gas Field
• Sui Gas Field, located in the Sulaiman sub-basin of the
Indus Basin (Pakistan)
• Discovered in 1952 and to date 93 wells have been
drilled in it
• Gas has been discovered in three reservoirs up till now
with two reservoirs from Ypresian age (SUL & SML) and Study Area

one Maastrichtian age (Pab)

• Pab reservoir tested in five wells
• Sui-87, -91 and -92 drilled inside the GWC
• Sui-92 encountered shallower GWC than -87 and -
91 – indicating possible compartmentalization
• Unexpectedly Sui-90 was dry – drilled in possible
graben
• Sui-52 located on the eastern flank of the structure
deepened to delineate Pab – Encountered Water

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 2
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Top Pab Depth Structure Map

(Showing five Pab wells)

Wells used for Pab Geochemical analysis

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 3
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 4
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

MDT/RFT plot of Pab Sandstone

Sui-87 & Sui-91

Sui-92

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 5
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Objectives of the Study

• Confirm compartmentalization of Maastrichtian aged Pab sandstone reservoir in

gas and water legs based on:
o Geochemical Analysis of Gas and Water samples
o Logging and Drilling data

Sparse 2D Seismic Data Available – Not suitable to identify Compartments

• Draw Conclusions about

o Future Appraisal of Pab at Sui

o Possible Migration Pathways/Charging Direction

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 6
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Data Set Used

• Gas and water samples from Sui-87, Sui-91 and the downhole gas and water
samples collected from the formation tester in Sui-92
• 2D seismic data with an average line density of 1500 to 4000 m low fold data
not enough to identify either structural or stratigraphic compartments in the
reservoir
• Reservoir data:
o MDT Sui-92
o Well head samples of Sui-87 & 91

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 7
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Workflow, Methodology

QC/VC of
Sample Samples
Collection • Initial Gas Isotope Isotope &
Compositional Sample
• MDT Samples
analysis Ionic Analysis
Analysis on the preparation
• Well head results on on MDT &
gas samples for
Samples Wellhead & Well head
Geochemistry
MDT Gas water
Analysis
samples samples

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 8
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Results / Discussion

• Compositional Analysis of MDT and Wellhead Gas Samples from Sui-87, 91 and 92 wells

Gas composition C1-C5 Gas composition C1-C5

1.2 1.6
Sui-92(U) Sui-92(U) Presnt Study
1.4 Sui-92(U) Present Study
1.0 Sui-92(U)
Sui-91(P) Present Study
Sui-91(P) 1.2
Sui-87(P) Present Study
0.8
Mol (%)

Sui-87(P)

Mol (%)
1 Sui-92(U) Previous Study
Sui-92(U) Previous Study
0.6 0.8
Sui-91(P) Previous Study
0.6 Sui-87(P) Previous Study
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.2

0.0 0
C2 C3 i-C4 n-C4 i-C5 n-C5 C2 C3 i-C4 n-C4 i-C5 n-C5
Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbons

The relative abundance of hydrocarbon gases Comparison of composition of the

from C2 to C5 (Compositional analyses) hydrocarbon gases

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 9
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Results / Discussion

• Compositional Analysis of MDT and Wellhead Gas Samples from Sui-87, 91 and 92 wells

100000.0 Hydrocarbons
Biogenic Sui 92(U) C1 C2 C3 iC4 nC4 iC5 nC5
Sui 92(U) -15
10000.0
Sui 91(P)
Sui 87(P)
C1/(C2+C3)

-20
log scale

1000.0

δ13C
-25
100.0

Thermogenic -30
10.0 Sui-92(U)
Sui-92(U)
-35
1.0 Sui-91(P)
Sui-87(P)
-70.0 -60.0 -50.0 -40.0 -30.0 -20.0
-40
C1-δ13C (‰)
Distinction between biogenic and Carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of C1-C5
thermogenic methane

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 10
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Results / Discussion

• Compositional Analysis of MDT and Wellhead Gas Samples from Sui-87, 91 and 92 wells

Hydrocarbons n-alkanes
C1 C2 C3
n-Hexane n-Heptane n-Octane
-100
-20
-105 Sui-92(U)
-110 -21 Sui-92(U)
-115 Sui-91(P)
-22

δ13C (‰)
δD

-120 Sui-87(P)
-125 -23
-130
Sui-92(U) -24
-135
Sui-92(U)
-140 -25
Sui-91(P)
-145
Sui-87(P) -26
-150

Hydrogen isotope composition (δD) of Carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of C6-

C1-C3 C8 n-alkanes

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 11
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Results / Discussion
• Compositional Analysis of MDT and Wellhead Gas Samples from Sui-87,91 and 92 wells

Branched- and cyclo-alkanes

-20

-21

-22
δ13C (‰)

-23

-24 Sui-92(U)
Sui-92(U)
-25 Sui-91(P)
Sui-87(P)
-26

Carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of C6-C7 branched and

cycloalkanes

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 12
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Results / Discussion

• Compositional Analysis of MDT and Wellhead Gas Samples from Sui-87, 91 and 92 wells

0.7
0.8000 SUI-87(P)

SUI-87(P) 0.6
0.7000

0.6000 0.5

Ba (mg/L)
0.5000
Ba/Mg (mg/L)

0.4
0.4000
0.3 SUI-92(U)

0.3000
0.2
0.2000
SUI-91(P) SUI-91(P)
0.1
0.1000
SUI-92(U)
0.0000 0
0.0000 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0004 0 2 4 6 8 10
Sr/TDS) Mg (mg/L)

Ba/Mg versus Sr/TDS ratios Ba versus Mg

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 13
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Results / Discussion

• Compositional Analysis of MDT and Wellhead Gas Samples from Sui-87, 91 and 92

0.71
SUI-91(P)

0.7098

0.7096

87Sr/86Sr
0.7094

SUI-87(P)
0.7092 SUI-92(U)

0.709
0.0000 0.2000 0.4000 0.6000 0.8000
Ba/Mg
Ba versus Mg contents of water samples 87Sr/86Sr versus Ba/Mg ratios
from wells Sui-87,91 and 92 (this study)
and well Sui-91 (Pab-2) (historical data)

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 14
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Results / Discussion

• Compositional Analysis of MDT and Wellhead Gas Samples from Sui-87, 91 and 92 Wells

87Sr/86Sr ratios versus Sr contents

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 15
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 16
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Conclusions
1. Analysis suggest possible mixing of hydrocarbons generated by more than one
facies or source rock
a. Sui-87 and 91 have higher abundance of C2-C5 as compared to 92
b. Sui-87 and 91 have heavier δ13C values (~2‰) for C2 to C8
2. Analyzed gas samples confirm mostly thermogenic origin based on hydrocarbon gas
carbon isotope distribution and composition.
3. Geo-chemical analysis corroborate well with pressure and log data from Sui-87, 91
and 92 which shows 87 and 91 to be in different compartment as compared to 92
4. High resolution 3D seismic data is required to define the source of
compartmentalization

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 17
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Implications for Pab Appraisal/Development

1. It is understood that the reservoir gas is predominantly from hydrocarbon charge

from west to east, that took place in late Tertiary time, i.e. after the major
structural configuration with some minor throw adjustments in faults at Pab level
had taken place.
2. This may therefore mean that the compartments at Pab reservoir level in the
crestal part of the structure need to be evaluated with particular care as the crestal
compartments may have successively less hydrocarbon column as one moves
towards the crest.
3. Compartments down dip of the shallowest producing compartment may be
considered as interesting exploration target at Pab level.

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 18
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

Acknowledgement
We are thankful to Pakistan Petroleum Limited for providing the data for the
study and permitting to publish it. In addition we are also thankful to Mr.
Khursheed Akhtar & Syed Manshoor Ali for improving the quality of the
paper during the review session

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 19
 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2011

THANK YOU

Geochemistry a tool for identification of compartmentalization for Pab sandstone (Sui Gas Field) Pakistan AUTHORS: Dr. Fareed Siddiqui et al. Slide 20