The Alwyn North Field, Blocks 3/9a, 3/4a, UK North Sea I. INGLIS! & J. GERARD* ‘Total Oil Marine, Altens, Aberdeen AB9 24G, UK 2To1al, Compagnie Francaise des Petroles, La Defense, Paris -Awtrct: Situated inthe southeastern part ofthe East Shela Basin, the Alwyn North Field produces olan ps rom Brent {Group reserves and gas and condensate fom the Statord Formation, The structural st i titled and erode fault Blocks cipping tothe west and aligned nort-southconfoeming tothe principal normal faut trend, NE-SW cross ements further Separate the hydrocarbon accumulations. The hydrocarbon ess are estrieto the Tarbert and upper par ofthe Ness Formation ofthe Brent Group, in sediments associated wth thereat of the Bret deli. The Statjord Formation was ip = 2280 —- > CRESTAL WELLS 3/98.N27 at 3/905 oth DATUM: TOP STATTORD FORMATION kaoliiization and siliifeation phase induced by pore-water flow ‘during Brent deposition and early compaction has limited influence ‘on reservoir properties. The eal silitication probably prevented porosity reduction by cementing the grain framework, which beter Fessted subsequent compaction. A second diagenetic stage is linked to the invasion of fresh meteoric waters into the Brent Group reservoir durin the late Cimmerian tectonic phase It has led to the ‘evelopment of kaolinite, both as a replacement of the leached Teldspars and as pore infil. This tage is variably developed in the diferent units of the Brent Group, dependent on their original reservoir properties and the distance tothe exposed crest of the tied block. The Tarbert 3 unit, which had excellent original reservoir properties and was also close to the erest of the tilted block, experienced a stronger dissoltion of feldspars than the ‘nderiying Tarbert 2 unit. Precipitation of kaolinite is, however, actully less developed in the Tarbert 3 unit indicating that the ‘ements released by feldspar dissolution were drained downwards and away from this part of the reservoir. The third and most ‘damaging stage inthe diagenetic history related to the circulation of hot acid waters expelled during the compaction of argillaceous series before and during hydrocarbon migration, The consequences ‘of this acid water low were the continuation of slfeation and the precipitation of blocky Kaolinite and fibrous ite, whieh by lining ‘bridging pore throats as a detrimental effet on permeability. 1. {s likely that this diagenesis was inhibited by the movement of Ihydrocarbons into. the reservoirs, but remained active in the aguifer. Statfjord Formation reservoir Units A and B at the top of Statfjord Formation were previously ‘rouped together as the “Massive Statford” and the underlying Units as the “Interbedded Stator’. Further division is possible Statigraphiccorlation of Sttfjord Formation wel, Alwyn North Fel from the twelve production wells that have now been drilled, mostly along the erst of the structure. ‘Unit A is a strongly correatable 30m thick unit, of shale-ree marine sandstone possessing good reservoir chracterstis (Fig. 1). Tis base is a marine transgression surface, as evidenced by a transgressive lag seen in the cored wells. Net to gross ratio is virtually unity, porosities averaging 12.5% and permeabilities aver- ‘ging 80 md, Stturaton exponent of ‘values measured on core ‘material ver this interval confirm the individual nature of unit A, ‘with a consistently Tow valve of 1.48 for» having beon measured Unit B isa SOm thick distinct pebbly sandstone unit reflecting a braided fan-delta environment of deposition. Shale intercalations fare not uncommon but sequence boundary at the base again allows a smooth and isopachous correlation. This is further sup- ported bythe even pressure depletion of Units A and B as shown by ‘epeat formation tester measurements. Correlation in the rapidly {interbedded underlying C and D units is es certain. A higher sand to shale ratio exist in unit D as compared to unit C (0.65 versus 053), due to the presence of thicker amalgamated channel sands. Pressure depletion measurements are again helpful in refining the reservoir correlation. The lower half of the D unit for example is currently depleting at a much lower rate tis only with the help of production well drilled over the crest of the tilted block and penetrating the lower D unit in a structurally favourable position that such parts ofthe reservoir canbe ficiently drained. Porosties in Units C and D are actually slightly higher, at around 14%, than in overlying units A and B. This is probably a result of the less cffcient circulation of silica rich Nuids, due to shale intrbeds ating asbarriers and therefore restricting the presence of authigenic: Permeabilies are conversely higher in units A and B than below, ‘perhaps due to pressure solution inthe latter which only minimally affects the pore volume, but adversely alfects the pore throat size ‘The permeabilities overall are significantly lower than the Brent Group values, however, well dliverabilties are good with typical wales in the order of 15% 108 Sm'd-*ALWYN NORTH FIELD ” Source ‘The shales of the Kimmeridge Clay Formation are the principal hydrocarbon source. rocks throughout the Viking "Graben ‘Measured values inthe Alwyn Noth aea are 2-10% by weight for {otal organic carbon, a hydrogen index of between 100 and 800mg". and a mean potential productivity of 8 kg per tonne. ‘The coals of the middle Brent and the shales ofthe Dunlin Group also possess some reasonably good source rock qualities. In the rca of "Brent South-West” and further south on Alwyn Field its likly that Brent and Stafjord cis may be a minture From various source rocks. The Brent accumulations of Alwyn North Field are Alwyn North Field data summary likely to have been sourced locally by oil moving updip from the ‘west and south. A greater amount of diagenetic cay i found in “Brent South-West, when compared to the main Alwyn North Field. This can be explained by a later phase of hydrocarbon ‘migration, which allowed diagenetic processes in the present hydro ‘carbon leg of “Brent South West to continue over a longer time period. K*Ar dating of illtes Hinked to the time of hydrocarbon ‘migration, and fluid inclusion studies Jourdan e al. 1987), enable 10%. Yh < 40% 9 > 10%, Vsh <40% > 10%, Vs <0% > 10%, Vi 40% Poronty average range) Init 20% 177% )t4 22% 173%416-20% S941 16% Hydrocarbon saturation ‘at% 9 7 0% Peemeabiy (average fans) S00 md0.06- 10004 — md eOOm —- SOMA L000md —33mH)92- OHM Hyocarans i gravity apt sis apt s72-41.° APL 46-46 APL Oi ype Understated Understated Understaratad = Gas gravity Oebace ‘OST gee Derg ost Bubbie pnt 2Sbarat 310m Ohara 162m 300 bar at 1100 Dew point “75 bara 350m Gavi tio 1708m/Sm" $60 Sein 230mm? 200 Sm" Formation volume factor 15am? 2mm Lssmm zs Saini 2000 ppm 21000 p90 20000 ppm 2000-17000 pp Resity AWAmATIS — AMT AMATIOC — AMATI 006A mat FCI 020 ‘@mat rc Resersir condions “Temperature ure xe r8c Init pressure absolute) at datums 43 bar(231 ms) bar 240m) 444 arm) 496 bar 580) Pres pede in reservoir (0.062 bar at 3150 ms edie ‘ea 76km! ‘Grows cok volume 370% (0 Sa? DOilcondensate in place surceconitions) 385 ~ 185m? ‘Gas in plac (sree conditions) {60 10°Sm Recovery lator ol condensate 036 Recovery Into | ass Drive mechanism Wate injection Recoverable bydrocartons 1 163 + 10°? NOL condensate : Gas 28 10'S Proton Star up date November 1987 Development shame 2 patorms Production ate 33505 Curuitive prodastion to 31/0390 6112 1S? (0055 barat 3162 mss 0060 bar at 8100s 0.026 arm at 3500 mss Lem? 2m? 1o7km? 918 WSm? $34 10Sa 11958 « 10S 73. 10m "10 108m? 24x 10sm 25 10°80 16m 10°80 246 0 Sm? 86 vas 035 086 nas 7% Water injection Water injsion ‘Natural depletion 41 108m? 32 10'S - 2 43 « 10'sm Lax 10'S 07 10S? 172% 10S November 1987 Jane 1988 December 1987 2 platorms Subse completion 2 plaorms 2460S 12S S108 Sa 130950 10°S? 42 1S? Abe 0S2 IL INGLIS & J, GERARD from the trough of the Viking Graben to the east, where the Kimmeridge Clay formation has been rapidly and deeply buried. Hydrocarbons Brent Group accumulations Slight variations occur in each of the Brent Group accumulations, probably due to diferent rates of hydrocarbon segregation occur- Fing in each compartment. This is most marked when comparing the Brent South-West accumulation with the other accumulations. ‘A common fid composition exists at the base ofthe hydrocarbon columns and i confirmed by geochemical fingerprinting ofthe ol In*Brent South-West this evolves from an undersiturated il (40 API, GOR 300 m?/m?) atthe hydrocarbon coatact, (0 an undersa- turaied gas condensate (48° API, GOR 1000 m?/m') atthe top of the reservoir. Since the Mud is understurated throughout no real sg1s-oll contact exists. Studies ofthis fluid at or close to critical ‘conditions have been fully deseribed, (Neveux & Sakthikumar 1986), Otherwise, the Brent reservoirs contain low sulphur, highly lundersaturated oils, with high GORS: 130-350 m*/m!, for 39° to 442° API oil gravity. Oi viscosities are low, around 0.25 centipoie ‘A consistent pressure regime gives intial reservoir pressure of 480 ‘bars at 3150m TVSS with ol gradients ranging from 0.35 to 0.63 g c=. Measured water salinities range from 15 000 10 28000 ppm Nac. Stafjord Formation accumulation ‘The Sttford Formation reservoir contains gas with condensate at an inital GOR of 2000 mm? and a condensate gravity of 48" API. Inial reservoir pressure is 499 bars at 3580m TVSS. Water salinities inthe Staljord Formation appear to vary from 15000 to 80000 ppm NaCl Fortunately for both the Brent Group and Stafjord Formation Accumulation, the beter reservoir characteristics are located at the top of the limited hydrocarbon columns, thereby explaining the rather high expected recoveries. Tn the case of Brent reservoirs, this situation, combined with a favourable mobility ratio, should give recoveries between 40% and 55% with the use of water injection. Due (0 the presure mainten lance, no artificial ili requred, Natural depletion in the Statfjord reservoir is expected Lo achieve 70% recovery forthe gas and 40% for the condensate Tnitial recoverable reserves (1988 figures) for the three Brent Group accumulations of Alwyn North Field and the Statfjord Formation accumulation amount 1 176 MMBBL of oil including condensate, and 22 « 10° Sm for gas. The amount of production as ‘of end March 1989 is around 16% of the initial gas reserves and 19% of initia ol eserves. The main production period should yield 4 gis plateau of 6 years from the Beginning of production at an average daily rte of 7.5 million cubic metres, and an oil plus condensate plateau of 4 years at 90000 bartels of ol and conden: Sate per day. Recoverable reserves for ‘Brent Centra’ and “Brent South-West” are expected to jiM! a further 34x MMBBL of oil land 57 » 10° So? of gs, which willbe produced through subsea ‘completions tothe existing process and transport ec, ‘The authors wish to thank Tota Oil Marge ple and EIF UK ple for permission to publish thi epor.Whist the views ad opinions expresso bere are the esponsibity a the authors they may not alas nesssaly ‘ct the stanpoin ofthe operator, TOM o parte, ELF UK Te prt, thanks ae ofr to all of thos the Petroleum Devlop- ment Group wihin he Alwyn Dssion of Total Oi Marie aed expeialy fo reeroi gologits, S. Rac and A, Lepvraud for thet contributions. Fora comple eld such as Alwya North Field the gestation period fom inal discovery, through deineation, projet, and on to development and operating phase inet ong one Masy people therefore have ben “soca n bringing Aya North Fel to rio nd aro be thanked. Special thanks. however. are required forthe Tota eoloil laberatoy ‘odin Hordcau from where A. Jourdan has made is cootbutions oa iageno studies. Siar te contebuton on ll reser mates om (GBousguct has been invatuable References Bowes, JM. 1975. The Brent Oil, I: WoooLAND, A. W. (ed) ‘eiroewm andthe Continental Sh of North-West Exrope. Blackwell Scenic Publestons, Oxford, 353-36, now, S RAOHARDR, PC. & Tuonson, A. R. 1987. Paterns in the ‘zposion of the Brent Group (Middle Jassie) U.K. North Se, fn ‘Brooks, J.& Guest. K. (es) Petroleum Geology of Norh West Europe, 2, Grabas & Trotman, 99-914 Dercass€.E & Set, BJ 1977 A standard thenratgraphicnomenca- fe for the Central ond Northr Nort Sa, Rept of he lsitte of ‘Geologie Sdences 7728 Bullet, Norwegian Petroleum Direciorate C Jonson, A & Erstavria, M. 1987. Alwyn North Field and is reponal “slog context, fv Baooks, J. & GUNN, K. (es) Peale (Geology of Noth West Europ, 2, Graham & Trotman, 963-97. Jounpss, A. Twosis, M., BarvaRr, 0. ROASON, P. SOWMER, F. & SULWAN, M. 1967. Dagens ss the contol of Brea sandstone reser properties inthe Greater Aly ares (Est Sela Basi). Books, J Gust, K. (es) Perum Geology of North West Europ, 2, Gram & Trotman, 981-96 ‘Nevin, AR. Sacra, 8.1986, Delineation and elation of ‘Nosh sea revoir containing sear ene Mis. SPE European Pevoleum Confernce, Landon, paper 15856 Rawaor, PF. and Rivy, L.A, 1982 Late Juatic-Rarly Cretaceous ‘vents andthe Lite Cimmeran Unconformty in the North Sea Are, Pullin Americn Asiaation Petroleum Geologie 65, 224 268 Rov, S Land Stat, R 18S Sedimentation, seal He ad etnies at ‘the Tessie Jurssie Boundary (Statforé Formation), Tampen Spr. "Nowhern North Sea, Journal Petleum Geology 82), 163-186 oust, J. Dont, AG. 1984 4 reved Tris and Sues hse irapicromencatre for the Norwegian North Sea. Norwegian Peto= [Com Directorate, Blin No.3