This integrates full azimuth seismic data with dynamic and static well information in open fracture network models at the field scale.

 “Tight” gas reservoirs feature low porosity and permeability, and require significant well stimulation – hydraulic fracture treatment – or the use of horizontal or multilateral wells to produce at economic rates.

Important issues for such formations relate to the identification of “sweet spots” as well as the optimum well and completion design for specific reservoir zones.

Workflow sketch for a tight gas reservoir.

The new workflow has been used in a case study of the Tiguentourine field in south-eastern Algeria, which is a tight gas field operated by a joint venture between Sonatrach, BP and Statoil.

Calibration steps via well testing have been performed, and the permeability tensor was linked to the P-wave velocity anisotropy.

The output is a full field reservoir model containing equivalent fracture properties to be used for flow simulation.