Chapter 3 (1) Flashcards by John Junex Guitguitin

Sector that encompasses the exploration, drilling, and production activities necessary to locate and extract hydrocarbons.

Upstream segment

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Sector that includes geological surveys, seismic analysis, and exploratory drilling to identify viable reserves.

Upstream Sector

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It involves extracting crude oil and natural gas from wells, which is then subjected to primary separation processes to remove impurities.

Production

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This segment is critical as it lays the foundation for the entire oil and gas supply chain.

Upstream segment

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It plays a fundamental role in identifying, accessing, and producing hydrocarbon resources.

Upstream segment

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It involves exploration to locate oil and gas reserves, drilling to reach these reserves, and production to extract crude oil and natural gas.

Upstream segment

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This segment is crucial as it supplies the raw materials required for downstream refining and processing, directly influencing the availability and cost of energy products.

Upstream segment

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It involves using geological surveys and seismic imaging to locate potential hydrocarbon reserves.

Exploration

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It employs advanced rigs to bore into the Earth, accessing these reserves.

Drilling

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It involves techniques used to gather data from above ground to identity potential hydrocarbon deposits. These include

Surface exploration methods

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Surface exploration method where an airplane fitted with a wide-angled camera flies strip wise over the area taking. photographs each of which overlaps those adjoining.

Aerial Surveying

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It photographs a fairly accurate topographical map and a geological map showing the geological surface features observable from the air are constructed.

Aerial Surveying

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It provides comprehensive, large-scale observations of the Earth’s surface.

Satellite

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They are used to detect geological formations, monitor environmental changes, and identify potential exploration targets based on surface conditions.

Satellite surveying

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This involves studying rock formations and geological structures at the surface to understand the underlying geology.

Geological Exploration

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This technique analyzes surface and near-surface soil and rock samples to detect the presence of hydrocarbon indicators.

Geochemical Exploration

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These methods use physical measurements to infer subsurface conditions. Techniques like seismic surveys involve sending sound waves into the ground and analyzing the reflected waves to create images of the subsurface geology.

Geophysical Exploration

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This can generally be classified into two categories broad areas of interest that contain the thick sedimentary layers that have the potential to contain hydrocarbon traps; and
detailed surveys which are conducted to locate individual geologic structures which can then be drilled.

Geophysical surveys

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This are a geophysical technique used to measure variations in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by the presence of magnetic rocks beneath the surface.

Magnetic survey

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This method detects changes in the intensity and direction of the magnetic field, which are influenced by underlying magnetic basement rocks such as igneous and metamorphic formations.

Geophysical Survey Magnetic

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Sign that a location has hydrocarbon

Foraminifera and Sedimentary rocks

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The primary application of this is to identify the thickness and distribution of sedimentary layers that overlay these basement rocks.

magnetic survey

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This measure variations in gravity at the Earth’s surface to detect subsurface rock densities.

Gravimetric surveys

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the most effective method for examining the earth’s structure by use of geophysics, is based upon recording artificially generated shock waves that are reflected due to elastic discontinuities between different rocks.

Seismic

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This technique helps in identifying potential hydrocarbon reservoirs by generating detailed images of the Earth's subsurface.

Geophysical Survey Seismic

The process involves sending controlled seismic waves, typically sound waves, into the ground or seabed.

Geophysical Survey Seismic

Methods that are essential for obtaining detailed information about the geological formations and potential hydrocarbon reservoirs encountered during drilling.

Subsurface Exploration Methods

These methods include the analysis of rock cuttings, core samples, reservoir fluid samples, and mud logs, each contributing to the overall understanding of the subsurface conditions.

Subsurface exploration methods

It involves direct examination of the subsurface to confirm and assess the presence of hydrocarbons.

Subsurface exploration methods

Other term for rock cutting

Wildcat wells

These cuttings provide initial insights into the subsurface formations.

Rock cutting

these are often the first direct evidence of the subsurface geology and are continuously monitored throughout the drilling process.

Rock cuttings

These are cylindrical sections of rock extracted from the wellbore using a special coring tool.

Core samples

These samples are critical for detailed analysis of the rock's physical properties, including porosity, permeability, and lithology.

Core samples

It offers a more comprehensive understanding of the reservoir's characteristics, such as its ability to store and transmit fluids, which is vital for evaluating the potential productivity of the reservoir.

Core samples

a specialized cutting tool designed to bore through rock while retaining the core intact.

Core bit

Drilling bit use in getting coring samples

Coring bit

It involves extracting continuous rock sections during drilling operations.

Conventional coring

This core is brought to the surface in one piece, allowing for analysis of the rock's porosity, permeability, and lithology.

Conventional coring

involves cutting. small rock plugs from the wellbore wall after drilling. These samples are acquired using wireline tools.

Sidewall coring (SWC)

These reservoir fluid samples are essential for determining the composition, viscosity, and other properties of the fluids present in the subsurface formations.

Reservoir Fluid Samples

It involves using specialized instruments to measure various properties within the wellbore. Data collected includes porosity, permeability, resistivity, and other factors that are essential for evaluating the subsurface formations and determining their hydrocarbon potential.

Well logs

generally, means to "make a record" of something. and known as borehole logging is, therefore, the practice of making a detailed record (a well log) of the geologic formations penetrated by a well.

Well Logs

The primary purpose of ____________ is formation evaluation

Well logs

It involves using drilling rigs to access subsurface formations identified by geological surveys and seismic imaging.

Exploration Drilling

This process is essential for confirming hydrocarbon presence and evaluating resource viability.

Exploration drilling

These wells are drilled on land to access hydrocarbon reserves located beneath the Earth's surface

Onshore Wells

These wells drill straight down into the earth, following a vertical path to reach the target reservoir. and commonly used in straightforward geological settings where the reservoir is directly beneath the drilling site.

Vertical Wells

These wells deviate from the vertical path to reach reservoirs that are not directly below the drilling rig.

Directional Wells

This allows for drilling at various angles and trajectories, enabling access to reserves that are located horizontally or at an angle from the drill site.

Directional Wells

This technique is useful for reaching multiple targets from a single location or navigating around obstacles.

Directional Wells

These wells are drilled in marine environments and are categorized based on the type of platform used

Offshore Wells

These structures are anchored directly to the seabed and are used for drilling and production operations in relatively shallow waters.

Fixed Platforms

These mobile units float on the water surface and are used for drilling and production in deeper waters.

Floating Platforms

These platforms are partially submerged and held in place by anchored mooring lines. They offer stability in rough seas and are suitable for deep water drilling.

Semi-Submersibles

These are anchored to the seabed by long vertical shafts and float on the water's surface.

Spar Platforms

These are designed to operate in very deep water and are anchored to the seabed by a series of anchors and chains.

Spar Platform

These wells are drilled to locate and evaluate new hydrocarbon reserves. They provide initial data on the presence, quantity, and quality of subsurface reservoirs.

Exploration Wells

other term for Exploration Wells

Wildcat wells

This provides detailed data on the size, quality, and commercial potential of the reservoir. They help refine reservoir models and inform development plans by providing information on reservoir boundaries and fluid characteristics.

Appraisal Wells

This process involves several tasks, including using seismic data and information from the exploration wells to accurately map the reservoir's size, position, and potential boundaries.

appraisal well

Designed for the extraction of hydrocarbons from proven reserves.

Production Wells

They are equipped with technologies to manage flow rates, pressures, and to enhance extraction processes.

Production Wells

This phase involves the drilling of production wells, which are designed specifically for extracting hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

Production Wells

refers to the continuous extraction of hydrocarbons from the reservoir through the production wells.

Production

Used to inject fluids into a reservoir to improve hydrocarbon recovery. These wells support secondary recovery methods, such as water injection, or tertiary methods, like gas injection.

Injection well

These wells provide information on the stratigraphy and reservoir characteristics, helping to understand subsurface geology and inform exploration and development decisions.

Stratigraphic Wells

used for detailed subsurface mapping and to evaluate the geological context of potential reservoirs.

Stratigraphic Wells

This involves optimizing the extraction of hydrocarbons from a reservoir by utilizing detailed information on the reservoir and its fluids.

Reservoir management

This includes data on the composition of formation fluids, planned production rates, expected total production, well placement, and workover frequency.

Reservoir management

refer to maintenance or enhancement activities on existing wells to restore or improve productivity.

Workovers

tests that are conducted to understand the physical and thermodynamic properties of the formation fluids, which informs the selection of appropriate production methods

PVT Test (pressure, volume, temperature)

It involves downhole pressure measurements, provide data on fluid characteristics, the well's drainage area, and formation permeability, which are used to determine optimal production rates.

Well test

often present with hydrocarbons in reservoirs, especially in formations that originated in or near marine environments.

Water

categorized based on their geological formation, which reflects the type of rock and trapping mechanisms influencing hydrocarbon extraction.

Reservoir

classified by the primary type of fluid they contain, which affects both evaluation and extraction methods.

Reservoir

further distinguished by their drive mechanisms, which determine how hydrocarbons are mobilized and produced.

Reservoirs

categorized based on their permeability, which affects the ease of hydrocarbon flow, and the techniques required for extraction.

Reservoirs

It is the initial phase of extracting oil and gas from a reservoir, utilizing the natural pressure and energy within the reservoir.

Primary recovery

This typically extracts only a portion of the total hydrocarbons present in the reservoir.

Primary recovery

involves techniques designed to maintain reservoir pressure and increase oil production. The most common methods include water injection and gas injection.

Secondary Recovery

involves drilling new injection wells or converting existing production wells into injection wells

Water injection

Injection which uses natural gas, nitrogen, or flue gases, follows a similar principle but utilizes gas to drive oil towards production wells.

Gas injection

also known as Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), employs advanced methods to further increase oil recovery. These techniques include chemical and thermal processes designed to improve the movement of oil within the reservoir. Chemical methods may involve injecting substances that alter the fluid properties to enhance mobility or reduce capillary forces.

Tertiary Recovery

include techniques like steam injection to reduce oil viscosity. These methods can recover an additional 5-10% of the total oil resources in the field.

Thermal methods

a key process in hydrocarbon extraction, designed to access and exploit identified reservoirs efficiently.

Development drilling

a technique where the wellbore is deviated from the vertical to follow a planned path, which can take the shape of a J or an S.

Directional drilling

This method is employed in several scenarios. It is particularly useful when the surface location is constrained or urbanized, allowing drilling to occur from a remote or less obstructive site. I

Directional drilling

a specific form of directional drilling, involves orienting the wellbore horizontally within the reservoir strata.

Horizontal drilling

This technique is utilized when the production zone is located far from the surface drilling site.

Horizontal drilling

This method is particularly effective in reservoirs with limited thickness or low permeability, as it increases the contact area with the hydrocarbon-bearing formations.

Horizontal drilling

designed to access multiple reservoir zones through a single wellbore.

Multidrain wells

This technique allows for the simultaneous production from various parts of a reservoir, optimizing resource extraction.

Multidrain wells

this are versatile and can be used throughout the life of a reservoir, from exploration and appraisal to full-scale production.

Multidrain systems