Joint analysis of seismic and well log data applied for prediction of oil presence in Maykop deposits in Naftalan area

1.   Introduction

The study area is located in the Lesser Caucasus foothill area, in Goranboy province of Azerbaijan. The area is to the south from Goran railway station. Terter channel is in the south-east, the Indjichay river is in the west and Goranchay river is in the north-west of the area (Figure 1).

Since 1873, the area has been covered by geological studies and 140 wells were drilled during the period of 1873–2008 ^[1,2,3]. Geological setting of the area has been studied by various geophysical techniques, structural mapping, exploration works and deep drilling. The area was covered by geological surveys. Until 1914 the wells in the area were spud without any previous geological study and mostly were shallow wells drilled by use of percussion method. Oil production from the field was stopped temporarily through 1914–1926. Since 1929 the studies of geology and deep oil horizons started in the area. The studies discovered horizons III-VII lying below the horizon II ^[4,5,6].

Large scaled gravity survey was held through 1947–1949, while detailed gravity survey was conducted in 1974 and in 1976. Summary reports on acquired data were presented in 1961 and in 1974.

The study area has been covered by electric survey in 1984 and in 1988. Study by use of seismic reflection technique has been applied through the period of 1945–1949, in 1959 and 1966–1968. Survey by use of CDP (Common Depth Point) technique was done through the period of 1987–1992. In 2010 the area was studied by seismic survey of CDP (2D), seismic refraction method and gravity survey.

From the ancient times the oil shows were observed in Naftalan area, which is a part of Ganja oil and gas province. The area is located in the south-west of Yevlakh-Aghjabadi depression ^[7]. Famous Italian traveler Marco Polo wrote about the curative effect of oil named "naphtha" used to cure skin diseases in the past.

Oil and gas presence is observed mainly in reservoirs of Maykop in the study area and neighbouring oil fields (Terter, Naftalan, Gazanbulaq, Aghdere). Natural oil and gas shows are met in Duzdagh and Naftalan areas. Oil and gas shows have been identified while drilling of structural and exploration wells. In Godekboz area the oil was extracted from Eocene. In Dalimammedli, Borsunlu and Duzdagh areas the oil was produced from fractured limestone reservoirs of Upper Cretaceous. Several oil horizons (I horizon of 43–56 m thickness; marl of 38–46 m thickness; II horizon of 70 m thickness) have been identified in Maykop deposits in the Naftalan area. Heavy oil with curative effect has been produced from the upper three horizons. Relatively light oil was produced from the lower horizons (III horizon of 10–25 m thickness; IV horizon of 20 m thickness; V horizon of 50–70 m thickness; VI horizon of 55–70 m thickness; VII horizon of 79 m thickness). Oil presence was discovered in horizons III, IV, V, VI and VII and in clay interlayers between thin sand layers. The clay interlayer between horizons II and III has been adopted as a lower border of curative oil layer ^[8,9].

Perspectives of oil and gas presence in the area are related to Maykop, Eocene and Upper Cretaceous.

2.   Methods of study

140 wells (appraisal and exploration) have been drilled in the area starting from 1873. Of these, 94 wells are deep and 46 wells are shallow. Oil is produced from horizons I-VII of Maykop series.

Despite the long-term studies covering the study area, the hydrocarbon presence in Maykop is not sufficiently studied until now ^[10]. This is due to absence of core samples from deep wells. To fill this gap, the oil and gas presence in the target interval has been studied by joint analysis of 3D seismic data, well log data and core samples acquired from adjacent areas ^[11,12,13]. Petrophysical studies were based on joint analysis of 3D seismic data acquired from Maykop (horizons approximately reflecting the top and foot of horizon I of Maykop) and electric log data aqcuired from deep wells in Naftalan field (Figure 2).

Results of the studies covered the interval between seismic horizons traced within Maykop (approximately between top and foot of Maykop) on the basis of 3D seismic data, Apparent Resistivity values from 22 wells, mathematical transformations of SP (spontaneous potential) curves and the regression relations between core samples acquired from adjacent areas (Delimammedli and Duzdagh). Tie of seismic horizons to well data, as well as designing of 3D model and the map have been done by use of "Petrel" software package ^[14,15,16].

Sparse network of wells and insufficiency of core data do not impact the study quality negatively. In this respect the results of our studies are rather prognostic.

The study stages are as the following: SP curves were transformed into porosity curves; Oil saturation of the target interval has been calculated by Apparent Resistivity curves.

The last stage of the study has been finalized by design of oil-saturation map and 3D model.

3.   Results and discussion

Analysis of resistivity values in wells reflects low values of resistivity (3–4 Ohm). This is probably related to poor clay and sandy-clay layers presence. This is displayed in irregular oil-saturation and low oil recovery across the study area. Distribution of oil accumulations is influenced by variation of porosity and permeability. The accuracy of results of our study has been diminished as no permeability data were available for the study area.

Commercial oil accumulations in Naftalan area are related to Maykop deposits as aleurites and sand layers possess reservoir properties. One of the major reasons of low porosity and permeability consists in high percentage of clay fraction (<0.01 mm). Maykop consists mainly of frequent alternation of clay, sandy clay, sandstone and partially marl. Upper part of Maykop is featured by alternation of clay, marl, thin sandstone and aleurolites. The upper subseries of Maykop is made of clay and sandstone, and the lower amount of sand rocks.

The map and 3D model designed on the basis of calculated oil-saturation cube are shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4. The oil saturation value varies within the ranges of 0.5–0.6. It is known that layers of Maykop are separated from each other by thick clay, sand and marl layers. The study displays that the reasons of poor oil recovery are related also to reservoir properties and permeability of layers. Increase of oil saturation in the horizon is observed in the North-East direction.

Analysis of average values of oil saturation has displayed dependence of oil and gas presence on sedimentation environment. It should be noted that in the sedimentation process of Maykop the oil saturation is deteriorated due to increased clay presence during the rapid subsidence of the basin. The large part of the structure is divided by a number of faults into the separate blocks, which impede hydrocarbon migration and accumulation.

4.   Conclusions

According to the map designed based on calculated oil-saturation cube and the 3D model the following has been derived: Average value of oil-saturation varies between the ranges of 0.5–0.6; Deterioration of oil saturation is caused by sedimentation environment, variation of porosity and permeability; Increase of oil saturation is observed towards the North-East of the study area.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.