1. WOC 1: Exploration & Production of Natural Gas
SG 1.2.
Difficult reservoirs and unconventional natural gas resources
Kamel Eddine CHIKHI
Associations Director
SONATRACH
Moscow Meeting
25-27 September 2006

2. Study Group Topics Difficult reservoirs and unconventional resources
1. Difficult reservoirs and technologies for their exploration and production (sour gas, HT/HP, Deep Gas (>4,500m, basin center), shallow (<500 m) gas, tight reservoirs)
2. Unconventional resources and technologies for their exploration and production (coalbed methane, gas hydrates, aquifer gas).

3. Unconventional Reservoirs – A permanent Challenge

4. Difficult reservoirs – Areas of Concern
Study Goals
Definitions
Definition of difficult reservoirs
Sedimentology & Petrology : Depositional environments reconstitution
Subsidence & its consequences
Diagenesis & diagenetic sequences
Natural fracturation : origin & effects on reservoirs qualities
Porosity characterization & classification
Geomechanics fundamentals
Reservoirs Stimulation
Exploration technologies
Anisotropy assessment : spacial development geometry and distribution of  and k
Natural fractures characterization & modeling
Microfacies standardisation
Seismic attributes as a tool to characterize and predict reservoirs properties
Formation evaluation dedicated techniques
Flow units characterisation & Multilayers modelling
Resources & reserves assessment - Uncertainties quantification
Drilling fluids design & wellbore stability
HTHP & complex reservoirs testing techniques
Production technologies
Drainage models & Wells spacing optimization
Hydraulic fracturation optimization
Reservoir performance modelling
Completion of poorly consolidated formation
Advanced wells construction : Deviated and horizontal drilling applications
Production monitoring & control

5. Difficult reservoirs Expected results
Identification of key technology needs for understanding Difficult Reservoirs
Address areas of technology improvements needed to face technical gaps in exploration & production
Lower cost of difficult reservoirs development in particular for Play Resources assessment, Subsurface Imaging, Drilling, Well Completion, and Stimulation.

6. Unconventional Natural Gas Resources
Study Goals
Definitions & Standardization attempt
Definition of unconventional gas resources
Standardization of the different categories :
Deep & basin centered natural gas, Tight natural gas sands, Shale gas,
Coalbed methane, Geopressurized zones, Methane hydrates …
Assessment & Outlook
Exploration efficiency
Assessment of unconventional Gas Reserves & Resources
Technically & Economically recoverable UNGR
Role of unconventional gas in world supply for mid & long terms
Exploration & Production technologies
Data (seismic & wells) integrated expert systems
Basin scale petroleum systems
Sourcing modeling
Fracturation assessment & modeling
Plays / Reservoirs characterization & modeling
Well-log interpretation/petrophysical models for detection of marginal pay
Dedicated drilling techniques
Wells completion & stimulation : hydraulic, acid …
Nanotechnology in reservoirs Monitoring
Production Prediction & Optimization
Lessons learned for UNGR development & Best practices inventory
Cases studies

7. Unconventional Natural Gas Resources
Expected results
Review of Definition of what is exactly unconventional gas & propose a classification that, if accepted, can be used in different world regions
Update of the Global trends & the role of unconventional Gas Reserves & Resources in world supply
Fine tuning Exploration techniques & democratization of dedicated technologies for assessing UNGR
Deliver a comprehensive overview of production techniques and best practices overview

8. Study Group 1.2 Meetings Themes Contribution
3 meetings / year : February, June, October
Identify locations for forthcoming meetings – Proposals
Themes
Questionnaire concerning items to be studied
Finalize, prior to next meeting, the list of themes
Contribution
Build a data base of external experts to be invited to contribute to the study
Finalize list of members of the group
Technical Secretary of SG 1.2

9. Unconventional Reservoirs