Fault interpretation and reservoir characterization of the Farewell Formation within Kerry Field, Taranaki Basin, New Zealand

Author

Waleed Deefallah M Alotaby

Abstract

"The Kerry Field, located in the southern offshore Taranaki Basin, is a large liquid-rich gas accumulation with a thin (20 m) oil rim. The field was discovered by the New Zealand Oil & Gas in 1986 (well Kupe South-1). The gas and oil are trapped within a 9.2 km² fault-dependent three-way dip closure in the Paleocene Farewell Formation reservoir. Pressure, volume, and temperature (PVT) data indicate that the gas and oil columns in the field are in equilibrium with one another and are saturated at current reservoir conditions.

The Farewell Formation is the uppermost formation of the Kapuni Group and is producing gas and oil in the Kerry Field. The Farewell Formation is one of the oldest reservoirs in the Taranaki Basin. The Kupe South-1 well penetrates two sequence boundaries. One is an unconformity beneath the Late Miocene Urenui Formation, and the other is beneath the Oligocene Otaraoa Formation, which appears to be in fault contact with the Paleocene Farewell Formation. The Farewell Formation was deposited in the fluvio-deltaic environment, and consists primarily of sandstone, interbedded with carbonaceous mudstone. The thickness of the formation ranges from 261 to 382 m.

A time structure map, depth map, isochron map, edge detection map, and coherence map were produced to identify the structures, especially the faults the study area. A correlation across three wells along 19,089 m was generated to support the interpretation the maps. Several faults are mapped that display seismic attributes. The water-oil contact was found at a depth of 3,300 m. The density of the Farewell Formation ranges between 2.2 and 2.6 g/cm³. The average porosity of the Farewell Formation ranges between 20 -24 present. The prospective areas for oil production are located in the north and the south-west parts of the formation"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Liu, Kelly H.

Committee Member(s)

Gao, Stephen S.
Anderson, Neil L. (Neil Lennart), 1954-

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Geology and Geophysics

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Fall 2015

Pagination

x, 57 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 54-56).

Geographic Coverage

New Zealand

Rights

© 2015 Waleed Deefallah M Alotaby, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Faults (Geology) -- New ZealandGeology, StructuralGeology, StratigraphicPetrology -- New ZealandSeismic prospectingHydrocarbon reservoirs -- New Zealand

Thesis Number

T 10779

Electronic OCLC #

936205781

Recommended Citation

Alotaby, Waleed Deefallah M, "Fault interpretation and reservoir characterization of the Farewell Formation within Kerry Field, Taranaki Basin, New Zealand" (2015). Masters Theses. 7458.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/7458