Technology for a better society

SINTEF Petroleum Research

www.sintef.com
Our main research area is the development and
application of mathematical models for intra-basinal
processes on geological time scales, starting with organic
carbon deposition, followed by hydrocarbon generation
and expulsion, and fnally migration and accumulation.
All models developed in the Basin Modelling Department
are 3D, but are nonetheless computationally fast. This
allows multiple runs within a reasonable time frame, so
that a range of input scenarios can be investigated.
In addition to the modelling work, we develop kinetic
models of hydrocarbon generation from the results
of artifcial maturation experiments performed in our
laboratory.
Basin Modelling
From organic carbon deposition
to hydrocarbon entrapment
May 2013
CONTACT
SINTEF Petroleumsforskning AS (SINTEF Petroleum Research)
POB 4763 Sluppen, NO-7465 Trondheim, Norway
Phone: + 47 73 59 11 00, www.sintef.no/petroleum
SINTEF Petroleum Research is a Norwegian research insitute specializing in petroleum technology research for exploration
and production. Our activities are fnanced mainly through contract research and public research funding. The main clients are
oil companies and service companies. SINTEF Petroleum Research collaborates closely with other institutes within the SINTEF
Group and several universities. Our offces are located in Trondheim, Bergen and Stavanger.
The SINTEF Petroleum Research staff includes 109 employees, including researchers, engineers, technical support and
administration. 69 % of the scientifc staff hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree.
The SINTEF Group is the largest independent research institution in Scandinavia. Our vision is Technology for a better society.
We aim to contribute in value creation, improved quality of life and a sustainable development through research and knowledge.
At the turn of the year, SINTEF had 2100 employees. Our colleagues come from 67 different countries, and in 2010 they
generated new knowledge to the value of NOK 2.8 billion.
More than 90 percent of our earnings come from contracts for industry and the public sector, and from project grants from the
Research Council of Norway. Our basic grant from the Research Council accounts for around eight percent of the total income.
Research Director Ane Lothe
Cellphone: +47 932 63 605
e-mail: ane.lothe@sintef.no
Drilling and Well Basin Modelling Formation Physics
Geophysics and
Reservoir Technology
Wellstream Technology
President
Staff
SINTEF Materials
and Chemistry
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and Infrastructure
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MARINTEK SINTEF Technology
and Society
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and Aquaculture
SINTEF Petroleum
Research
The SINTEF Board
The SINTEF Council
President CEO
Senior Executive Vice President
Group staff
Model development
Hydrocarbon migration modelling
The SEMI modelling tool simulates hydrocarbon migration with up to
10 individual fluid components from source rocks to traps in multiple
layers. Originally developed for secondary migration (hence the
name), SEMI now incorporates modules for hydrocarbon generation
(at compound-group level), expulsion (using our primary migration
tool PriMig), and palaeowater-depth reconstruction. Flow paths are
determined using a steepest ascent method influenced by the blocking
effects of different types of fault sealing and of carrier-bed pinch-outs.
Flow paths can be vertical (hydrocarbons leak into a shallower layer if
no seal is present), along faults (this includes migration from a younger
to an older layer), or through sealing cap rocks depending on the
pressure. The effects of biodegradation on hydrocarbons accumulated
in traps can be included in the modelling.
Monte Carlo simulation methods are incorporated for facilitating
sensitivity studies and assessment of key risk factors.
www.sintef.no/semi
Pressure modelling
Pressim is a module of the SEMI software package that simulates
and quantifes the buildup and dissipation of overpressure in fault-
bounded compartments through time. It is a one-phase simulator and
its concept is based on fluid pressure being generated by mechanical
and chemical sediment compaction, and dissipated by lateral and
vertical fluid flow. The dissipation processes are controlled laterally
by cross-fault transmissibilities, and vertically by shale permeability
and hydraulic leakage. Monte Carlo simulations can be used to build a
probability distribution of overpressures.
The output can be used in secondary migration modelling. Pressure
differences across faults may increase or decrease the oil and gas
leakage across the faults. In addition, the timing of hydraulic leakage
through the cap rock is highly correlated with the pressure within the
trap.
The modelled pressures can also be utilized as a pressure prognosis
along well paths prior to drilling.
www.sintef.no/petroleum/pressim
Palaeobathymetry reconstruction
Palaeowater depth is reconstructed by means of the SEMI Palaeowater
module. Reconstruction includes decompaction of present-day rock
units, and isostasy and flexure effects. The reconstruction is fne-
tuned using water-depth indicators such as depositional geometry,
micropalaeontological estimates, and sedimentary structures, and
with regional information presented in the literature. The method
take vertical tectonic movements into account, but a true tectonic
reconstruction is not performed.
The output can be used in the organic facies model OF-Mod where
water depth is an important input factor for modelling organic carbon
deposition, and in the secondary migration model SEMI to constrain the
basin evolution.
www.sintef.no/petroleum/pwd
Organic facies prediction
The Organic Facies Modelling tool OF-Mod simulates the deposition and
accumulation of organic carbon in marine environments over time. It
considers the main governing processes such as primary productivity,
carbon flux to the sea floor, burial effciency influenced by inorganic
sedimentation rate, and preservation influenced by concentration
availability. Both marine and terrestrial organic material are modelled,
leading to spatial and temporal variations of the organic facies in a basin.
OF-Mod incorporates a simple stratigraphic model builder.
Maps of source rock potential and pre-burial TOC and HI values, which
formpart of the model output, can be used as input into the secondary
migration model SEMI.
www.sintef.no/petroleum/ofmod
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Anoxic bottom water
Carbon flux
Degradation
Upwelling
PP = 100 250 PP = 250 300 PP = 40 60
Terrestrial organic matter supply
Marine organic matter supply
Basin Modelling SINTEF Petroleum Research Basin Modelling SINTEF Petroleum Research
Model application
We performproprietary and multi-client case studies on a regular basis.
Recent examples of multi-client studies include integrated regional
studies that combine comprehensive databases with novel modelling
techniques to describe the development of petroleum systems through
the geological evolution and identify key risk factors for exploration in
the work area.
n Integrated Barents Sea Study (2005) with Basin Modelling
Upgrade (2008): The studies cover most of the Norwegian Barents
Sea (approximately 70 45 74 30 N and 15 32 E) and were
performed in co-operation with Geolab Nor, AGR Petroleum
Services, Pegis, Gaz de France and Geotrack International.
www.sintef.no/petroleum/ibs
n Integrated Norwegian Sea Study (2010): The study area covers a
large part of the Norwegian Sea (approximately 62 68 N and
2 11 E). It was performed in co-operation with AGR Petroleum
Services, Fugro Geolab Nor and Geotrack International.
www.sintef.no/petroleum/ins
The deliverables include reports, databases and map grids or Petrel
models of relevant input data and modelling results for relevant
timesteps. A workshop at the customers premises is also included.
Laboratory
Micro-Scale Sealed Vessel (MSSV) pyrolysis and open-system
pyrolysis of potential source rocks are performed in the laboratory
at various constant heating rates. These experiments are carried out
as proprietary work with the customers own samples or as multi-
client work with samples from released exploration wells or from the
Stratigraphic Drilling campaigns on the Norwegian continental shelf.
The results are the basis for multicomponent kinetic models which are
used to assess the timing of hydrocarbon generation and the amounts
generated depending on thermal history, quality and richness of the
source rock.
The Kinetic Library (KinLib) is a collection of data sheets containing
non-proprietary kinetic models for major source rocks from the
northern North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.
The laboratorys chromatography and pyrolysis facilities are used for
the characterization of source rocks, oils (including heavy fractions)
and natural gases including hydrocarbons and sulfur compounds.
Ongoing research projects
n SiteChar - Characterization of European CO
2
Storage is an
EU project under the 7th Framework Programme (2010-2013)
coordinated by IFP. The project will examine the whole process
integrating CO
2
storage site characterization, risk assessment
and development of monitoring plans. The project has seventeen
partners from research, industry and consultancy sectors from
ten countries. Our focus is on Work Package 6: Characterization of
a multi-compartment storage complex, Mid Norway. The main task
here is to evaluate and simulate CO
2
storage in the Halten Terrace
area, Norwegian Sea.
n Gas Shale Exploration & Exploitation (2011-2013) aims to
establish a modelling work-flow for quantitative prediction of shale
gas occurrences and their quality (sweet spot identifcation). The
project will contribute to volumetric and qualitative prediction of
gas shale by characterizing and quantifying the inorganic and
organic matter content, thermal maturity, amount of generated
hydrocarbons, shale properties and natural fracture development
on a basin scale. The project will contribute to sustainable and
environmentally compatible exploration of this energy source.
n OF-Mod linked facies development: A new development phase
for OF-Mod (Organic Facies Model) software that simulates the
deposition and burial of organic carbon in marine environment in
3D. The simulation results can be used to predict the spatial and
temporal occurrence of source rocks. At present, measured data
are used only for calibration of the modelling results. The new
development aims to use both measured data and general facies
defnitions to characterize the depositional environment being
modelled. To enable a smooth transition between different facies
and their properties, a fuzzy logic approach will be used. The
project currently has four sponsors (2010-2012).
www.sintef.no/petroleum/ofmod_facies
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Software licences and services
We offer licences of our software packages OF-Mod and SEMI.
Conditions and prices on request.
We perform proprietary studies on clients data sets.
We also offer tailor-made training courses on source rock
modelling with OF-Mod and petroleum system modelling with SEMI.