GEOLOGICAL PROCESS MODELING
John Jiao Ph.D.
Manager
Geologist: Process Modeling Specialist
(307) 766-2286, Ext. 225
jjiao@uwyo.edu
About Us
The WSGS Modeling and Visualization group develops and provides innovative
technologies for effectively and efficiently exploring and developing Wyoming’s
vast geologic, mineral, and energy resources. We evaluate and visualize geologic
and geophysical data in order to reduce uncertainty.
We work to provide the energy industry with technologies and techniques that substantially reduce risk and increase profitability in exploring for unconventional oil and gas resources such as tight sand gas or abnormally pressured gas (APG), coalbed natural gas, and shale gas in Wyoming. We developed a new exploration strategy and technologies that can significantly and quantifiably reduce the risk of finding and developing unconventional oil and gas accumulations.
Schematic diagram illustrating the two elements crucial to hydrocarbon exploration in gas-saturated, anomalously pressured rock: (1) the pressure surface boundary (i.e., regional velocity inversion surface) and (2) storage capacity and deliverability enhanced sweet spots. Sweet spots are defined as zones of relatively enhanced porosity and permeability. Gas accumulations below the pressure surface boundary may be independent of structural closure or stratigraphic pinch-outs.
The developed strategy is based on evaluating the following interpretive elements for sweet spot delineation in APG accumulations:
- Gas distribution below the regional velocity inversion surface;
- Gas migration conduits;
- Relative reservoir gas content;
- Distribution of fracture swarms;
- Delineation of fault orientations and other critical structural elements; and
- Determination of optimum reservoir attributes related to stratigraphic, structural or diagenetic elements.
The technology reduces risk by determining if any of these critical interpretive elements overlap in the area of interest.
A strategy and integrated technology have been developed to assist in the exploration/exploitation of anomalously pressured gas accumulations. Exploration risk reduction is a function of the degree to which the key interpretive elements overlap.
An anomalous velocity profile cut through the Jonah Gas Field. This anomalous velocity profile was constructed by removing ideal velocity computed from the regional velocity/depth function. Note that the Jonah Gas Field is delineated clearly by the intensive slow velocities below the regional velocity inversion surface (pressure surface boundary with normal pressure above and anomalous pressure below).
What the Process Modeling Section Provides
Assistance in planning and designing in the following exploration aspects:
- Constructing burial and thermal maturation models;
- Evaluating anomalously pressured gas resources (basin-center gas, deep-basin gas);
- Advising on geospatial modeling and three-dimensional visualization;
- Preparing diagenetic and mechanical compaction models of reservoir rocks, with special emphasis on predicting porosity and permeability;
- Determining fluid-flow characteristics and fluid system compartmentalization, including delineation of regional pressure surface boundary and porosity and permeability sweet spots;
- Estimating three-dimensional reservoir characteristics;
- Access to typical anomalous velocity profiles for Wyoming Laramide basins;
- Applicability of water databases for the Powder River Basin Tertiary coals, including modeling and delineation of water quality prediction within various members.
links: