The assessment of reservoir potential of Permian to Eocene reservoirs of Minwal-Joyamair fields, upper Indus basin, Pakistan

Abstract

Upper Indus Basin has been a valuable asset as the complexity of structure and hydrocarbon production is the leading producer of oil and gas in history and still to date. Potwar sub-basin has significance in the light of oil production from carbonate reservoirs or Permian to Eocene age reservoirs. Minwal-Joyamair field is very significant and has unique hydrocarbon production history with complexity in structure style and stratigraphy. The complexity is present for carbonate reservoirs of the study area due to heterogeneity of lithological and facies variation. In this research, the emphasis is on integrated advanced seismic and well data for Eocene (Chorgali, Sakesar), Paleocene (Lockhart), and Permian age (Tobra) formations reservoirs. This research's primary focus is to analyze field potential and reservoir characterization by conventional seismic interpretation and petrophysical analysis. Minwal-Joyamair field is a combination of thrust and back thrust, forming a triangle zone in the subsurface. The petrophysical analysis results suggested favorable hydrocarbon saturation in Tobra (74%) and Lockhart (25%) reservoirs in addition to the lower volume of shale (28% and 10%, receptively) and higher effective values (6% and 3%, respectively). The main objective of the study is the re-assessment of a hydrocarbon producing field and describe the future prospectively of the field. The analysis also includes the difference in hydrocarbon production from two different type of reservoir (carbonate & clastic). The findings of this research will be useful for any other similar basins around the world.