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Technology for a bett er society

SINTEF Petroleum Research

www.sintef.com

Our main research area is the development andapplication of mathematical models for intra-basinalprocesses on geological time scales, starting with organiccarbon deposition, followed by hydrocarbon generationand expulsion, and nally migration and accumulation.

All models developed in the Basin Modelling Departmentare 3D, but are nonetheless computationally fast. Thisallows multiple runs within a reasonable time frame, sothat a range of input scenarios can be investigated.

In addition to the modelling work, we develop kineticmodels of hydrocarbon generation from the resultsof articial maturation experiments performed in ourlaboratory.

Basin Modelling

From organic carbon depositionto hydrocarbon entrapment

May 2013

CONTACT

SINTEF Petroleumsforskning AS (SINTEF Petroleum Research)POB 4763 Sluppen, NO-7465 Trondheim, NorwayPhone: + 47 73 59 11 00, www.sintef.no/petroleum

SINTEF Petroleum Research is a Norwegian research insitute specializing in petroleum technology research for explorationand production. Our activities are nanced mainly through contract research and public research funding. The main clients areoil companies and service companies. SINTEF Petroleum Research collaborates closely with other institutes within the SINTEFGroup and several universities. Our ofces are located in Trondheim, Bergen and Stavanger.

The SINTEF Petroleum Research staff includes 109 employees, including researchers, engineers, technical support andadministration. 69 % of the scientic 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 theResearch Council of Norway. Our basic grant from the Research Council accounts for around eight percent of the total income.

Research Director Ane LotheCellphone: +47 932 63 605e-mail: ane.lothe@sintef.no

Drilling and WellBasin Modelling Formation Physics

Geophysics andReservoir Technology Wellstream Technology

President

Staff 

SINTEF Materialsand Chemistry

SINTEF ICTSINTEF Buildingand Infrastructure

SINTEF Holding

SINTEF EnergyResearch

MARINTEKSINTEF Technologyand Society

SINTEF Fisheriesand Aquaculture

SINTEF PetroleumResearch

The SINTEF BoardThe SINTEF Council

President CEOSenior Executive Vice President

Group staff 

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Model developmentHydrocarbon migration modelling

The SEMI modelling tool simulates hydrocarbon migration with up to10 individual fluid components from source rocks to traps in multiplelayers. Originally developed for secondary migration (hence thename), SEMI now incorporates modules for hydrocarbon generation(at compound-group level), expulsion (using our primary migrationtool PriMig), and palaeowater-depth reconstruction. Flow paths aredetermined using a steepest ascent method influenced by the blockingeffects of different types of fault sealing and of carrier-bed pinch-outs.

Flow paths can be vertical (hydrocarbons leak into a shallower layer ifno seal is present), along faults (this includes migration from a youngerto an older layer), or through sealing cap rocks depending on thepressure. The effects of biodegradation on hydrocarbons accumulatedin traps can be included in the modelling.

Monte Carlo simulation methods are incorporated for facilitatingsensitivity studies and assessment of key risk factors.

www.sintef.no/semi

Pressure modellingPressim is a module of the SEMI software package that simulatesand quanties the buildup and dissipation of overpressure in fault-bounded compartments through time. It is a one-phase simulator andits concept is based on fluid pressure being generated by mechanicaland chemical sediment compaction, and dissipated by lateral andvertical fluid flow. The dissipation processes are controlled laterallyby cross-fault transmissibilities, and vertically by shale permeabilityand hydraulic leakage. Monte Carlo simulations can be used to build aprobability distribution of overpressures.

The output can be used in secondary migration modelling. Pressuredifferences across faults may increase or decrease the oil and gasleakage across the faults. In addition, the timing of hydraulic leakagethrough the cap rock is highly correlated with the pressure within thetrap.

The modelled pressures can also be utilized as a pressure prognosisalong well paths prior to drilling.

www.sintef.no/petroleum/pressim

Palaeobathymetry reconstruction

Palaeowater depth is reconstructed by means of the SEMI Palaeowatermodule. Reconstruction includes decompaction of present-day rockunits, and isostasy and flexure effects. The reconstruction is ne-tuned using water-depth indicators such as depositional geometry,micropalaeontological estimates, and sedimentary structures, andwith regional information presented in the literature. The methodtake vertical tectonic movements into account, but a true tectonicreconstruction is not performed.

The output can be u sed in the organic facies model OF-Mod wherewater depth is an important input factor for modelling organic carbondeposition, and in the secondary migration model SEMI to constrain thebasin 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. Itconsiders the main governing processes such as primary productivity,

carbon flux to the sea floor, burial efciency 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

form part 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

P

P = 1 0 0 – 2 5 0P

P = 2 5 0 – 3 0 0P

P = 4 0 – 6 0

Terrestrial organic matter supply

Marine organic matter supply

Basin Modelling – SINTEF Petroleum ResearchBasin Modelling – SINTEF Petroleum Research

Model applicationWe perform proprietary and multi-client case studies on a regular basis.

Recent examples of multi-client studies include integrated regionalstudies that combine comprehensive databases with novel modellingtechniques to describe the development of petroleum systems t hroughthe geological evolution and identify key risk factors for exploration inthe work area.

n  Integrated Barents Sea Study (2005) with Basin ModellingUpgrade (2008): The studies cover most of the Norwegian BarentsSea (approximately 70° 45’ – 74° 30’ N and 15° – 32° E) and wereperformed in co-operation with Geolab Nor, AGR PetroleumServices, Pegis, Gaz de France and Geotrack International.

www.sintef.no/petroleum/ibs

n  Integrated Norwegian Sea Study (2010): The study area covers alarge part of the Norwegian Sea (approximately 62° – 68° N and2° – 11° E). It was performed in co-operation with AGR PetroleumServices, Fugro Geolab Nor and Geotrack International.

www.sintef.no/petroleum/ins

The deliverables include reports, databases and map grids or Petrelmodels of relevant input data and modelling results for relevanttimesteps. A workshop at the customer’s premises is also included.

LaboratoryMicro-Scale Sealed Vessel (MSSV) pyrolysis and open-systempyrolysis of potential source rocks are performed in the laboratoryat various constant heating rates. These experiments are carried outas 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 areused to assess the timing of hydrocarbon generation and the amountsgenerated depending on thermal history, quality and richness of thesource rock.

The Kinetic Library (KinLib) is a collection of data sheets containingnon-proprietary kinetic models for major source rocks from thenorthern North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.

The laboratory’s chromatography and pyrolysis facilities are used forthe characterization of source rocks, oils (including heavy fractions)and natural gases including hydrocarbons and sulfur compounds.

Ongoing research projectsn  “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 processintegrating CO

2 storage site characterization, risk assessment

and development of monitoring plans. The project has seventeenpartners from research, industry and consultancy sectors fromten countries. Our focus is on Work Package 6: “Characterization ofa multi-compartment storage complex, Mid Norway”. The main taskhere is to evaluate and simulate CO

2 storage in the Halten Terrace

area, Norwegian Sea.

n  “Gas Shale Exploration & Exploitation” (2011-2013) aims toestablish a modelling work-flow for quantitative prediction of shalegas occurrences and their quality (sweet spot identication). Theproject will contribute to volumetric and qualitative prediction ofgas shale by characterizing and quantifying the inorganic andorganic matter content, thermal maturity, amount of generatedhydrocarbons, shale properties and natural fracture developmenton a basin scale. The project will contribute to sustainable andenvironmentally compatible exploration of this energy source.

n  “OF-Mod linked facies development”: A new development phasefor OF-Mod (Organic Facies Model) software that simulates thedeposition and burial of organic carbon in marine environment in

3D. The simulation results can be used to predict the spatial andtemporal occurrence of source rocks. At present, measured dataare used only for calibration of the modelling results. The newdevelopment aims to use both measured data and general faciesdenitions to characterize the depositional environment beingmodelled. To enable a smooth transition between different faciesand their properties, a fuzzy logic approach will be used. Theproject currently has four sponsors (2010-2012).

www.sintef.no/petroleum/ofmod_facies

Technology for a bett er societyTechnology for a bet ter societywww.sintef.comwww.sintef.com

Software licences and servicesWe 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 rockmodelling with OF-Mod and petroleum system modelling with SEMI.