Potential of the Orphan Basin, NL, Canada

The underexplored West Orphan Basin appears prospective for oil and gas, after new regional seismic data uncovered a large play trend in the Lower Tertiary sands, indicative of turbiditic fan complexes.

The objective was to provide petroleum resource estimates for the area using seismic reservoir characterization, and 2D/3D basin modelling for play risk analysis and volume estimates.

A seismic inversion and characterization was performed to discriminate sand probability. Some Tertiary and Cretaceous sands appear to have high porosity (∼30%) with a clear indication of the presence of hydrocarbons, most probably light oil.

Regional sequence stratigraphy work coupled to a forward stratigraphic model (DionisosFlow™) helped to map the extension of reservoirs, carrier beds and seals.

After calibration of the thermal and fluid flow regime temperature, maturity and pressure, an integrated 3D model was built using TemisFlow™ to estimate the oil and gas charge in the potential traps (stratigraphic and structural) in the various plays.

The resource assessment of the Orphan area demonstrates a potentially prolific petroleum system. The uncertainty on HC volumes is given by the distribution of unrisked volumes in place. The range varies from 12.9 BOE to 45 BOE. The Probability of Geological Success is estimated to 16%.