16 April, 2025 Al Asimah Kuwait

Unlocking Hidden Potential: Unveiling Off-Structure Prospects and Re-Evaluating Borderline Discoveries

15-16 April 2025
  |  
Al Asimah, Kuwait
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Sponsored By:
 

The evolution of hydrocarbon exploration driven by the diminishing accessibility of conventional large-size hydrocarbon traps has compelled national and international oil and gas companies to scrutinize off-structure prospects and near-field undeveloped or unsuccessful commercial discoveries, discerning root causes of their failures. This dual-pronged approach not only enhances chance of commercial success during exploration, but also expedites production and re-evaluation of undeveloped or commercially unsuccessful discoveries respectively, saving valuable time and resources of operators.

These scrutinizes pave the way for fast-tracking exploration to production lifecycle of the off-structure prospects by leveraging their similarities to active fields in terms of geology, low capital expenditure (CAPEX), and seamless integration with pre-existing infrastructure. Off-structure prospects and near-field undeveloped or previously unsuccessful discoveries, which are located near active fields, have proven to be valuable extensions. They have significantly expanded potential exploration areas and resources.

In recent years, the exploration success and tie-back of such off-structure discoveries into production lines have significantly contributed to reserve addition and production rates of many operators in Middle East and elsewhere. Therefore, haring knowledge and lessons learned from these endeavors is crucial for the benefit of the broader community. By discussing real-world examples and case studies, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how these strategies have been successfully implemented and can be adapted to their own projects.

Through a series of facilitated exercises and discussions, workshop attendees will learn techniques for identifying and evaluating these "off-structure" prospects - ideas, technologies, or phenomena that fall outside the mainstream. Participants will explore methods for recognizing the early signals of potentially transformative discoveries and develop strategies for severely assessing their viability and impact. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have a comprehensive toolkit for effectively navigating the complexities of modern hydrocarbon exploration, positioning their organizations for success in an increasingly competitive landscape.

 
Tuesday 15th April
07:00-08:00 Workshop Registration
08:00-08:15 Welcome Address: Talal Al-Adwani, Workshop Chair & AAPG President Elect (2023-2025)
08:15-08:30 Workshop Co-Chairs Welcome and Introduction
08:30-08:45 Manager Field Development, West Kuwait, Kuwait Oil Company
Inaugural Keynote: Abdulaziz Sajer
08:45-09:15 Cretaceous Off-Structure Prospectivity in Kuwait: Time-Tested Regional Play to Prospect Scale Approach
Technical Keynote: Manoj Vallikkat Thachaparambil
Slb
Session 1: Evolving Exploration Strategies of Off-Structure Prospects: A Widespread Overview
Session Co-Chairs: Abdullah Al Kandari, Kuwait Oil Company & Noha Al Lababidi, Saudi Aramco
09:15-09:40 The Origin and Infill of Middle and Upper Jurassic Intrashelf Basins – A Paradigm Shift and its Implications for Exploration Strategies in Kuwait
Frans Van Buchem
KAUST
09:40-10:05 Role of Geomechanics in Exploring Off-Structure Prospects: Kuwait Perspective
Satya Perumalla
Baker Hughes
10:05-10:25 Coffee Break & Posters
10:25-10:50 Navigating Complexity: Advanced Borehole Measurements in this Carbonates – A Case Study from Southeast Kuwait
Laila Akbar
Slb
10:50-11:15 Application of Positive Psychology in Technology to Establish Hydrocarbon Potential in Off Structure and Thin Reservoir Identification in Kuwait
Prabir Nath
Kuwait Oil Company
11:15-11:40 Expanding Shuaiba Stratigraphic in North Oman Complex Mature Basin Settings
Chuanjian Shen
PDO
11:40-12:40 Breakout Session / Core Display
12:40-14:00 Lunch
Session 2: Developing a Customized Framework for Off-Structure Opportunities (Innovative Technologies & Workflows)
Session Co-Chairs: SanLinn Ismail Kaka, CPG-KFUPM & Yaqoub Al-Refaei, Kuwait University
14:00-14:25 Implementation of Time Lapse Seismic (4D) technology to rejuvenate previously unsuccessful discovery
Said AmiriBesheli
KUFPEC
14:25-14:50 Novel Approach for Definition of Minimum Economic Field Sizes for Marginal and Nearfield Plays
Mohamed Alrowaiei
Bapco Energies
14:50-15:15 Prediction of Depositional Environment and Integrated Facies Modelling Using Pseudo 3D Seismic Cube Generated from Close Grid 2D Seismic Data
Eman Al Shehri
KOC
15:15-15:35 Coffee Break & Posters
15:35-16:00 Subsurface Insights and Strategic Decisions Behind Mina West's Economic Transformation
Mohammed Ezzat
KUFPEC
16:00-16:25 Forward Stratigraphic Modeling for Source Rock Risk Assessment: Predicting Organic Matter Distribution at Kuwait Regional Scale
Florent Defromont
Beicip-Frlanlab
16:25-16:50 Assessment of Seal Integrity for CO2 Storage Integrated Seismic and AI-Driven Geomechanical Analysis
Jesus Diez
KFUPM
16:50-17:50 Breakout Session / Core Display
Wednesday 16th April
Session 3: Re-Evaluating Near-Field Discoveries: Case Studies
Session Co-Chairs: Shaimaa Al-Ansari, Baker Hughes & Jo Garland, Cambridge Carbonates
08:30-08:55 The Dynamic Tectonics of the Jal Az-Zor Escarpment, Kuwait; A Structural Gateway to Arabian Plate Evolution
Aimen Amer
Slb
08:55-09:20 The Bahrah Field and the Value of Re-Evaluating Once Borderline Discoveries
Nigel Cross
Ben Nevis Energy
09:20-09:45 Mauddud Reservoir Re-Evaluation and New Drilling Success - Greater Burgan Fields - Kuwait
Laila Hayat
KOC
09:45-10:05 Coffee Break & Posters
10:05-10:30 Wholistic Approach for Re-Assessment of Gas Accumulations Previously Considered Sub-Commercial
James Shadlow
KUFPEC
10:30-10:55 Khashman Field, New Discoveries and Development Opportunities
Dunya Jafaar
KOC
10:55-11:20 Case Study: Evaluating the Potential of the Triassic Jilh Formation in Onshore Bahrain
Elham Alsharif
Bapco Energies
11:20-12:20 Breakout Session / Core Display
12:20-13:30 Lunch
Session 4: Risk Assessment Workflows and Advancements in Analyzing Uncommercial Off-Structure Discoveries
Session Chairs: Omran Al-Zankawi, KOC & Raed Alsaadan, Saudi Aramco
13:30-13:55 Understanding Discoveries Through the Application of a Split-Risking Framework
Noha Lababidi
Saudi Aramco
13:55-14:20 Chasing Off-Structures Opportunities for the Upper Shuaiba Play in Oman Via Customized Workflow
Aisha Al Hajri
PDO
14:20-14:45 The Value of Prospect Re-Evaluation in Agile Techno-Economic Environment
Dmitry Surovtsev
Slb
14:45-15:00 Coffee Break & Posters
15:00-15:25 Exploring Complex Sub-Seismic Channelized Reservoirs and Combination Traps of North Oman
Mouza Al Shaibani
PDO
15:25-15:50 First Stimulation of the Makhul Formation: Overcoming Geological and Geomechanical Challenges to Unlock Reservoir Potential
Abdulmohsen Askar
Kuwait Oil Company
15:50-16:50 Breakout Session / Core Display
16:50-17:05 Workshop Wrap Up and Adjournement

POSTERS
Role of Reservoir Hydrodynamics in Controlling Hydrocarbon Opportunities in the Arabian Gulf Basin
Mohammed Al-Mahmoud
Dhahran Geological Consulting
Seal Assessment for COâ‚‚ Storage Integrated Well-Logs and AI-Driven Geomechanical Analysis
Jesus Diez
KFUPM
Next-Generation Gan for Well Log Data Augmentation and Integrity
SanLinn Ismail Kaka (Abdulrahman Al-Fakih)
CPG-KFUPM
The Northern Burgan Development, Challenges and Opportunities
Abdullah Al-Arbash
KOC
Expanding the Gharif Stratigraphic Play Fairway: Insights from Newly Acquired 3D Seismic WAZ Data in Central Oman
Asma Kindi
PDO
Identifying Unexplored Concepts and Ideas in a Mature Basin: Data Driven Play Based Exploration of Lower Shuaiba Play in North and Central Oman
Shamsa Barashdi
PDO
Enhancing Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production in Kuwait: Risk Mitigation through Super-Resolution Fault Interpretation
Satya Perumalla
Baker Hughes
A Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy Approach to Identify Off-Structure Sweet Spots in Aeolian Deposits
Ika Sulistyaningrum
Saudi Aramco
 
Field Seminar
Kuwait City, Kuwait - Hyatt Rgencey Al Kout Mall
Tuesday, 15 April – Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 8:00 p.m.–11:59 p.m.

The core display to accompany the AAPG workshop: Unlocking Hidden Potential: Unveiling Off-Structure Prospects and Re-Evaluating Borderline Discoveries includes core cut from several Cretaceous reservoirs in the Bahrah Field of North Kuwait.

The successful development of the Bahrah Field optimizes the leveraging of new drilling and completion technology, as well as a deepening exploration strategy involving multiple reservoirs.

Reservoirs include the Mauddud Formation, a matrix-dominated shelfal carbonate reservoir originally discovered in the 1930’s, and initially not possible for production at sustainable rates using conventional vertical wells. This reservoir has been redeveloped in the last few years using horizontal wells and multi-stage acid frack completions. A similar approach is being considered for the deeper Ratawi Limestone Formation.

The Burgan and Zubair reservoirs are heterogeneous fluvio-deltaic reservoirs, where channelized sandbodies encased in heterolithic fines offer stratigraphic trapping potential. Such closures combine with a complex network of transpressional and transtensional cross faults to set-up further exploration potential through the mapping of subtle combination traps.

The story of the successful Bahrah Field development is further described in Session 3 of the workshop (The Bahrah Field and the Value of Re-Evaluating Once Borderline Discoveries).

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American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
 
Unlocking Hidden Potential: Unveiling Off-Structure Prospects and Re-Evaluating Borderline Discoveries
Hyatt Regency Al Kout Mall
Al Dabbous Street 64021
Al Asimah
Kuwait
 

We have secured exclusive rates at the Hyatt Regency Al Kout Mall for those who wish to book accommodations at the workshop location. If you have any questions concerning your stay at the Hyatt Regency Al Kout Mall, please email [email protected]. You may also call the following number for assistance: +965 23931234.

Book Accommodations

 
Talal Fahad Hadi Al-Adwani Talal Al-Adwani Chair Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait
Adnan Al-Shamali Adnan Al-Shamali Co-Chair Kuwait Oil Company
Raed Alsaadan Raed Alsaadan Co-Chair Saudi Aramco
Fakhera AlQubaisi Fakhera AlQubaisi ADNOC
Shaimaa Al-Ansari Shaimaa Al-Ansari Baker Hughes
Nigel Cross Nigel Cross Ben Nevis Energy, United Arab Emirates
Joanna Garland Jo Garland Cambridge Carbonates, England (U.K.)
Bala Dharanidharan Bala Dharanidharan DeGolyer and MacNaughton, USA
Sanlinn Isma'il Ebrahim Kaka Sanlinn Isma'il Ebrahim Kaka KFUPM, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Al Kandari Abdullah Al Kandari Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait
Omran Al-Zankawi Omran Al-Zankawi Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait
Hussain Abdulkareem Hussain Abdulkareem KUFPEC
Yaqoub Yousef Al-Refaei Yaqoub Al-Refaei Kuwait University, Kuwait
Noha Hussam Al Lababidi Noha Al Lababidi Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia
Manoj Vallikkat Thachaparambil Manoj Vallikkat Thachaparambil SLB, USA
Ali Al Mujaini Ali Al Mujaini Target Group, Oman
Cora Navarro Marketing Manager - Middle East & Africa Regions
Katie Steibelt Senior Events Manager, Middle East & Africa Regions
Virtual Delegate Bag
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What Can I Do?

With Support From

Kuwait Geoscience Society

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The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) does not endorse or recommend any products and services that may be cited, used or discussed in AAPG publications or in presentations at events associated with AAPG.