26/9/2557 Assigning exploration risks : Risk and Play Mapping - Exploration & Production Geology

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Assigning exploration risks

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Assigning exploration risks
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robbert83
Joined: Mon Jan 24,
2011 6:43 pm
Posts: 2
Assigning exploration risks
Dear fellow geologists,
As a starting exploration geologist I am having great problems when assigning geological risk factors and assessing exploration risk
and uncertainty. I feel it will come with experience but for now I am having trouble with the nomenclature.
For instance what is uncertainty? I know it' follows from the unknowns, but does it directly relate to risk. In some area we will for
instance know it is a high risk operation to find oil; certainty is high.
Are there any clear and comprehensible documents, websites or books that explain this concept of risk, uncertainty, probability, etc?
thanks,
Robbert
Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:53 pm
Admin
Site Admin
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010
3:44 pm
Posts: 49
Re: Assigning exploration risks
Robbert,
I hope the following transcript helps you:
Quote:
In hydrocarbon exploration there are the things we know, things we know we dont know and those things we dont know we
dont know. This relates to the confidence one has in the understanding of the subsurface and can be based on data as well as
models or analogues. This understanding can allow an exploration geologist to indicate whether or not imperative geological
factors are in place that would allow a successful hydrocarbon accumulation to be present. For example, in area A one might be
largely confident that all geological factors are in place (all geological chance factors are high) and this area would have low
geological risk for finding oil. In area B one might be largely confident that one of the geological factors is not in place (one
geological chance factor is low) making this an area of high geological risk for finding oil. However, in area C one might have
absolutely no clue (confidence is zero) on weather a certain geological factor is in place, but this not necessary makes this area
has higher geological risk than area B. In area C it will basically be a coin toss whether or not the imperative geological factor is
in place, while in area B the certainty of it not being in place was already high. An appropriate approach for area C would
probably be to acquire new data or re-assess old data and models to find clues on whether the needed geological factor is or
isnt in place. This is often referred to as de-risking but, to reduce confusion, could better be referred to as increasing
confidence as the outcome of the study does not directly decrease the risk for finding oil. Possibly the new data indicates, with
large confidence, that the imperative geological factor is not or only partially in place, and while this reduced the risk of making
a wrong operational decision, it increases the geological risk for finding oil in the area. As this example indicates, probability
factors, confidence and risk can be confusing concepts and clear definitions need to be communicated:
Confidence scale
Confidence refers to the range of probabilities that some conditions may exist of occur. In exploration these conditions often
relate to the imperative geological factors needed for a successful hydrocarbon accumulation. Confidence usually relies on the
data quantity and quality, but can also be based on the confidence in theoretical models and analogues. The following
confidence scale gives an indicates of the meaning of certain values used in this study (primarily in expressing confidence in
source rock presence).
Probability scale
The probability scale ranges from 0 to 1.0 based on the probability of having a geological factor that positively impacts the
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26/9/2557 Assigning exploration risks : Risk and Play Mapping - Exploration & Production Geology
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chance of an oil accumulation to be in place. The value 0.5 indicates very low confidence and results in a toss-up between
having and not having an imperative geologic factor in place. Note that the probability scale may be 0.1, while confidence on
that factor is 0.95. One can thus be very confident an area has a high geological risk (red), but one can also be very uncertain
about an area, causing it to have large exploration risk (orange). In the latter case more work needs to be done to turn that
area either green or red. If the new data shows the area has high geological risk the area will turn red, but at least the certainty
that the area has unfavorable prospectivity and exploration risk has decreased.
Attachments:
File comment: Diagram showing the assignment of probability that an imperative geological factor is present.
probability-scale.jpg [ 56.76 KiB | Viewed 4637 times ]
File comment: Scale bar showing the assignment of confidence that is used when assessing Geological Chance Factors.
confidence-scale.jpg [ 37.01 KiB | Viewed 4635 times ]
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Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:09 pm

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BillReisser
Joined: Thu Sep 16,
2010 8:38 pm
Posts: 14
Re: Assigning exploration risks
I agree with the admin, as always
I would like to expand on it a little bit in a more applicable way. When we assign risk, or rather chance (chance=1-risk) factors to
certain areas, the provided spatial data has to be analysed for the occurrence of three important factors essential for a successful
petroleum system (the play fairway). Chance factors (CF) - indeed defined by the scheme of Fig. 1 above - are given for the chance
that a good reservoir is present, the chance a decent seal and trap is in place and the chance the area is charged sufficiently and
timely.
The chance factor applied by us consists of the chance of a favourable outcome, taking into account the unknown unknowns and the
known unknowns. In many cases this is based on geological knowhow and experience, rather than absolute correct statistics. We try to
take this into account when using these chance factors, but this is often very difficult and rather philosophical.
Also, as producing fields or areas have no risk assigned to them they should all fall within the 1.0 chance factor area and are the only
sure factor in an exploration area (and one could also debate on this, as they might have been lucky finds with low initial chance
factors) . The problem arises when trying extrapolation of this (certain) chance factor away from such areas and this depends greatly
on geological experience. It is not an absolute science!
just my 50 cents....
Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:16 am
mhnederlof
Joined: Mon Dec 05,
2011 2:26 pm
Posts: 9
Re: Assigning exploration risks
Robert83,
I think you will find a lot of useful info on my educational website on this subject: http://www.mhnederlof.nl/
It is sort of a free textbook with over 100 pages that covers resource estimation and prospect appraisal, and, of course risk estimation.
Good luck,
Rien Nederlof
Sat Dec 17, 2011 4:00 pm
Admin
Site Admin
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010
Re: Assigning exploration risks
Dr. M.H. Nederlof,
G E O G R A P H I X F O R G E O L O G I S T S
Fast & accurate Geomodeling - Geosteering of horizontal well
26/9/2557 Assigning exploration risks : Risk and Play Mapping - Exploration & Production Geology
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Home Exploration Geology Risk and Play Mapping
3:44 pm
Posts: 49
Your link was dead and was pointing to the .com domain. I updated it to the right location. Thanks fro sharing btw!
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