Biography
Deirdre Walsh is a post doctorial researcher in the iCRAG energy security area. Deirdre graduated with a BA(mod) in Geology from Trinity College Dublin in 2011 and an MSc in Petroleum Geoscience from University College Dublin in 2015 before joining iCRAG under the supervision of Tom Manzocchi where she completed her PhD in 2019. The focus of her research is to generate realistic, hierarchical, reservoir models where sand connectivity is honoured. This project is centred on expanding the current facies templates supported by the compression-based modelling approach. General research interests include reservoir modelling and reservoir simulation.
Project title: Compression-based modelling of the Ross Formation
The objective of this project is to build high resolution models of the Ross Formation, Co. Clare, Ireland using the newly developed compression-based modelling software. These models aim to demonstrate the applicability of the compression-based approach, while improving the understanding of the geology in this area and establishing sensitivities to various fluid injection/production scenarios.
Technical description
The compression-based modelling method (Manzocchi et al. 2007) is particularly effective at modelling systems with high net:gross ratios but poor connectivity. Both facies volume fractions and geobody connectivity of different depositional elements such as channels or lobes can be defined individually within a hierarchical framework. The Ross Formation is a well-studied sandy submarine fan system and is an ideal case study to apply and demonstrate the effectiveness of the compression-based modelling workflows. There are an abundance of well exposed cliff sections and beach outcrops and data from a number of “behind-outcrop” research boreholes. The key input data to the
compression-based workflow includes dimensional (i.e. thickness, width, length, orientation) and stacking (i.e. volumes and amalgamation) properties along with horizontal and vertical variations at specific hierarchical levels. Important depositional elements within the Ross Formation including the hierarchical elements of lobe and channels deposits but also hybrid event beds, mass transport deposits and channel levees will be incorporated into the models. Following modelling numerical flow simulation will be carried out to provide insights into the impact of key heterogeneities under different flow scenarios
Role
- Postdoctoral Researcher
Institution
- UCD
Research Area
- Platform Technologies
Expertise
- Geomodelling
