Petrel Tutorial Guide

Select the fault interpretation sticks generated during your seismic interpretation phase.

The journey begins by establishing the "physical world" of your project. Create Project : Start by selecting New Project Set Coordinates (CRS) : You must define a Coordinate Reference System

SLB (the developer of Petrel) strongly recommends completing a Fundamentals course before moving on to any higher-level training . This foundational knowledge will make subsequent learning far more efficient and effective .

Understanding the Petrel interface and how it handles data is critical before importing any files. Petrel uses an object-oriented data structure housed within a central project file. Interface Components petrel tutorial

Once the wells are established, the next phase is . This involves creating the skeleton of the reservoir. In a traditional workflow, the user interprets seismic data to generate horizons (surfaces representing the top and base of the reservoir) and faults. The user then constructs a "pillar grid," a 3D lattice that defines the geometry of the reservoir. Imagine constructing a building: the horizons and faults are the floors and walls, and the pillar grid is the steel framework that holds everything together. This step is crucial because it respects the structural complexity of the field; if a fault is modeled incorrectly, the fluid flow simulation later on will be inaccurate.

Horizons represent continuous stratigraphic geological boundaries across the seismic volume.

Group these segments into distinct named faults (e.g., Fault A, Fault B) in your Input Pane. Horizon Picking Select the fault interpretation sticks generated during your

On the left side of your screen is the Input pane. This is not a file browser; it is a database tree.

Align the grid directions with your primary fault trends to minimize grid cell distortion. Generate key pillars along the faults and trends. Making Horizons, Zones, and Layering

Select the correct EPSG code corresponding to your local UTM zone. Interface Components Once the wells are established, the

Which do you want to focus on next (e.g., detailed seismic autotracking settings, advanced object modeling for facies, or setting up ECLIPSE fluid properties)?

: Load stratigraphic tops or markers to delineate structural formation boundaries across the asset. Seismic and Horizons

Well Top (Surface Control Point) ↓ ~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ← Modeled Top Horizon Surface \ / \ / ← Fault Pillars (Grid Segments) \ / ~~~~\~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ← Modeled Base Horizon Surface ``` ### Horizon Making * Execute the **Make Horizon** process from the structural modeling workflow. * Input your interpreted seismic horizons and tie them to physical **Well Markers** to eliminate depth mismatch errors. * Specify whether horizons are conformable (parallel), erosional, or base-lapping surfaces. ### Layering and Zoning * Build distinct **Zones** to represent major geological formations. * Utilize the **Make Layering** function to slice zones into thin, discrete grid cells. * Choose from layering strategies such as **Proportional**, **Follow Top**, or **Follow Base** depending on your reservoir's depositional environment. --- ## 4. Property Modeling (Facies & Petrophysics) Property modeling populates your 3D grid cells with realistic petrophysical values. This stage bridges the gap between static geology and fluid simulation. ### Well Log Upscaling * Cells intersecting a well path must capture log data via the **Scale Up Well Logs** process. * Choose an averaging method: **Arithmetic** for porosity, **Geometric** for permeability, and **Most Of** for discrete facies data. ### Facies Modeling * Go to **Property Modeling -> Facies Modeling** to categorize lithology distribution. * Use **Sequential Indicator Simulation (SIS)** for random, pixel-based deposition. * Use **Object Modeling** to populate specific geometric shapes like meandering river channels. ### Petrophysical Modeling * Open the **Petrophysical Modeling** dialog box. * Populate your grid with continuous reservoir data such as porosity, permeability, and water saturation. * Distribute porosity values using **Sequential Gaussian Simulation (SGS)**, conditioned directly to your facies map. * Apply a deterministic formula or cloud-transform function to calculate your final permeability distribution from the modeled porosity. --- ## 5. Volumetric Calculation and Export The final stage of the static workflow involves calculating initial Hydrocarbons-In-Place and setting up your model for downstream simulator applications. ### Volume Calculations * Open the **Volume Calculation** process tool. * Input critical reservoir constants: Fluid contacts (Oil-Water Contact or Gas-Oil Contact), Net-to-Gross ratios, Formation Volume Factor ($B_o$), and Initial Gas Saturation ($S_gi$). * Run the calculations to extract Gross Rock Volume (GRV), Net Sand Volume, Pore Volume, and **Stock Tank Oil Initially In Place (STOIIP)**. ### Simulation Case Export * Select **Define Simulation Case** to transition your static model into a dynamic model. * Map grid properties to keywords compatible with industry-standard numerical engines like [Schlumberger ECLIPSE](https://slb.com) or [INTERSECT](https://slb.com). * Export the generated grid geometry and property distributions as raw `.GRDECL` or `.DATA` file structures. --- If you want to tailor this guide further, let me know: * What specific **Petrel version** you are using. * If your reservoir is focused on **clastic (channels)** or **carbonate (fractured)** settings. * Whether you intend to export to **ECLIPSE** or **INTERSECT** simulators. Share public link

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