Rationale:

Reservoir Modeling Analog Project (RAMP) group focuses on 3D investigation of inter-well scale depositional heterogeneities in the Upper Jurassic reservoir sequences using outcrops. The primary aim of the group is to assess the impact of depositional and structural heterogeneities (facies, layer architecture & fractures) on future reservoir developments such as infill drilling and enhanced oil recovery schemes. Our research utilizes an integrated workflow of geological and geophysical investigations including behind the outcrop cores, multi-scale drone photogrammetry, hyper-spectral imaging, and near-surface behind the outcrop seismic, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) datasets (combined with traditional sedimentological measured sections and thin section petrography).

 Scope:

Detailed inter-well scale heterogeneities of carbonate reservoirs such as facies dimensions and layer architecture are commonly not assessed appropriately because the resolution does not exist to recognize them in the subsurface from seismic and well data. The datasets collected will provide improved input for static models and dynamic simulation of Hanifa and Arab-D reservoirs, which will contribute to assessing current reservoir behavior and decision making for future developments improving ultimate recovery.

Project: Optimizing Ultimate Recovery from Arabian Jurassic Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

The project includes:

1)    Modelling depositional architecture of the Late Jurassic Hanifa and Arab-D Fms.

2)    Testing models under different recovery scenarios.

 

 

 

Publications:

Controls on Microbial and Oolitic Carbonate Sedimentation and Stratigraphic Cyclicity within a Mixed Carbonate Siliciclastic System: Upper Cambrian Wilberns Formation, Llano Area of Central Texas, U.S.A. 
Lehrmann, D., Droxler, A., Harris, P.M., Minzoni, M., Droxler, D., Hopson, H., Kelleher, C., Khanna, P., Lehrmann, A., Lhemann, A., Mabry, G., Mercado, L., Proctor, J., Singh, P., and Yazbek, L.
The Depositional Record. doi.org/10.1002/dep2.108 (2020)

Late Cambrian microbial build-ups, Llano Area, Central Texas : A three-phase morphological evolution.
Khanna, P., Hopson, H., Droxler, A., Droxler, D., Lehrmann, D., Kubik, B., Proctor, J., Singh, P., and Harris, P.M. 
Sedimentology. doi.org/10.1111/sed.12679  (2019)

Upscaling Lithology and Porosity Type Fractions from the Micro- to the Core-scale with Thin Section Petrography, Dual Energy CT, and Rock Typing: Creation of Diagenesis and Porosity Type Logs. 
Proctor, J., Droxler, A., Derzhi, N., Hopson, H., Harris, P.M., Khanna, P., and Lehrmann, D. 
Interpretation. doi.org/10.1190/int-2017-0187.1  (2019)

Submerged reef terraces in the Maldivian Archipelago (Indian Ocean) 
Rovere, A., Khanna, P., Bianchi, C, N., Droxler, A, W., Morri, C., Naar, D.F.
Geomorphology 317, p 218-232. (2018) 

Coralgal reef morphologies records punctuated sea level rise during last deglaciation. 
Khanna, P., Droxler, A.W., Harris, P.M., Nittrouer, J.
Nature Communications.  |DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00966-x  (2017) 

Conference Papers:

Improving Reservoir Quality Prediction Of Microporous Carbonates Using A Multi-Scale Geophysical Data Analysis Approach.   
Ramdani, A., Chandra, V., Finkbbeiner, T., Khanna, P., & Vahrenkamp, V.
International Petroleum Technology Conference. doi:10.2523/IPTC-19972-MS (2020)

Integrated Workflows for Characterizing Reservoir Heterogeneities with Ancient and Modern Carbonate Outcrop Analogues.  Vahrenkamp, V., Khanna, P., Petrovic, A., Ramdani, A., Gairola, G. S., Putri, I., and Sorrentino, R. 

Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi.org/10.2118/197851-MS (2019)

Comprehensive Characterization of Arab-D Reservoir Equivalent Outcrop Well Cores from Upper Jubaila Formation, Saudi Arabia.   
Chandra, V, Ramdani, A., Finkbeiner, T., Yalcin, B., Khanna, P., and Petrovic, A. 
In 81st EAGE Conference and Exhibition, London. doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201901464) (2019)  

 International and KSA

 - Carl Jacquermyn (Imperial College London)

 - Abdullah Al-Mojel (Saudi Aramco)

 - Sherif Hanafy (KFUPM)

                                                      

KAUST

 - Hussein Hoteit                                       

Team Members

Gaurav Siddharth Gairola

PhD Students

PhD Student

Current

Research Interests

Understanding of sequence stratigraphy approach in carbonate reservoirs and its role in modification of reservoir properties.

Selected Publications

Heterogeneity analysis of geophysical well-log data using Hilbert–Huang transform
GS Gairola, E Chandrasekhar
Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 478, 131-142, 2017

Empirical Mode Decomposition of Geophysical Well-log Data of Bombay Offshore Basin, Mumbai, India
G Siddharth Gairola, E Chandrasekhar
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, 2016

Education

  • 2016 - MS Technology, Petroleum Geoscience, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), India
  • 2014 - BS Technology, Geoscience Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, India

Professional Profile

  • 2019 – Present: PhD student, KAUST, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
  • 2016 – 2019: Assistant Professor, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, India
  • 2014 – 2016: Teaching Assistant, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), India

Scientific and Professional Membership

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)

Society of Exploration Geophysicist (SEG)

European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE)

Awards

Institute Silver Medal, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), India 2016

3rd Prize, EAGE FIELD Challenge Competition, EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Vienna 2016

3rd Prize, EAGE Annual Geo-Quiz, EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Vienna 2016

1st Prize, Protolith Quiz Competition, IIT Bombay, India 2015

University Silver Medal, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, India 2014

Research Interests Keywords

Carbonate Reservoirs Sequence Stratigraphy Well logging and Seismic