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

Yuri Panara

Postdoctoral Fellows

​Postdoctoral Fellow

Current

Research Interests

  • Qualitative and quantitative carbonate fractures characterization by utilizing Digital Outcrop Models (DOMs).

Selected Publications

  • Probabilistic Assessment of Slip Rates and Their Variability Over Time of Offshore Buried Thrusts: A Case Study in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Y. Panara, F. E. Maesano, C. Amadori, J. Fedorik, G. Toscani, R. Basili. Frontiers in Earth Science, 9, (2021)
  • Coseismic ground deformation reproduced through numerical modeling: A parameter sensitivity analysis. Y. Panara, G. Toscani, M. L. Cooke, S. Seno, C. Perotti. Geosciences (Switzerland), 9(9), (2019)

Education

  • Ph.D., Structural geology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, 2020
  • M.Sc., Geology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, 2016
  • B.Sc., Geology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, 2014

Professional Profile

  • 2021 - present: Postdoctoral fellow, KAUST, Saudi Arabia
  • 2020 – 2021: Postdoctoral fellow, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
  • 2018-2019: Visiting Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, USA

Research Interests Keywords

Structural geology Digital photogrammetry Carbonate Geology Remote sensing