Team Two consisted of four students; Eric Kuhl (Engineer), Tin-Wai Lee (Geophysicist), Ben Seldon (Geologist) and Beth Strickland (Geophysicist). They began their studies in the fall of 2001 and finished in the fall of 2003. Tin-Wai, Ben and Beth are now all working for Shell. Eric has settled in Houston and is working for Newfield Exploration. Please see below for a detailed description of each team members research.

 

Geophysical Component - Tin-Wai Lee

Tin-Wai Lee's research focused on predicting, determining and analyzing acoustic impedance changes in the G-Sand that occur due to production-induced pressure and saturation changes. She predicted impedance changes using Gassmann fluid substitution modeling and determined impedance changes with time-lapse inversion. Her thesis is entitled, "Time-Lapse Impedance Inversion at Popeye Field, Offshore Gulf of Mexico," and she has a paper soon to be published in Geophysics.

Lee Thesis (pdf format)
Geophysics Abstract (pdf format)
Geophysics Full Text (pdf format/password protected)

Geophysical Component - Beth Strickland

Beth Strickland's research focused on understanding the theory and practicalities behind time-lapse seismic data differencing processes. She also studied the interplay between the way turbidites fill minibasins and the depositional model used to describe the basin fill, sediment distributions, and the effect of these on reservoir production. She wrote a Masters thesis entitled, "Integrated Time-Lapse Seismic Analysis of the Two G-Sand Facies, Popeye Field, Offshore Gulf of Mexico" and she served as lead author of two papers; "Integration of Geologic Model and Reservoir Simulation, Popeye Field, Green Canyon 116 " published in the 2003 Transactions of the Gulf Coast Association of Geologic Societies and "Integrated Time-Lapse Seismic Analysis of the Two G-Sand Facies, Popeye Field, Green Canyon Block 116, Gulf of Mexico" to be published in Marine and Petroleum Geology.

Strickland Thesis (pdf format)
GCAGS Abstract (pdf format)
GCAGS Full Text (purchase from GCAGS website)
GCAGS Full Text (pdf format/password protected)
MPG Abstract (pdf format)
MPG Full Text (pdf format/password protected)

Geological Component - Ben Seldon

Ben Seldon studied turbidite genesis and deposition, formation evaluation and pressure/stress state prediction for overpressured strata. His main research focus was understanding the pressure situation in the Popeye-Genesis minibasin. He wrote a Masters thesis entitled, "Reservoir Pressure and Sea Floor Venting: Predicting Trap Integrity in a Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Turbidite Minibasin." He also served as lead author of the paper with the same title that was published in the AAPG Bulletin.

Seldon Thesis (pdf format)
AAPG Abstract (pdf format)
AAPG Full Text (pdf format/password protected)

Engineering Component - Eric Kuhl

Eric Kuhl's research consisted of running several reservoir simulations that focused on varying uncertain reservoir properties and gaining a greater understanding of fluid flow characteristics throughout the Popeye field. His Master's thesis is entitled "Optimization of Recovery from Two-Layer Reservoirs with Crossflow."

Kuhl Thesis - (pdf format)

 

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