1- Kharazmi University , m.asemani@khu.ac.ir
2- PetroIran Development group
3- AmirKabir University of Technology
2- PetroIran Development group
3- AmirKabir University of Technology
Abstract: (92 Views)
Reservoir compartmentalization is a phenomenon wherebythe presence of flow barriers divides a hydrocarbon reservoir into separate zones with distinct flow behaviors. Accurate identification of these flow barriers and the various reservoir zones is crucial for optimal field management, accurate reserve estimation, proper well placement design, and, in general, for all future field development decisions. Given the significance of studying reservoir compartmentalization in Iranian oil fields, this paper investigates lateral continuity in the Bangestan reservoir in one of the fields from the Dezful Embayment. For this purpose, a novel and efficient approach was employed, utilizing the structural characteristics of asphaltenes through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Asphaltenes are macromolecular compounds with a structure similar to kerogen. Due to their stability against secondary processes, such as biodegradation and water washing, they serve as reliable indicators for crude oil fingerprinting and for assessing fluid composition heterogeneity within reservoirs. In this study, four crude oil samples were collected from producing wells in the Bangestan reservoir and analyzed by FTIR to determine various structural indices, including aliphatic, aromatic, branching, and substitution indices, in order to compare the structural characteristics of different asphaltenes. The results showed that sample S-1 exhibited significant differences in structural indices and chemical composition compared to the other samples (S-2, S-3, and S-4). This issue indicates a difference in crude oil fingerprints among the studied wells, which is attributed to the presence of a flow barrier in the Bangestan reservoir. To confirm these results, pressure data were also analyzed, which revealed a different pressure gradient for well S-1 compared to the other wells, further supporting the presence of a flow barrier. Therefore, the use of structural characteristics of asphaltenes is considered an efficient, low-cost, and straightforward method, providing results comparable to reservoir engineering data in identifying reservoir discontinuities.
Keywords: Reservoir compartmentalization, Asphaltenes, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Bangestan reservoir, Dezful Embayment.
Type of Study: Original Research |
Subject:
Petroleum Geology
Received: 2025/09/23 | Accepted: 2025/10/27
Received: 2025/09/23 | Accepted: 2025/10/27
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