A 20-year perspective on D&P geophysics from a geophysicist with 10 years of experience

摘要

Because the primary objective of this article is to review Development and Production Geophysics (as reflected in the first 20 years of THE LEADING EDGE) an initial description of what "makes up" D&P is provided. The three well-known stages of the upstream oil business are exploration, development, and production. Many oil companies have functional organizations aligned with each stage. With respect to geophysics, exploration is usually defined as any and all parts of a geophysical program in support of exploring for oil and gas prior to drilling one (or more) well(s) that define the play. The ensuing development phase, which has a prerequisite of at least one successful exploration well, includes all activities to progress field management and development prior to first oil produced. Finally, production includes those parts of a geophysical project from first oil to field abandonment. These definitions are based on development and production geophysics as the field has developed in the oil industry.