Magister Scientiae - MSc / This study described porosity and permeability distribution in the deep marine play of the central Bredasdorp Basin, Block 9, offshore South Africa using methods that include thin section petrography, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy, in order to characterize their porosity and permeability distributions, cementation and clay types that affect the porosity and permeability distribution. The study included core samples from nine wells taken from selected depths within the Basin. / South Africa

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The Bredasdorp Basin is located on the southern continental margin, off the coast of South Africa. It is mostly filled by marine Aptian to Maastrichtian deposits, overlaying pre-existing Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous fluvial and shallow marine synrift deposits. The basin is a southeastern trending rift basin, located between the Columbine-Agulhas and Infanta arches. Its basement is made up of slates of the Bokkeveld Group (Devonian) and or quartzites of the Table Mountain Group (Ordovician-Silurian). The study area extends from X-X field to Y-Y field and encompasses only four wells for this investigation; well A, B, C and D respectively. This study was done through the interpretation; integration and juxtaposing of the results from core analysis with wireline log analysis (gamma ray) using Petrel software to display and correlate the well logs. Through core analysis which is the main source of information for this study, seven facies were identified and interpreted for the entire study. These facies alternate throughout each well and between different wells, but they are not evident in all the cores. Throughout the study, well A has been used as a reference well, since it appears (according to the interpretations) to record all seven facies and has the thickest section of zone 3. This zone reflects more accommodation space than the other studied wells at the time of deposition. Facies analysis of cores and well log correlation provide evidence that the studied USM sandstones are compatible with a wave dominated estuary/island-bar lagoon system to shoreface of a wave dominated marine shelf. It has previously been demonstrated that on the northern shelf of the Bredasdorp Basin, the USM typically has an hour-glass gamma ray log signature as a result of long-term transgression and regression and this typical log shape was also identified in this study from well A .

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The goal of this study is to enhance the evaluation of subsurface reservoirs by improving the prediction of petrophysical parameters through the integration of wireline logs and core measurements. Formation evaluations of 13A and 14A sequences in the Bredasdorp Basin, offshore South Africa have been performed. Five wells in the central area of the basin have been selected for this study. Four different lithofacies (A, B, C, D) were identified, in the two cored wells, and used to predict the lithofacies from wireline logs in uncored intervals and wells. A method based on artificial neural network was used for this prediction. Facies A and B were recognized as reservoir rocks and 13 reservoir zones were identified and successfully evaluated in a detailed petrophysical model. The final shale volume was considered to be the minimum among five different methods applied in this study at any point along the well log. The porosity model was taken from the density model. A value of 2.66 g/cm3 was obtained from core measurements as the field average grain density, whereas the value of the fluid density of 0.79 g/cm3 was obtained from core porosity and bulk density cross-plot. In a water saturation model; an average water resistivity of 0.135 Ohm-m was estimated from SP method. The calculated water saturation models were calibrated with core measurements, and the Indonesia model best matched with the water saturation from conventional core analysis. Six hydraulic flow units were recognized in the studied reservoirs, and were used for permeability predictions. The permeability predicted from hydraulic flow units were found more reliable than the permeability calculated from porosity-permeability relationship. The net pay was identified for each reservoir by applying cut-offs on permeability 0.1 mD, porosity 7%, shale volume 0.35, and water saturation 0.60. The gross thickness of the reservoirs ranges from 4.83m to 41.07m and net pay intervals from 1.21m to 29.59m.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The study area for this thesis focuses on the central northern part of the Bredasdorp Basin of southern offshore South Africa, where the depositional environments of wells E-M1, E-M3 and E-AB1 were inferred through electro sequence analysis and sequence stratigraphy analysis of the corresponding seismic line (E82-005). For that, the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) allowed access to the digital data which were loaded onto softwares such as PETREL and Kingdom SMT for interpretational purposes. The lithologies and sedimentary environments were inferred based on the shape of the gamma ray logs and reported core descriptions. The sequence stratigraphy of the basin comprises three main tectonic phases: Synrift phase, Transitional phase and Drift phase. Syn-rift phase, which began in the Middle Jurassic during a period of regional tectonism, consists of interbedded red claystones and discrete pebbly sandstone beds deposited in a non-marine setting. The syn-rift 1 succession is truncated by the regional Horizon ‘C’ (1At1 unconformity). The transitional phase was influenced by tectonic events, eustatic sea-level changes and thermal subsidence and characterized by repeated episodes of progradation and aggradation between 121Ma to 103Ma, from the top of the Horizon ‘C’ (1At1 unconformity) to the base of the 14At1 unconformity. Finally the drift phase was driven by thermal subsidence and marked by the Middle Albian14At1 unconformity which is associated with deep water submarine fan sandstones. During the Turonian (15At1 unconformity), highstand led to the deposition of thin organic-rich shales. In the thesis, it is concluded that the depositional environment is shallow marine, ranging from prograding marine shelf, a transgressive marine shelf and a prograding shelf edge delta environment.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / This contribution engages in the evaluation of offshore sandstone reservoirs of the Central Bredasdorp basin, Block 9, South Africa using primarily petrophysical procedures. Four wells were selected for the basis of this study (F-AH1, F-AH2, F-AH4, and F-AR2) and were drilled in two known gas fields namely F-AH and F-AR. The primary objective of this thesis was to evaluate the potential of identified Cretaceous sandstone reservoirs through the use and comparison of conventional core, special core analysis, wire-line log and production data. A total of 30 sandstone reservoirs were identified using primarily gamma-ray log baselines coupled with neutron-density crossovers. Eleven lithofacies were recognised from core samples. The pore reduction factor was calculated, and corrected for overburden conditions. Observing core porosity distribution for all wells, well F-AH4 displayed the highest recorded porosity, whereas well F-AH1 measured the lowest recorded porosity. Low porosity values have been attributed to mud and silt lamination influence as well as calcite overgrowths. The core permeability distribution over all the studied wells ranged between 0.001 mD and 2767 mD. Oil, water, and gas, were recorded within cored sections of the wells. Average oil saturations of 3 %, 1.1 %, and 0.2 % were discovered in wells F-AH1, F-AH2, and F-AH4. Wells F-AH1 to F-AR2 each had average gas saturations of 61 %, 57 %, 27 %, and 56 % respectively; average core water saturations of 36 %, 42 %, 27 %, and 44 % were recorded per well.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The Bredasdorp Basin is one of the largest hydrocarbon producing blocks within Southern Africa. The E-M field is situated approximate 50 km west from the FA platform and was brought into commission due to the potential hydrocarbons it may hold. If this field is brought up to full producing capability it will extend the lifespan of the refining station in Mosselbay, situated on the south coast of South Africa, by approximately 8-10 years. This study is focused in block 9 off shore western part of the Bredasdorp Basin in the main Outeniqua Basin South Africa. Cretaceous Sandstone reservoirs are commonly heterogeneous consequently they may require special methods and techniques for description and evaluation. Reservoir characterization is the study of the reservoir rocks, their petrophysical properties, the fluids they contain or the manner in which they influence the movement of fluids in the subsurface. The main goal of the research is to assess the potentials of hydrocarbons in Cretaceous sediments in the Bredasdorp Basin through the integration and comparison of results from core analysis, production data and petrography studies for the evaluation and correction of key petrophysical parameters from wireline logs which could be used to generate an effective reservoir model for wells (E-BB1, E-BD2, EA01) in the Bredasdorp Basin. Porosity and permeability relationships, wire-line log data have been examined and analysed to determine how the porosity and permeability influence reservoir quality which further influences the potential of hydrocarbon accumulation in the reservoirs. The reservoir sandstone is composed mainly of fine to medium grained Sandstones with intercalation of finger stringers of Siltstone and Shale. In carrying out this research the samples are used to characterize reservoir zones through core observation, description and analyses and compare the findings with electronic data obtained from Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA). Secondary data obtained from (PASA) was analysed using softwares such as Interactive Petrophysics (IP), Ms Word, Ms excel and Surfer. Wireline logs of selected wells (E-BB1, E-BD2, E-A01) were generated, analysed and correlated. Surfer software also used to digitize maps of project area, porosity and permeability plotted using IP. Formation of the Bredasdorp Basin and it surrounding basins during the Gondwana breakup. The Bredasdorp Basin consists mainly of tilting half graben structures that formed through rifting with the break-up of Gondwanaland. The model also revealed that these faults segregate the reservoir which explains the pressure loss within the block. The production well was drilled, confining pressure relieved and pressure dropped hence production decreases. The age, transportation, deposition and thermal history of sediment in the basin, all plays a vital role in the type of hydrocarbon formation. Structural features such as faults, pore spaces determines the presence of a hydrocarbon in the reservoir. Traps could be stratigraphic or structural which helps prevent the migration of hydrocarbons from the source rock to reservoir rock or from reservoir rock to the surface over a period of time. The textural aspects included the identification of grain sizes, sorting and grain shapes. The diagenetic history, constructed from the results of the reservoir quality study revealed that there were several stages involved in the diagenetic process. It illustrated several phases of cementation with quartz, carbonate and dolomite with dissolution of feldspar. A potentially good reservoir interval was identified from the data and was characterized by several heterogeneous zones. Identifying reservoir zones was highly beneficial during devising recovery techniques for production of hydrocarbons. Secondary recovery methods have thus been devised to enhance well performance. As recommendation, additional wells are required to appraise the E-M structure and determine to what extent the cement present in the basin has affected fluid flow as well as the degree of sedimentation that could impede fluid flow. There are areas still containing untapped resources thus the recommendation for extra wells. This research may well be reviewed with more data input from PetroSA (wells, seismic and production data) for additional studies, predominantly with respect to reservoir modelling and flow simulation. Based on the findings of this research, summary of calculated Net Pay shows that in well E-BB1, reservoir (1) is at depth 2841.5m – 2874.9m has a Gross Thickness of 33.40m, Net Pay of 29.72 and Pay Summary of 29.57 and reservoir (2) has depth of 2888.1m – 2910.5m, Gross Thickness of 22.40m, Net Pay of 19.92m and Pay summary of 1.48m. Well E-AO1 has depth from 2669.5m – 2684.5m and Gross Thickness of 15.00m and has Net Pay of 10.37m and Pay Summary of 10.37m. Based on the values obtained from the data analysed the above two wells displays high potential of hydrocarbon present in the reservoirs. Meanwhile well E-BD2 has depth from 2576.2m – 2602.5m and has Gross Thickness of 350.00m, Net Pay of 28.96m and Pay Summary of 4.57 hence from data analysis this reservoir displays poor values which is an indication of poor hydrocarbon potentials.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the crustal structure, and assesses the qualitative and quantitative impacts of crust-mantle dynamics on subsidence pattern, past and present-day thermal field and petroleum system evolution at the southern South African continental margin through the application of a multi-disciplinary and multi-scale geo-modelling procedure involving both conceptual and numerical approaches. The modelling procedure becomes particularly important as this margin documents a complex interaction of extension and strike-slip tectonics during its Mesozoic continental rifting processes. Located on the southern shelf of South Africa, the Western Bredasdorp Basin (WBB) constitutes the focus of this study and represents the western section of the larger Bredasdorp sub-basin, which is the westernmost of the southern offshore sub-basins. To understand the margin with respect to its present-day structure, isostatic state and thermal field, a combined approach of isostatic, 3D gravity and 3D thermal modelling was performed by integrating potential field, seismic and well data. Complimenting the resulting configuration and thermal field of the latter by measured present-day temperature, vitrinite reflectance and source potential data, basin-scale burial and thermal history and timing of source rock maturation, petroleum generation, expulsion, migration and accumulation were forwardly simulated using a 3D basin modelling technique. This hierarchical modelling workflow enables geologic assumptions and their associated uncertainties to be well constrained and better quantified, particularly in three dimensions. At present-day, the deep crust of the WBB is characterised by a tripartite density structure (i.e. prerift metasediments underlain by upper and lower crustal domains) depicting a strong thinning that is restricted to a narrow E-W striking zone. The configuration of the radiogenic crystalline crust as well as the conductivity contrasts between the deep crust and the shallow sedimentary cover significantly control the present-day thermal field of the study area. In all respects, this present-day configuration reflects typical characteristics of basin evolution in a strike-slip setting. For instance, the orientations of the deep crust and fault-controlled basin-fill are spatially inconsistent, thereby indicating different extension kinematics typical of transtensional pull-apart mechanisms. As such, syn-rift subsidence is quite rapid and short-lived, and isostatic equilibrium is not achieved, particularly at the Moho level. Accompanied syn-rift rapid subsidence and a heat flow peak led to petroleum preservation in the basin since the Early Cretaceous. Two additional post-rift thermal anomalies related to the Late Cretaceous hotspot mechanism and Miocene margin uplift in Southern Africa succeeded the syn-rift control on maturation. This thermal maturity of the five mature source rocks culminated in four main generation and three main accumulation phases which characterise the total petroleum systems of the WBB. The Campanian, Eocene and Miocene uplift scenarios episodically halted source maturation and caused tertiary migration of previously trapped petroleum. Petroleum loss related to the spill point of each trap configuration additionally occurs during the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene and Oligocene-Early Miocene. The timing and extent of migration dynamics are most sensitive to the geological scenario that combined faulting, intrusive seal bypass system and facies heterogeneity. In fact, for models that do not incorporate facies heterogeneity, predicted past and present-day seafloor leakage of petroleum is largely underestimated. This complex interplay of generation and migration mechanisms has significant implications for charging of petroleum accumulations by multiple source rocks. Due to early maturation and late stage tertiary migration, the syn-rift source rocks particularly Mid Hauterivian and Late Hauterivian source intervals significantly control the extent of petroleum accumulation and loss in the basin. Lastly, the modelled 3D crustal configuration and Mezosoic to Cenozoic thermal regime of the WBB dispute classic uniform lithospheric stretching for the southern South African continental margin. Rather, this PhD thesis confirms that differential thinning of the lithosphere related to a transtensional pull-apart mechanism is the most appropriate for accurately predicting the evolution of basin and petroleum systems of the margin. Also, the presented 3D models currently represent the most advanced insights, and thus have clear implications for assessing associated risks in basin and prospect evaluation of the margin as well as other similar continental margins around the world. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die korsstruktuur en evalueer die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe impakte van kors-mantel-dinamika op insinkingspatroon, die termiese veld en petroleumstels evolusie aan die suidelike Suid-Afrikaanse kontinentale grens, in die hede en die verlede, deur die toepassing van ’n multidissiplinêre en multiskaal-geomodelleringsprosedure wat beide konseptuele en numeriese benaderings behels. Die modelleringsprosedure veral is belangrik aangesien hierdie kontinentale grens ’n komplekse interaksie van uitbreidings- en strekkingsparallelle tektoniek gedurende die Mesosoïese vastelandskeurprosesse daarvan dokumenteer. Omdat dit op die suidelike platvorm van Suid-Afrika geleë is, maak die Westelike Bredasdorp Kom (WBK) die fokus van hierdie studie uit, en verteenwoordig dit die westelike deel van die groter Bredasdrop-subkom, wat die verste wes is van die suidelike aflandige subkomme. Om die grens met betrekking tot sy huidige struktuur, isostatiese staat en termiese veld te verstaan, is ’n kombinasie benadering bestaande uit isostatiese, 3D-gravitasie- en 3D- termiese modellering gebruik deur potensiëleveld-, seismiese en boorgatdata te integreer Ondersteunend totot die gevolglike konfigurasie en termiese veld van die laasgenoemde deur middel van hedendaagse temperatuur, soos gemeet, vitriniet-refleksiekoëffisiënt en bronpotensiaal data, komskaal-begrawing en termiese geskiedenis en tydsberekening van brongesteentematurasie, is petroleumgenerasie, -uitwerping, -migrasie en -akkumulasie in die toekoms gesimuleer deur gebruik te maak van ’n 3D-kommodelleringstegniek. Hierdie hierargiese modelleringswerkvloei maak dit moontlik om geologiese aannames en hulle geassosieerde onsekerhede goed aan bande te lê en beter te kwantifiseer, veral in drie dimensies. In die hede word die diep kors van die WBK gekarakteriseer deur ’n drieledige digtheidstruktuur (met ander woorde voorrift-metasedimente onderlê deur bo- en benedekors domeine) wat dui op ’n baie wesenlike verdunning, beperk tot ’n dun O-W-strekkingsone. Die konfigurasie van die radiogeniese kristallyne kors, sowel as die konduktiwiteitskontraste tussen die diep kors en die vlak sedimentêre dekking, beheer grotendeels die hedendaagse termiese veld van die studiearea. Hierdie hedendaagse konfigurasie weerspieël in alle opsigte tipiese eienskappe van kom-evolusie in ’n skuifskeur omgewing. Byvoorbeeld, Die oriëntasies van die diep kors en verskuiwingbeheerde komsedimentasie byvoorbeeld is ruimtelik inkonsekwent en dui daardeur op verskillende ekstensiekinematika, tipies van transtensionale tensiemeganisme. As sulks, is sin-rift-versakking taamlik vinnig en kortstondig, en word isostatiese ekwilibrium nie by die Moho-vlak, in die besonder, bereik nie. Samehangende sin-rift vinnige versakking en hittevloeihoogtepunt het gelei tot petroleum behoud in die kom sedert die vroeë Kryt. Twee bykomende post-rift termiese anomalieë wat verband hou met die laat Kryt-“hotspot” meganisme en die Mioseense kontinentale grensopheffing in Suidelike Afrika het die sin-rift-beheer met maturasie opgevolg. Hierdie termiese maturiteit van die vyf gematureerde brongesteentes het in vier hoofgenerasie- en drie hoofakkumulasie fases, wat die totaliteit van die petroleumstelsels van die WBK karakteriseer, gekulmineer. Die Campaniese, Eoseense en Mioseense opheffings senarios het episodies bronmaturasie gestop en tersiêre migrasie van petroleum wat vroeër opgevang was veroorsaak. Addisioneel vind petroleumverlies gekoppel aan die spilpunt van elke opvanggebiedkonfigurasie tydens die laat Kryt-Paleoseen en Oligoseenvroeë Mioseen plaas. Die tydstelling en omvang van migrasiedinamika is die sensitiefste vir die geologiese scenario wat verskuiwing, seëlomseilingstelsel en fasiesheterogeniteit kombineer. Trouens, vir modelle wat nie fasiesheterogeniteit inkorporeer nie, is voorspellings van vroeëre en huidige seebodemlekkasie van petroleum grotendeels onderskattings. Hierdie komplekse wisselwerking van generasie- en migrasiemeganismes het beduidende implikasies vir die laai van petroleumakkumulasies deur veelvoudige brongesteentes. Vanweë vroeë maturasie en laatstadiumtersiêre migrasie, oefen die sin-rift-brongesteentes, veral middel Hauterivium- en laat Hauteriviumbronintervalle, beduidende beheer oor die omvang van petroleumakkumulasie en -verlies in die kom uit. Laastens weerspreek die gemodelleerde 3D-korskonfigurasie en Mesosoïese-tot-Senosoïesetermiese regime van die WBK ’n klassieke uniforme litosferiese rekking vir die suidelike Suid- Afrikaanse kontinentale grens. Inteendeel, hierdie PhD-proefskrif bevestig dat ’n differensiële verdunning van die litosfeer, gekoppel aan ’n transtensiemeganisme, die beste geskik is om ’n akkurate voorspelling oor die evolusie van kom- en petroleumstelsels van die kontinentale grens mee te maak. Verder, verteenwoordig die 3D-modelle, wat hier aangebied word, tans die mees gevorderde insigte, en het hierdie modelle dus duidelike implikasies vir die assessering van verwante risiko’s in kom- en petroleum teikene valuering van die kontinentale grens, so wel as van ander soortgelyke kontinentale grense regoor die wêreld.

<p>The Bredasdorp Basin is one of the largest hydrocarbon producing blocks within Southern Africa. The E-M field is situated approximate 50 km west from the FA platform and was brought into commission due to the potential hydrocarbons it may hold. If this field is brought up to full producing capability it will extend the lifespan of the refining station in Mosselbay, situated on the south coast of South Africa, by approximately 8 to 10 years. An unexpected pressure drop within the E-M field caused the suite not to perform optimally and thus further analysis was imminent to assess and alleviate the predicament. The first step within the project was to determine what might have cause the pressure drop and thus we had to go back to cores drilled by Soekor now known as Petroleum South Africa, in the early 1980&rsquo / s.</p> <p><br> <br /> </br>Analyses of the cores exposed a high presence of granulation seams. The granulation seams were mainly subjected within sand units within the cores. This was caused by rolling of sand grains over one another rearranging themselves due to pressure exerted through compaction and faulting, creating seal like fractures within the sand. These fractures caused these sand units to compartmentalize and prohibit flow from one on block to the next. With advance inquiry it was discovered that there was a shale unit situated within the reservoir dividing the reservoir into two main compartments. At this point it was determined to use Petrel which is windows based software for 3D visualization with a user interface based on the Windows Microsoft standards. This is easy as well as user friendly software thus the choice to go with it. The software uses shared earth modeling tool bringing about reservoir disciplines trough common data modelling. This is one of the best modelling applications in the available and it was for this reason that it was chosen to apply within the given aspects of the project A lack of data was available to model the granulation seams but with the data acquired during the core analyses it was possible to model the shale unit and factor in the influences of the granulation seams to asses the extent of compartmentalization. The core revealed a thick shale layer dividing the reservoir within two sections which was not previously noted. This shale layer act as a buffer/barrier restricting flow from the bottom to the top halve of the reservoir. This layer is thickest at the crest of the 10km&sup2 / domal closure and thins toward the confines of the E-M suite. Small incisions, visible within the 3 dimensional models could serve as a guide for possible re-entry points for future drilling. These incisions which were formed through Lowstand and Highstand systems tracts with the rise and fall of the sea level. The Bredasdorp Basin consists mainly of tilting half graben structures that formed through rifting with the break-up of Gondwanaland. The model also revealed that these faults segregate the reservoir further creating bigger compartments. The reservoir is highly compartmentalized which will explain the pressure loss within the E-M suite. The production well was drilled within one of these compartments and when the confining pressure was relieved the pressure dropped and the production decrease. As recommendation, additional wells are required to appraise the E-M structure and determine to what extent the granulation seems has affected fluid flow as well as the degree of sedimentation that could impede fluid flow. There are areas still containing untapped resources thus the recommendation for extra wells.</p>

<p>The Bredasdorp Basin is one of the largest hydrocarbon producing blocks within Southern Africa. The E-M field is situated approximate 50 km west from the FA platform and was brought into commission due to the potential hydrocarbons it may hold. If this field is brought up to full producing capability it will extend the lifespan of the refining station in Mosselbay, situated on the south coast of South Africa, by approximately 8 to 10 years. An unexpected pressure drop within the E-M field caused the suite not to perform optimally and thus further analysis was imminent to assess and alleviate the predicament. The first step within the project was to determine what might have cause the pressure drop and thus we had to go back to cores drilled by Soekor now known as Petroleum South Africa, in the early 1980&rsquo / s.</p> <p><br> <br /> </br>Analyses of the cores exposed a high presence of granulation seams. The granulation seams were mainly subjected within sand units within the cores. This was caused by rolling of sand grains over one another rearranging themselves due to pressure exerted through compaction and faulting, creating seal like fractures within the sand. These fractures caused these sand units to compartmentalize and prohibit flow from one on block to the next. With advance inquiry it was discovered that there was a shale unit situated within the reservoir dividing the reservoir into two main compartments. At this point it was determined to use Petrel which is windows based software for 3D visualization with a user interface based on the Windows Microsoft standards. This is easy as well as user friendly software thus the choice to go with it. The software uses shared earth modeling tool bringing about reservoir disciplines trough common data modelling. This is one of the best modelling applications in the available and it was for this reason that it was chosen to apply within the given aspects of the project A lack of data was available to model the granulation seams but with the data acquired during the core analyses it was possible to model the shale unit and factor in the influences of the granulation seams to asses the extent of compartmentalization. The core revealed a thick shale layer dividing the reservoir within two sections which was not previously noted. This shale layer act as a buffer/barrier restricting flow from the bottom to the top halve of the reservoir. This layer is thickest at the crest of the 10km&sup2 / domal closure and thins toward the confines of the E-M suite. Small incisions, visible within the 3 dimensional models could serve as a guide for possible re-entry points for future drilling. These incisions which were formed through Lowstand and Highstand systems tracts with the rise and fall of the sea level. The Bredasdorp Basin consists mainly of tilting half graben structures that formed through rifting with the break-up of Gondwanaland. The model also revealed that these faults segregate the reservoir further creating bigger compartments. The reservoir is highly compartmentalized which will explain the pressure loss within the E-M suite. The production well was drilled within one of these compartments and when the confining pressure was relieved the pressure dropped and the production decrease. As recommendation, additional wells are required to appraise the E-M structure and determine to what extent the granulation seems has affected fluid flow as well as the degree of sedimentation that could impede fluid flow. There are areas still containing untapped resources thus the recommendation for extra wells.</p>

Magister Scientiae - MSc / This research was aimed at employing the broad use of petrophysical analysis and reservoir modelling techniques to explore the petroleum resources in the sandstone units of deep marine play in the Bredasdorp Basin. / South Africa