Sedimentation during halokinesis: Permo-Triassic reservoirs of the Saigak Field, Precaspian Basin, Kazakhstan

Permo-Triassic reservoirs of the Saigak Field, in the eastern part of the Precaspian Basin of Kazakhstan, produced oil at cumulative rates exceeding 3600 BOPD. This confirms the attractiveness of the post-salt play in this part of the basin. Core studies show that cross-bedded sandstones in braided fluvial channels, alluvial and delta plain deposits are the best reservoirs. Integration of topographic and geomorphological features with satellite and seismic data led to the identification of inter-dome depressions with present-day active subsidence and sedimentation. These depressions are analogues to Permo-Triassic mini-basins. In the wells, reservoirs deteriorate quickly as soon as depositional environments become evaporitic. Seismic inversion was applied on a small 3D data-set covering the Saigak Field. The reduction of porosity with depth correlates well with increasing acoustic impedance values. In the inverted volume, reservoirs were characterized in terms of porosity and connected bodies, an essential input into static and dynamic reservoir modelling.