International Reservoir Technologies Inc.

Mr. Michael T. May

SENIOR CONSULTANT - GEOSCIENTIST

Mr. May has over 31 years’ experience in petroleum geoscience including extensive experience with the fields of North Kuwait. Strengths are in interpreting and integrating geophysical and geological data including the construction of geocellular models for both exploration and production objectives. He is coauthor and instructor for the industry class “Introduction to Static Modeling”. His background includes positions with a major IOC in Venezuela, Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, and Canada. He has worked exploration projects from play fairway analysis through exploration discovery. Additional experience includes the development of infill drilling programs and overseeing well site operations including real time geo-steering of horizontal wells. He has worked both clastic and carbonate reservoirs in varied structural settings including fold and thrust, passive margin, rift, strike slip, and salt influenced basins. He routinely works within multi-disciplined teams to prepare reservoir description, reserve estimates, economic evaluation and depletion plan/infill drilling programs. Since joining IRT, Mike has been involved in numerous integrated studies from the giant Lower Burgan and Mauddud Formations in Kuwait, the clastic reservoirs of the Magdalena valley in Colombia, to the Lance/Mesaverde tight sandstones and Niobrara unconventional plays of Wyoming. He has built the stratigraphic and structural frameworks and the final geocellular models incorporating diverse data including core description, seismic attributes, micro-seismic, and even production logging and test data. He is highly skilled in the use of workstations. He is familiar with the Landmark, Geographix, and Petra geoscience platforms and RMS and Petrel geocellular modeling applications. Mr. May is expert in the RMS scripting language.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

International:
Yarigui Cantagallo Field, Colombia- Reservoir Modeling
Sabiriyah Field – Lower Burgan, Kuwait – Reservoir Modeling
Sabiriyah Field – Zubair, Kuwait – Reservoir Modeling
Sabiriyah Field – Mauddud, Kuwait – Reservoir Modeling
Raudhatain Field – Lower Burgan, Kuwait – Reservoir Modeling
Raudhatain Field – Zubair, Kuwait – Reservoir Modeling
Raudhatain Field – Mauddud, Kuwait – Reservoir Modeling
Abdali Field – Zubair, Kuwait – Reservoir Modeling
Ratqa Field – Zubair, Kuwait – Reservoir Modeling
Masrab Field- Lidam/Sarir, Libya – Seismic Interpretation and Reservoir Modeling

North American Rockies:
Powder Wash, SW Wyoming – Seismic interpretation
Pierce/Black Hollow, DJ Basin – Lyons Reservoir Modeling for EOR Benefits
Southwest PRB WY Cretaceous Unconventional Study
Cherokee Ridge, SW Wyoming – Almond to Nugget Exploration Evaluation
Canyon Creek and Trail Units, SW Wyoming – Reservoir Stratigraphy and Modeling
Barber Creek/Dead Horse Creek, PRB WY – Seismic and Stratigraphy Interp and Modeling
Ethane EOR Field Screening Study (CO, WY, MT, ND)
Jonah and Canyon Creek/Trail Fields, SW Wyoming – Reservoir Modeling
Clear Creek, Wyoming Overthrust, USA – Reservoir Modeling
Ridge Lawn and Brush Lake, Williston Basin, USA – Reservoir Modeling
Big Hand and Barber Creek Fields, Powder River Basin, USA – Reservoir Modeling
Permo Carboniferous Dolostones, British Colombia Foothills, Canada – Exploration/Structural Modeling

Alaska:
Prudhoe Bay Field – Seismic Interpretation, Reservoir Characterization and well planning
Lisburne Field, Alaska North Slope, USA – Reservoir Characterization

Gulf of Mexico:
Deepwater Paleogene Lower Tertiary – Cascade, Kaskida, Tiber Reservoir Modeling
Deepwater Miocene Fairway – Exploration Play Fairway Analysis and multiple reservoir models

2004 to Present - Senior Consultant-Geoscientist, IRT Inc.

Mr. May is co-author and instructor for the class “Introduction to Static Modeling”. IRT have taught this course to clients around the world. The course covers all aspects of data preparation and analysis and geocellular modelling of oil and gas reservoirs. The course was taught in 2012 for TNK-BP/TNNC’s in Tyumen, Russia and for Ecopetrol in Bogota, Colombia.

Developed sequence stratigraphic framework for the Almond/Mesaverde reservoirs in Canyon Creek and Trail Units, Washakie/Sand Wash Basins in Wyoming. Implemented this new framework into a reservoir model for dynamic simulation.

Completed Play Fairway analysis of the Cretaceous Almond through unconventional Frontier and Niobrara stratigraphic section across Cherokee Ridge, Washakie and Sand Wash Basins, WY. Risk assignments were used as inputs for economic evaluation of a client’s existing acreage.

Built an integrated static model for 600 wells in the Cretaceous Zubair and Ratawi formations, Raudhatain Field Kuwait. A very complex facies model was built using Belts, Channels, Composite, and Indicators algorithms.

Coordinated the rebuilding of the full field Prudhoe Bay structural model. The RMS structural model has over 4500 faults and 3 seismic horizon surfaces. Detailed effort has been put in to properly place hundreds of horizontal wells and sidetracks.

Built an integrated static model for 80 wells in the Cretaceous Zubair and Ratawi formations, Sabiriyah Field Kuwait. A very complex facies model was built using Belts, Channels, Composite, and Indicators algorithms.

Reviewed geocellular models and seismic data used for field development projects in the Yamal, Orenburg and Novosibirskaya areas of Russia for TNK-BP/TNNC.

Constructed the stratigraphic and structural frameworks for a 150 well field in the Middle Magdalena basin of Colombia. Complexities included a 3000 ft reservoir interval with significant reverse and strike slip faulting. Developed a regional play fairway understanding that significantly changed the field’s stratigraphic framework.

Built the stratigraphic framework through the correlation of 478 wells in the Cretaceous Mauddud carbonate reservoir in Raudhatain and Sabiriyah Fields, Kuwait. The stratigraphic framework integrated the latest core studies, RFT analysis, PLT analysis, and new petrophysical model. Correlations extended from surface to well TD in order to locate all fault cuts. Worked closely with the geophysicist to assure fault framework consistency. Built the structural model in RMS. Worked closely with other team members to develop a methodology to describe (location and distribution), quantify (assign permeability), and distribute the high perm secondary pore system within the geocellular model (RMS).

Built the static models for numerous deepwater clastic turbidite Gulf of Mexico fields, including fields in both the Miocene and Paleogene (lower Tertiary) trends. Responsibilities included building the structural framework (seismic interpretation and depth conversion), stratigraphic framework (log correlation), and geocellular model (Roxar’s RMS). Developed an MS Excel based method to calibrate permeability logs to well test perm. One geocellular model accurately predicted hydrocarbon volume and productivity in a challenging laminated reservoir using an innovative modelling strategy. The current focus of this ongoing work is the development of training images for multipoint statistical facies modelling of turbidite fan complexes.

Responsible for static model construction of the Ordovician Red River Carbonate reservoirs, Ridgelawn and Brush Lake fields, Montana. Work included subdividing the “C” zone into 11 flow units. Seismic attributes were used to guide object model placement of the dolomite reservoir facies within Roxar’s RMS modelling software.

Built the static model for a thrusted Nugget reservoir, Clear Creek field, Wyoming. Conducted structural dip meter analysis (SCAT) to develop the structural framework. Integrated the stratigraphic and structural frameworks to build a static model within Schlumberger’s PETREL modelling software.

Constructed a static model of the Lance/Mesaverde tight gas sand reservoirs, Jonah Field, Wyoming. Responsibilities included developing the stratigraphic framework, integrating the depositional model with micro seismic data, and building a static model within Roxar’s RMS modelling software. The model was setup to allow the testing of the effects on productivity due to faults, sand body size, and sand body connectivity.

Developed sequence stratigraphic framework of the Almond formation in the Trail and Canyon Creek fields of southwest Wyoming. Guided the petrophysicist in the creation of depositional environment and facies association/genetic elements logs for distribution in a fully integrated RMS static model.

Responsible for the static model construction of the Lower Burgan Reservoir, Sabiriyah field, Kuwait. Responsibilities included developing a stratigraphic framework, integrating the geology (deterministically mapped properties, RFT data, fault picks) with the seismic to finalize the structural framework, and building the static model within Roxar’s RMS modelling software. Key outcome of the study led to the first sound explanation of the origin of the tilted Paleo oil water contact.

2003 to 2004 - Field-wide Geoscientist, BP Exploration (Alaska); Prudhoe Bay Field, Alaska 

Canadian Rocky Mountain Foothills, British Columbia and Alberta

Provided geological and geophysical support for Prudhoe Bay Field-wide and long-term projects. Tasks included management of a new update of the Field-wide static and dynamic models, project management for 2 new seismic surveys (acquisition, processing, and analysis). Field-wide studies involved rock properties, 4D Pilot, AVO analysis for lithology and fluid prediction, and providing the structural framework to update the gas cap water injection model. 


2001 to 2003 - Exploration Geophysicist, BP Canada Energy Co.; 

Canadian Rocky Mountain Foothills, British Columbia and Alberta

Member of multi-disciplinary team that assessed the resource potential of the Canadian Rockies through detailed play fairway analysis. Lead Geophysicist overseeing 2D seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation, prospect maturation, and drilling in the Permo-Carboniferous (GSC designated PC-2) Play fairway in Northeast British Colombia. Work led to 1 discovery in 2002. He integrated surface geology and structure with well data (including dip meter) and seismic (Pre-stack Time and Depth migrations) to develop structural models for a series of prospects. 


1996 to 2001 - Reservoir Geophysicist, BP Exploration (Alaska);
Prudhoe Bay Field, Alaska

Member of a multidiscipline Prudhoe Bay Gravity Drainage team providing geophysical and geological support for reservoir characterization and modelling, infill development, and drilling operations. Identified targets for over 70 infill wells. Initiated the first rock properties and geophysical analysis project for Lithology and Fluids prediction.


1995 to 1996 - Exploration Geophysicist, BP Exploration (Venezuela); Barinas and Maracaibo Basins, Venezuela

Carried out regional play fairway analysis, resource evaluation, and prospect maturation to evaluate exploration opportunities made available by PDVSA 1996 exploration license round. Activities included integrating Regional 2D Seismic, well, and field outcrop data in the Maracaibo and Barinas basins. Analysis included both the mountain front fold/thrust belt and foreland tectonic settings for both basins. He mapped and matured prospects within the Maracaibo foreland La Cieba exploration block.


1991 to 1994 - Exploration Geophysicist, BP Exploration (Houston);

Gulf of Mexico Deepwater

Performed play fairway analysis, analog field studies, and prospect maturation in the Mississippi Canyon/Viosca Knoll areas. Work contributed to the acquisition of Conoco.s deepwater acreage, including the Thunder Horse Prospect. Developed a new Miocene Play fairway offshore Texas.

1989 to 1992 - Geophysicist, BP Exploration (Houston);

Gulf of Mexico Shelf

Evaluated new exploration leases for possible drilling candidates. Primarily 2D seismic based prospect maturation. Prevented the drilling of several likely dry holes.


EDUCATION

M. Sc. Geophysics, University of Wyoming 1991

B. Sc. Geophysics Cum Laude, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 1987


PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Association of Petroleum Geologists

Society of Exploration Geophysicists

Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists

Denver Geophysical Society



STUDIES

MICHAEL T. MAY



Partial List of Reservoir Studies Performed

• < Prev
• Next >