Investigation of drilling failure of Well A1, E-Field, onshore Niger Delta, Nigeria, using 3-D seismic data

• Hydrocarbon is pooled in the closing contours of the E-Prospect.
• The trapping structure has south-westerly spatial shift in crest with depth.
• Exploratory well failed due to inaccurate surface positioning and wrong trajectory.
• Deviated well is optimal for production of hydrocarbon accumulation.

This study aimed at investigating reasons for failure of Well A1 that is surrounded by hydrocarbon discoveries in onshore Niger delta with a view to propose optimal location for a new well through interpretation of new 3-D seismic data. Sands encountered by Well A1 were delineated and tied to seismic. Structural closure was mapped and reservoirs at various depths were stacked and sectioned. Porosity, Net to Gross, and Gross Rock Volume of the reservoirs were computed. Well A1 was correlated to a nearby Well K4 and a good correlation was observed. A fault assisted multi reservoirs Prospect-E with south-westerly shift with depth was delineated on the hanging wall of structure building E-Fault whose closing contours is expected to trap hydrocarbon. Petrophysical properties of the reservoirs range from fair to good. Well A1 either perforated prospect-E beneath the oil water contact, completely missed prospect-E or punctured the wet foot wall of E-fault. Consequently, Well A1 could not impact the objective sands and only able to produce water. Well A1 failed because of wrong surface positioning which unsuccessfully targeted the shifting reservoirs. A successful exploratory well in E-Field would be a gently south-westerly deviated well whose vertical section would encounter the shallower sands and deviated section targeting the deeper sands with surface location at about 1 km southeast of Well A1.