Developing a Clastic Field with Apparent Tilted Contact Using the Stepping Contact Concept in Stratigraphically Trapped Reservoirs

Understanding fluid contact behavior in clastic reservoirs is crucial for accurately estimating hydrocarbons in place and optimizing field development plans. While most field development strategies rely on assuming horizontal contacts, certain geological settings, particularly those affected by late-stage tectonics, may display apparent tilted contacts. This paper explores a case study in which a clastic field shows such behavior due to a post-charge structural uplift, affecting equilibrium fluid distribution across two distinct reservoirs. The work focuses on evaluating the tilted contact concept and assessing its implications on reservoir development, contrasting it with a simplified stepping contact approach commonly used in current workflows. This study aims to Evaluate the observed tilted contact using a combination of geological and reservoir engineering data. It compares the current stepping contact mapping approach with the tilted contact concept. It Quantify the time required for capillary equilibrium in both reservoirs, using drainage and imbibition curve analysis. It assesses the implications of contact behavior on field development strategies and potential hydrocarbon volumes. The scope of this investigation includes integration of well data, structural interpretation, charge history, saturation profiles, and capillary pressure modeling to explain observed field behaviors and provide actionable recommendations for development planning.