Abstract:

In view of petroleum exploration would usually be made by stages, petroleum exploration stage can be divided into basin selection, play selection and trap or prospect selection three decision phases, each with different characters, goals, principles and methods. Prospect exploration decision is to make a short-term and phasic tactical decision, without considering earlier exploration expenditures and later development expenditures, so as to avoid falling into previous redundant circumstances without operability. Prospect exploration decision-making takes selection of the best traps or prospects as the goal, and takes obtaining maximum reserves with minimum risk and cost as the principle. If exploration investment is given, a batch of prospects with the lowest exploration risk and largest reserves will be screened out from the selected prospects through determination of the exploration investment limits, comprehensive ranking of the prospects and analysis of exploratory drilling risk of the prospects. Alternatively, if a reserves target is given, prospects with the lowest exploration risk and exploration cost will be selected as the next drilling targets. Ten prospects that are located in Mianzhu-Yanting central uplift zone, Xiongpo fault-folded belt in Longquanshan area, Yazihe-Pingluoba buried fault-folded belt and Shi-fang-Qionglai central synclinal zone are selected as the drilling targets in current exploration phase, by using the concept and method of prospect exploration decision-making and in combination with the actual data in the western depression of Sichuan basin.

Key words: exploration decision-making phase, prospect exploration decision-making, western Sichuan depression, Sichuan basin