Abstract
In the quest to recover by-passed hydrocarbons, extend the life of mature fields, increase hydrocarbon reserves and satiate the increasing global demand for energy, the need for robust reservoir characterization using acoustic impedance inversion continues to grow. In this study, petrophysical parameters were evaluated for two sand intervals RX2 and RX5. Detailed cross-plot analysis of robust petrophysical properties, (density, water Saturation, Lambda-rho and Mu-rho and Porosity) facilitated fluid and lithology discrimination. Well to seismic correlations and acoustic-Impedance model-based, 3-D seismic inversion was done using Hampson Russell software, while petrophysical attribute slices and event-time structure maps were extracted at two horizons - H1 and H2. Results show that RX2 is 100ft thick in Well A, ranging from 5860ft to 5960ft, and 141ft thick in Well B, ranging from 5794ft to 5935ft. Interval RX5, 71ft thick, ranges from 6447ft to 6518ft in Well A, and 88ft thick in Well B, ranging from 6447ft to 6535ft. These intervals had average densities of 2.20g/cc for RX2 and 2.23g/cc for RX5 in Well A. In well B, density values are 1.95g/cc in RX2 and 2.06g/cc for RX5. Average porosities of 25.5% and 27.5% in RX2 and RX5 respectively for Well A; 29% and 19% in RX2 and RX5 respectively for Well B were observed. Respectively, average water and hydrocarbon saturation values of 0.31Swand 0.69Shfor Well A; 0.51Swand 0.49Shfor Well B, was recorded in both intervals. From the results, the thicknesses of RX2 and RX5 conform to the standard thickness of hydrocarbon reservoirs in the study area. Furthermore, the discrimination of the reservoir contents into fluid and lithology by the cross plots, and the observations in the attribute slices indicate that the selected intervals RX2 and RX5 are viable conventional hydrocarbon reservoirs.
A combination of genetic inversion and seismic frequency attributes to delineate reservoir targets in offshore northern Orange Basin, South Africa
