Interpretation of Late Ordovician glaciogenic reservoirs from 3-D seismic data: an example from the Murzuq Basin, Libya

2009 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIEL PAUL LE HERON

AbstractUnderstanding the recessional behaviour of ancient pre-Cenozoic ice sheets based on seismic reflection studies is generally difficult through scarcity of data. In North Africa, however, hydrocarbon exploration has produced high quality seismic reflection datasets that permit an analysis of the morphology and internal sedimentary architecture of incisions of Late Ordovician age related to the Hirnantian glaciation. Analysis of a high-resolution 3-D seismic dataset covering a small area in western Libya (the N Murzuq Basin) reveals a sharply defined, WNW–ESE-oriented palaeo-escarpment, with a higher (cliff-forming) western margin and a lower (basin-forming) eastern margin. The palaeo-escarpment defines the western flank of a sub-basin extending up to 60 km in width, known as the Awbari Trough. The escarpment and the trough are interpreted as the morphological expression of a major unconformity dividing pre-glacial sediments below from Late Ordovician (?Hirnantian) glacially related sediments above. Two hypotheses are considered for the origins of both the escarpment and the Awbari Trough: (1) as a tectonic feature such as a half graben that was active during sedimentation and (2) a glacially related palaeotopography, with the latter interpretation preferred, owing to the lack of evidence for syn-sedimentary fault activity. The width of the Awbari Trough compares to the large-scale cross-shelf troughs in modern high latitude settings, such as the Barents Shelf, produced by ice streams. The Awbari Trough was progressively filled in by gravity flow deposits throughout the course of the glaciation, until the initial incision became filled in with sediments during an overall glacial retreat phase and ceased to influence sedimentation patterns. Glacial re-advance across the basin produced a second unconformity observed in seismic data. Above this unconformity, meltwater processes incised a shallow (~ 20 m) and wide (~ 5 km) subglacial tunnel valley. Stabilization of the ice front prior to its ultimate retreat resulted in the deposition of a delta complex prior to the Early Silurian transgression.

Geophysics ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. V51-V60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh (Neelsh) Neelamani ◽  
Anatoly Baumstein ◽  
Warren S. Ross

We propose a complex-valued curvelet transform-based (CCT-based) algorithm that adaptively subtracts from seismic data those noises for which an approximate template is available. The CCT decomposes a geophysical data set in terms of small reflection pieces, with each piece having a different characteristic frequency, location, and dip. One can precisely change the amplitude and shift the location of each seismic reflection piece in a template by controlling the amplitude and phase of the template's CCT coefficients. Based on these insights, our approach uses the phase and amplitude of the data's and template's CCT coefficients to correct misalignment and amplitude errors in the noise template, thereby matching the adapted template with the actual noise in the seismic data, reflection event-by-event. We also extend our approach to subtract noises that require several templates to be approximated. By itself, the method can only correct small misalignment errors ([Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] data) in the template; it relies on conventional least-squares (LS) adaptation to correct large-scale misalignment errors, such as wavelet mismatches and bulk shifts. Synthetic and real-data results illustrate that the CCT-based approach improves upon the LS approach and a curvelet-based approach described by Herrmann and Verschuur.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cox ◽  
Andrew M. W. Newton ◽  
Paul C. Knutz ◽  
Mads Huuse

<p>A drilling hazard assessment has been completed for a large area of the NW Greenland-Baffin Bay continental shelf. This assessment was in relation to International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) proposal 909 that aims to drill several sites across the shelf in an attempt to better understand the evolution and variability of the northern Greenland Ice Sheet. The assessment utilised high quality and extensive 3D seismic data that were acquired during recent hydrocarbon exploration interest in the area – a fact that highlights the risk of drilling in a petroleum province and therefore, the importance of this assessment with regards to safety.</p><p>Scattered seismic anomalies are observed within the Cenozoic sedimentary succession covering the rift basins of the Melville Bay region. These features, potentially representing the presence of free gas or gas-rich fluids, vary in nature from isolated anomalies, fault flags, stacked fluid flow features and canyons; all of which pose a significant drilling risk and were actively avoided during site selection. In areas above the Melville Bay Ridge – a feature that dominates the structure of this area – free gas is also observed trapped beneath extensive gas hydrate deposits, identified via a spectacularly imaged bottom simulating reflector marking the base of the gas hydrate stability zone. The location of the hydrate deposits, and the free gas beneath, are likely controlled by a complicated migration history, due to large scale rift-related faulting and migration along sandy aquifer horizons. In other areas, gas is interpreted to have reached the shallow subsurface due to secondary leakage from a deeper gas reservoir on the ridge crest.</p><p>It is clear that hydrocarbon related hazards within this area are varied and abundant, making it a more challenging location to select sites for an IODP drilling campaign. However, due to the extensive coverage and high resolution (up to 11 m vertical resolution (45 Hz at 2.0 km/s velocity) of the 3D seismic data available, as well as the use of recently acquired ultra-high resolution site survey lines, these features can be accurately imaged and confidently mapped. This allowed for the development of a detailed understanding of the character and distribution of fluids within the shallow subsurface, and the use of this knowledge to select site localities that maximise the potential for drilling to be completed safely and successfully if proposal 909 were to be executed.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Tajmir Riahi ◽  
Khalil Sarkarinejad ◽  
Ali Faghih ◽  
Bahman Soleimany ◽  
Gholam Reza Payrovian

<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>The detailed characterization of faults and fractures can give valuable information about the fluid flow through petroleum reservoir and directly affect the hydrocarbon exploration and production programs. In this study, large- and small-scale fractures in the Asmari horizon of the Rag-e-Sefid oilfield were characterized using seismic attribute and well data analyses. Different spatial filters including finite median hybrid (SO-FMH), dip-steered median, dip-steered diffusion, and fault enhancement filters were used on 3D seismic data to reduce noise, enhance the seismic data quality, and create a 3D seismic steering cube. In the next step, seismic attributes such as coherency, similarity, variance, spectral decomposition, dip, and curvature were applied to identify structural features. In order to check the validity of these structural features, results from seismic attributes calibrated by the interpreted fractures from image logs in the Rag-e-Safid oilfield. Then, the ant-tracking algorithm applied on the selected seismic attributes to highlight faults and fractures. These attributes combined using neural network method to create multi-seismic attributes, view different fault- or fold-sensitive seismic attributes in a single image, and facilitate the large-scale fractures extraction process. Finally, automatic fault and fracture extraction technique used to reduce human intervention, improve accuracy and efficiency for the large-scale fracture interpretation and extraction from edge volumes in the Asmari horizon of the Rag-e-Sefid oilfield. In addition to, small- scale fractures were characterized by the obtained information from the image logs interpretation for sixteen wells. All the detected fractures from seismic and well data have been divided into eight fracture sets based on their orientation and using the statistical analysis. The obtained results show that fractures characteristics and their origin are different in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the Rag-e-Sefid oilfield. The NW Rag-e-Sefid and Nourooz Hendijan Izeh Faults reactivation during Zagros orogeny led to create the dextral shear zone and P, R, R′, T, Y- fracture sets in the northwestern part of the Rag-e-Safid oilfield. Also, activity of the SE-Rag-e-Sefid thrust fault during Zagros orogeny caused to form fault-related fractures sets in the southeastern part of the Rag-e-Sefid field. In addition to, axial, cross axial, oblique fracture sets in the Asmari horizon of the Rag-e-Sefid oilfield were created by folding phase during Zagros orogeny. The obtained results were used to fracture modeling in the Asmari horizon of the Rag-e-Sefid oilfield.</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Frankenberg ◽  
Katharina Kupper ◽  
Ruth Wagner ◽  
Stephan Bongard

This paper reviews research on young migrants in Germany. Particular attention is given to the question of how Germany’s history of migration, immigration policies, and public attitude toward migrants influence the transcultural adaptation of children and adolescents from different ethnic backgrounds. We combine past research with the results of new empirical studies in order to shed light on migrants’ psychological and sociocultural adaptation. Studies comparing young migrants and their German peers in terms of psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and mental health outcome suggest higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems among migrants of most age groups. With regard to adolescent populations between the ages of 14 and 17 years, however, the existence of differences between migrants and natives appears to be less clear. Research has also yielded inconsistent findings regarding the time trajectory of transcultural adaptation among adolescents. The coincidence of acculturation and age-related change is discussed as a possible source of these inconsistencies. Further, we provide an overview of risk and protective factors such as conflicting role expectations and ethnic discrimination, which may cause heightened vulnerability to adverse adaptation outcomes in some groups. Large-scale studies have repeatedly shown migrants of all age groups to be less successful within the German school system, indicating poor sociocultural adaptation. Possible explanations, such as the idiosyncrasies of the German school system, are presented. Our own studies contribute to the understanding of young migrants’ adaptation process by showing that it is their orientation to German culture, rather than the acculturation strategy of integration, that leads to the most positive psychological and sociocultural outcomes. The paper concludes by discussing implications for future cross-cultural research on young migrants and by suggesting recommendations for multicultural policies.


1992 ◽  
Vol 129 (5) ◽  
pp. 633-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Goulty ◽  
M. Leggett ◽  
T. Douglas ◽  
C. H. Emeleus

AbstractWe have conducted a seismic reflection test over a short profile on the granite of the Skye Tertiary central intrusive complex. From previous gravity modelling work it had been inferred that the granite is approximately 1.5 km thick and overlies basic rocks. The seismic data indicate that the granite is at least 2 km thick at the test location. Reflection events of alternating polarity between depths of 2.1 and 2.4 km suggest that basic and acidic sheets are interlayered at the base of the granitic mass.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1310
Author(s):  
Hajer Azaiez ◽  
Hakim Gabtni ◽  
Mourad Bédir

Electric resistivity sounding and tomography, as well as electromagnetic sounding, are the classical methods frequently used for hydrogeological studies. In this work, we propose the development and implementation of an original integrated approach using the unconventional hydro–geophysical methods of gravity and seismic reflection for the fast, large–scale characterization of hydrogeological potential using the Ain El Beidha plain (central Tunisia) as an analogue. Extending the values of vintage petroleum seismic reflection profiles and gravity data, in conjunction with available geological and hydrogeological information, we performed an advanced analysis to characterize the geometry of deep tertiary (Oligocene and Eocene) aquifers in this arid area. Residual and tilt angle gravity maps revealed that most gravity anomalies have a short wavelength. The study area was mainly composed of three major areas: the Oued Ben Zitoun and Ain El Beidha basins, which are both related to negative gravity trends corresponding to low–density subsiding depocenters. These basins are separated by an important NE–SW trend called “El Gonna–J. El Mguataa–Kroumet Zemla” gravity high. Evaluation of the superposition of detected lineaments and Euler deconvolution solutions’ maps showed several NE–SW and N–S relay system faults. The 3D density inversion model using a lateral and vertical cutting plane suggested the presence of two different tectonic styles (thin VS thick). Results from the gravity analysis were in concordance with the seismic analysis. The deep Oligocene and Eocene seismic horizons were calibrated to the hydraulic wells and surrounding outcrops. Oligocene and Eocene geological reservoirs appear very fractured and compartmented. The faulting network also plays an important role in enhancing groundwater recharge process of the Oligocene and Eocene aquifers. Finally, generated isochron maps provided an excellent opportunity to develop future comprehensive exploration surveys over smaller and more favorable areas’ sub–basins.


2019 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 1698-1716 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Malovichko ◽  
A V Tarasov ◽  
N Yavich ◽  
M S Zhdanov

SUMMARY This paper presents a feasibility study of using the controlled-source frequency-domain electromagnetic (CSEM) method in mineral exploration. The method has been widely applied for offshore hydrocarbon exploration; however, nowadays this method is rarely used on land. In order to conduct this study, we have developed a fully parallelized forward modelling finite-difference (FD) code based on the iterative solver with contraction-operator preconditioner. The regularized inversion algorithm uses the Gauss–Newton method to minimize the Tikhonov parametric functional with the Laplacian-type stabilizer. A 3-D parallel inversion code, based on the iterative finite-difference solver with the contraction-operator preconditioner, has been evaluated for the solution of the large-scale inverse problems. Using the computer simulation for a synthetic model of Sukhoi Log gold deposit, we have compared the CSEM method with the conventional direct current sounding and the CSEM survey with a single remote transmitter. Our results suggest that, a properly designed electromagnetic survey together with modern 3-D inversion could provide detailed information about the geoelectrical structure of the mineral deposit.


2019 ◽  
Vol 500 (1) ◽  
pp. 531-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Bull ◽  
Joseph A. Cartwright

AbstractThis study shows how simple structural restoration of a discrete submarine landslide lobe can be applied to large-scale, multi-phase examples to identify different phases of slide-lobe development and evaluate their mode of emplacement. We present the most detailed analysis performed to date on a zone of intense contractional deformation, historically referred to as the compression zone, from the giant, multi-phase Storegga Slide, offshore Norway. 2D and 3D seismic data and bathymetry data show that the zone of large-scale (>650 m thick) contractional deformation can be genetically linked updip with a zone of intense depletion across a distance of 135 km. Quantification of depletion and accumulation along a representative dip-section reveals that significant depletion in the proximal region is not accommodated in the relatively mild amount (c. 5%) of downdip shortening. Dip-section restoration indicates a later, separate stage of deformation may have involved removal of a significant volume of material as part of the final stages of the Storegga Slide, as opposed to the minor volumes reported in previous studies.


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