Identifying shallow gas zones by using seismic attributes, offshore Vietnam

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. T67-T76
Author(s):  
Anh Thi Van Ngo ◽  
Angus John Ferguson

Shallow gas zones are a major concern in offshore drilling because of their potential to quickly cause kicks or blowouts. Shallow gas hazards are identified by using a series of seismic attributes. We have combined seismic data analysis and well-log analysis to identify the location and distribution of shallow gas layers. These shallow gas zones are formed during a large influx of gas due to a blowout well. The blowout well is located in the Nam Con Son Basin, offshore Vietnam. The seismic data acquired before and after the blowout record the changes in the shallow gas location. We compare seismic data without gas effects to data affected by gas after the blowout. The changes of reflectors between 2D seismic data (preblowout well) and 3D seismic data (postblowout well) are analyzed by using seismic attributes. The shallow gas is recognized in seismic data based on several criteria such as the push-down effect that demonstrated the delay in traveltime throughout the slower zone, high amplitude with negative phase reflection at the top of shallow gas layers, and acoustic blanking from wave scattering and amplitude attenuation. Geobodies mapped are associated with shallow gas zones by merging seismic attributes to identify zones that are a combination of strong amplitudes and low frequencies. The attributes that identify known shallow gas anomalies are also applied to the entire seismic volume for identification of shallow gas hazards.

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. SB5-SB15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt J. Marfurt ◽  
Tiago M. Alves

Seismic attributes are routinely used to accelerate and quantify the interpretation of tectonic features in 3D seismic data. Coherence (or variance) cubes delineate the edges of megablocks and faulted strata, curvature delineates folds and flexures, while spectral components delineate lateral changes in thickness and lithology. Seismic attributes are at their best in extracting subtle and easy to overlook features on high-quality seismic data. However, seismic attributes can also exacerbate otherwise subtle effects such as acquisition footprint and velocity pull-up/push-down, as well as small processing and velocity errors in seismic imaging. As a result, the chance that an interpreter will suffer a pitfall is inversely proportional to his or her experience. Interpreters with a history of making conventional maps from vertical seismic sections will have previously encountered problems associated with acquisition, processing, and imaging. Because they know that attributes are a direct measure of the seismic amplitude data, they are not surprised that such attributes “accurately” represent these familiar errors. Less experienced interpreters may encounter these errors for the first time. Regardless of their level of experience, all interpreters are faced with increasingly larger seismic data volumes in which seismic attributes become valuable tools that aid in mapping and communicating geologic features of interest to their colleagues. In terms of attributes, structural pitfalls fall into two general categories: false structures due to seismic noise and processing errors including velocity pull-up/push-down due to lateral variations in the overburden and errors made in attribute computation by not accounting for structural dip. We evaluate these errors using 3D data volumes and find areas where present-day attributes do not provide the images we want.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-69
Author(s):  
Marwa Hussein ◽  
Robert R. Stewart ◽  
Deborah Sacrey ◽  
Jonny Wu ◽  
Rajas Athale

Net reservoir discrimination and rock type identification play vital roles in determining reservoir quality, distribution, and identification of stratigraphic baffles for optimizing drilling plans and economic petroleum recovery. Although it is challenging to discriminate small changes in reservoir properties or identify thin stratigraphic barriers below seismic resolution from conventional seismic amplitude data, we have found that seismic attributes aid in defining the reservoir architecture, properties, and stratigraphic baffles. However, analyzing numerous individual attributes is a time-consuming process and may have limitations for revealing small petrophysical changes within a reservoir. Using the Maui 3D seismic data acquired in offshore Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, we generate typical instantaneous and spectral decomposition seismic attributes that are sensitive to lithologic variations and changes in reservoir properties. Using the most common petrophysical and rock typing classification methods, the rock quality and heterogeneity of the C1 Sand reservoir are studied for four wells located within the 3D seismic volume. We find that integrating the geologic content of a combination of eight spectral instantaneous attribute volumes using an unsupervised machine-learning algorithm (self-organizing maps [SOMs]) results in a classification volume that can highlight reservoir distribution and identify stratigraphic baffles by correlating the SOM clusters with discrete net reservoir and flow-unit logs. We find that SOM classification of natural clusters of multiattribute samples in the attribute space is sensitive to subtle changes within the reservoir’s petrophysical properties. We find that SOM clusters appear to be more sensitive to porosity variations compared with lithologic changes within the reservoir. Thus, this method helps us to understand reservoir quality and heterogeneity in addition to illuminating thin reservoirs and stratigraphic baffles.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
Nyeneime O. Etuk ◽  
Mfoniso U. Aka ◽  
Okechukwu A. Agbasi ◽  
Johnson C. Ibuot

Seismic attributes were evaluated over Edi field, offshore Western Niger Delta, Nigeria, via 3D seismic data. Manual mappings of the horizons and faults on the in-lines and cross-lines of the seismic sections were done. Various attributes were calculated and out put on four horizons corresponding to the well markers at different formations within the well were identified. The four horizons identified, which includes: H1, H2, H3 and H4 were mapped and interpreted across the field. The operational agenda was thru picking given faults segments on the in–line of seismic volume. A total of five faults coded as F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5, F1 and F5 were the major fault and were observed as extending through the field. Structural and horizon mappings were used to generate time structure maps. The maps showed the various positions and orientations of the faults. Different attributes which include: root mean square amplitude, instantaneous phase, gradient magnitude and chaos were run on the 3D seismic data. The amplitude and incline magnitude maps indicate direct hydrocarbon on the horizon maps; this is very important in the drilling of wells because it shows areas where hydrocarbons are present in the subsurface. The seismic attributes revealed information, which was not readily apparent in the raw seismic data.   


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Karen M. Leopoldino Oliveira ◽  
Heather Bedle ◽  
Karelia La Marca Molina

We analyzed a 1991 3D seismic data located offshore Florida and applied seismic attribute analysis to identify geological structures. Initially, the seismic data appears to have a high signal-to-noise-ratio, being of an older vintage of quality, and appears to reveal variable amplitude subparallel horizons. Additional geophysical analysis, including seismic attribute analysis, reveals that the data has excessive denoising, and that the continuous features are actually a network of polygonal faults. The polygonal faults were identified in two tiers using variance, curvature, dip magnitude, and dip azimuth seismic attributes. Inline and crossline sections show continuous reflectors with a noisy appearance, where the polygonal faults are suppressed. In the variance time slices, the polygonal fault system forms a complex network that is not clearly imaged in the seismic amplitude data. The patterns of polygonal fault systems in this legacy dataset are compared to more recently acquired 3D seismic data from Australia and New Zealand. It is relevant to emphasize the importance of seismic attribute analysis to improve accuracy of interpretations, and also to not dismiss older seismic data that has low accurate imaging, as the variable amplitude subparallel horizons might have a geologic origin.


1989 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
M.D. Carter ◽  
J.A. Kruppenbach ◽  
S.L. Mobley ◽  
R.H. Matthews ◽  
E. Lawrence

The historical interpretation approach is based upon time and amplitude. Using the modern interpretive workstation, the full range of the seismic attributes can be examined in varying color and spatial distribution. Examples of traditional seismic data displayed using conventional methods are shown before and after workstation manipulation, with striking results. The paper will also address procedures for the economical collection of additional data which will reinforce older available data, as well as planning cost effective acquisition of new data.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. ST29-ST41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Vallikkat Thachaparambil

Three-dimensional discrete fracture networks (DFNs) extracted from the seismic data of the Tensleep Formation at Teapot Dome successfully matched 1D fracture data from multiple boreholes within the area. The extraction process used four seismic attributes, i.e., variance, chaos, curvature, and spectral edge, and their multiple realizations to define seismic discontinuities that could potentially represent fractures within the Tensleep Formation. All of the potential fracture attributes were further enhanced using a fracture-tracking attribute for better extraction and analysis of seismic discontinuity surfaces and their network properties. A state-of-the-art discontinuity surface extraction and characterization workflow uniformly extracted and interactively characterized the seismic discontinuity surfaces and networks that correlate with borehole fracture data. Among the attributes, a fracture-tracking attribute cube created out of the high-resolution spectral-edge attribute provided the best match with the borehole fracture data from the Tensleep Formation. Therefore, the extracted discontinuity planes were classified as fractures and then characterized. The extracted fracture population also matched earlier published records of faults and fractures at Teapot Dome. Unlike the conventional method, which uses 1D borehole fracture data as primary input and 3D seismic data as a guide volume during DFN modeling, I used 3D seismic attributes as the primary data and the 1D borehole fracture data only for quality control. I also evaluated the power of converting seismic fracture attribute volumes into discrete surfaces and networks for effective correlation with 1D fracture logs from boreholes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 4802-4809
Author(s):  
Mohammed H. Al-Aaraji ◽  
Hussein H. Karim

      The seismic method depends on the nature of the reflected waves from the interfaces between layers, which in turn depends on the density and velocity of the layer, and this is called acoustic impedance. The seismic sections of the East Abu-Amoud field that is located in Missan Province, south-eastern Iraq, were studied and interpreted for updating the structural picture of the major Mishrif Formation for the reservoir in the field. The Mishrif Formation is rich in petroleum in this area, with an area covering about 820 km2. The horizon was calibrated and defined on the seismic section with well logs data (well tops, check shot, sonic logs, and density logs) in the interpretation process to identify the upper and lower boundaries of the Formation.  Seismic attributes were used to study the formation, including instantaneous phase attributes and relative acoustic impedance on time slice of 3D seismic data . Also, relative acoustic impedance was utilized to study the top of the Mishrif Formation. Based on these seismic attributes, karst features of the formation were identified. In addition, the nature of the lithology in the study area and the change in porosity were determined through the relative acoustic impedance The overlap of the top of the Mishrif Formation with the bottom of the Khasib Formation was determined because the Mishrif Formation is considered as an unconformity surface.


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