--> ABSTRACT: Advances in Subsalt Imaging Technology Take Explorationists from Concepts to Discovery: The Mahogany Discovery and Other Examples from the Gulf of Mexico Shelf, by Ronald F. Luongo, Todd K. Jones; #91020 (1995).

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Advances in Subsalt Imaging Technology Take Explorationists from Concepts to Discovery: The Mahogany Discovery and Other Examples from the Gulf of Mexico Shelf

Ronald F. Luongo, Todd K. Jones

Recent advances in seismic depth migration and computing power have made imaging of subsalt structures more accurate and cost effective. Although the concept of subsalt exploration has been around for years, the reduction in structural risk necessary to drill is now a reality. Prior to the Phillips/Anadarko/Amoco Mahogany discovery, Ship Shoal Block 349, no significant hydrocarbon accumulations had been found under laterally extensive salt sheets on the Gulf of Mexico Shelf. Examples from the Mahogany discovery, as well as other areas of the Gulf of Mexico, demonstrate significant improvement in migration quality, and subsequent interpretation reliability, as the data are taken from 2D time migration through 3D post-stack and 3D pre-stack depth migration.

The Mahogany prospect was originally identified on 2D data at least seven years ago. These data enabled a fairly reliable base of salt high to be identified, but the subsalt structural picture was still a mystery. Subsequent 3D migrations of the data in time and depth (post-stack and pre-stack) have contributed significantly to the understanding of the subsalt structure. Experience has demonstrated that because of ray-path distortions introduced by the salt, depth migrations, and ultimately pre-stack depth migrations, are needed to understand the subsalt structural complexities. Pre-stack data has made a detailed interpretation of the Mahogany field possible; the development of the field will rely heavily on the ongoing interpretation of pre-stack seismic datasets.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995