--> 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).
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Advances in Previous HitSubsaltNext Hit Previous HitImagingNext Hit Technology Take Explorationists from Concepts to Discovery: The Mahogany Discovery and Other Examples from the Previous HitGulfNext Hit of Previous HitMexicoNext Hit Shelf

Ronald F. Luongo, Todd K. Jones

Recent advances in seismic depth migration and computing power have made Previous HitimagingNext Hit of Previous HitsubsaltNext Hit structures more accurate and cost effective. Although the concept of Previous HitsubsaltNext Hit 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 Previous HitGulfNext Hit of Previous HitMexicoNext Hit Shelf. Examples from the Mahogany discovery, as well as other areas of the Previous HitGulfNext Hit of Previous HitMexicoNext Hit, 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 Previous HitsubsaltNext Hit 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 Previous HitsubsaltNext Hit 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 Previous HitsubsaltTop 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