ABSTRACT: The delineation of structural and correlation problems using growth analysis (Dd/d) plots

Bischke, R. E., and Dan J. Tearpock , Subsurface Consultants and Associates, LLC, Houston, TX

The study of growth sedimentary section has many applications to petroleum exploration and production. In extensional regimes, the largest accumulations of hydrocarbons often reside in the highest growth sections. Geoscientists use growth not only to locate these high growth sections but also to 1) determine structural style and the timing of fault motions, to 2) locate and to resolve correlation problems, to 3) identify subtle disconformities and sequence boundaries and to 4) determine the growth history of structures. Furthermore, as all interpretations are primarily based on correlation work, interpretations of well log or seismic data must be consistent with these correlations. Growth analysis provides a rapid check on the consistency of interpretations. We briefly review the Dd/d growth method (also called the Multiple Bischke Plots) and present several examples of how growth plots resolve practical problems encountered while exploring for hydrocarbons and conducting field studies in the compressional-strike-slip and extensional regimes. The method typically has a resolution of about 0.1% using well log correlations and has application to seismic correlations. Growth plots exhibit steep slopes in high growth sections, gentle slopes in low growth sections and contain discontinuities when encountering repeated or missing section. Growth is nearly linear within sedimentary sequences and linear increments of growth typically punctuate the growth section. We demonstrate that growth plots can uniquely solve correlation problems and con help resolve correlation problems in intervals where well log correlations are tenuous and where 3D seismic data are incoherent. Thus, growth analysis can succeed where conventional methods fail. Growth plots are easy to construct using spreadsheet correlation data and require little additional effort.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90913©2000 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Bali, Indonesia