--> Abstract: Spectral Decomposition of Seismic Forward Modelled Outcrops of Deepwater Channel and Levee Deposits; #90063 (2007)

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Spectral Decomposition of Seismic Forward Modelled Outcrops of Deepwater Channel and Levee Deposits

 

Szuman, Magdalena1, Ian Kane2, Valerie Charoing3, Lars Nielsen4, Benjamin Kneller1, Mads Huuse1 (1) University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom (2) University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom (3) BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americas) Inc, Houston, TX (4) Geological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

 

The size of many stratigraphic architectural elements, the building blocks of clastic hydrocarbon reservoirs, are typically below the resolution of conventional seismic data, and their interpretability on seismic profiles is restricted. Nevertheless their effect on reservoir connectivity can be profound. Seismic forward modeling of outcrop analogues holds the potential to significantly enhance hydrocarbon recovery by establishing the complex relationships between small scale geometries, physical properties of the rock and the seismic wavelet.

 

We are pursuing this by analysis of frequency-domain representation of a seismic signal generated from forward modelling on outcrop analogues. Time-frequency decomposition has the ability to illustrate features which are difficult to visualize in the time domain. Spectral decomposition results show that geologic lithofacies can be identified even by the incident signals with a wavelength much larger than the dominant bed thickness (Strauss et al., 2003).

 

This technique is applied to two elements of a Cretaceous deepwater continental slope system cropping out in Baja California, Mexico; a deep marine levee complex and a turbidite canyon/channel complex. Forward seismic models were constructed by combining detailed stratigraphic data acquired from outcrop sections together with comprehensive sedimentological logging. Physical properties were adopted from representative subsurface datasets from a variety of settings and burial depths. Elastic mode, finite difference forward modelling was applied to the geological model. We believe this approach will yield the most useful results for comparison between outcrop sections and subsurface datasets.

 

Strauss, M., Sapir, M., Glinsky, M.E. & and Melick, J.J., 2003. Geologic lithofacies identification using the multiscale character of seismic reflections. Journal of Applied Physics, 94, 5350-5358.

 

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California