--> Abstract: The Role of Forward Seismic Modeling: Outcrop Analogs of Deep-Water Architectures, by Jamie K. Pringle and David A. Stanbrook; #90082 (2008)
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The Role of Previous HitForwardNext Hit Previous HitSeismicNext Hit Previous HitModelingNext Hit: Outcrop Analogs of Deep-Water Architectures

Jamie K. Pringle1 and David A. Stanbrook2
1School of Physical Sciences & Geography, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom
2Nautilus UK Ltd, Hermitage, United Kingdom

Geometrical and architectural information from appropriately selected outcrop outcrops can be extremely valuable in building geologic models. Geologists must find a way to assess and distil key Previous HitdataNext Hit from outcrop for comparison to Previous HitseismicNext Hit, petrophysical and other sub-surface tools. However, even high-resolution Previous HitseismicNext Hit can differ considerably from outcrop resolution - i.e. outcrop observations tend to be at a finer resolution than Previous HitseismicNext Hit. So how does the geologist bridge the gap between outcrop scale observations and Previous HitseismicNext Hit?

An answer to this question is the use of Previous HitForwardNext Hit Previous HitSeismicNext Hit Previous HitModelingNext Hit (also known as synthetic Previous HitseismicNext Hit). This approach involves the collation of outcrop Previous HitdataNext Hit in the form of large-scale photomontages which are then interpreted by a geologist which are tested by ground-truth and sedimentary logs which also provide high-resolution, 1D Previous HitdataNext Hit. Other hand-held petrophysical tools (e.g. a gamma-ray spectrometer) may also be utilized. The detailed architectural interpretation is then fed into specialist software that convolves the model, using user-input Previous HitseismicNext Hit impedance contrast and dominant wavelet frequency. Impedance contrast can be calculated using published velocity and density values for different lithological types and allows the geologist to vary the rock-values to simulate the petroleum reservoir they are interested in. The geologist can also vary the frequency to simulate the depth and/or quality of Previous HitseismicTop available to them.

Presented here are two examples of key architectural geometry models from outcrops of deep-water systems; 1) Ainsa II Channel, Campodarbe Group, N Spain; 2) Chalufy Onlap, Grès d’Annot, SE France. Varying velocities and rock-types are used in these examples to show geometries with dominant frequencies and rock values typical for Gulf of Mexico and North Sea reservoirs.

AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa 2008 © AAPG Search and Discovery