--> Abstract: Unraveling Complex Velocity Anomalies -A Case Study in Bahrah Area, Kuwait, by Anjaneyulu Singavarapu, Abdul malik Salah abdulla, Manowar A.M. Ahmed, Sanjeev S Thakur, Hanan Al-Owihan, and Ramarao Busi venkata; #90105 (2010)
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AAPG GEO 2010 Middle East
Geoscience Conference & Exhibition
Innovative Geoscience Solutions – Meeting Hydrocarbon Demand in Changing Times
March 7-10, 2010 – Manama, Bahrain

Unraveling Complex Previous HitVelocityNext Hit Anomalies -A Case Study in Bahrah Area, Kuwait

Anjaneyulu Singavarapu1; Abdul malik Salah abdulla1; Manowar A.M. Ahmed1; Sanjeev S Thakur1; Hanan Al-Owihan1; Ramarao Busi venkata1

(1) Exploration Prospect evaluation, Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait, Kuwait.

ABSTRACT

The role of velocities in understanding seismic data is very significant. Layers or features with a high seismic Previous HitvelocityNext Hit surrounded by rocks with a lower seismic Previous HitvelocityNext Hit causes in the time domain what appears to be a structural high beneath it. After such features are correctly converted from time to Previous HitdepthNext Hit, the apparent structural high is generally reduced in magnitude or sometimes turned out to be flat. Understanding of depositional environment, tectonic movements and lithology is very important in converting the seismic section from time to Previous HitdepthNext Hit domain. One such example is the Bahrah area which situated on the Kuwait onshore and lies on the Northern plunging anticline of Kuwait arch (fig.1). Very sharp lateral Previous HitvelocityNext Hit variations coupled with strong vertical Previous HitvelocityNext Hit variations extending over very short intervals caused Previous HitdepthNext Hit conversion that much more difficult in this area.

In Bahrah area, the dominant NNW-SSE fault system is intersected by another group of East-West fault system which is formed as a result of lateral transpressional system. These transpressional features are overlain by well defined grabens formed as result of collapse of these features (fig.2). As a result of this complex tectonic activity and the subsequent diagenetic transformation that took place resulted in the forming of dolomitasation/cementation in the carbonates which in turn produced very high Previous HitvelocityNext Hit zones within localized areas of limited areal extent both laterally and vertically.

In the seismic section these areas are come up as very distinctive and pronounced structural highs, evident in the otherwise horizontal and uniform sedimentary reflection sequence, and are leading the interpreter to map them as structural highs/4way closures (fig.4). The Previous HitdepthNext Hit maps prepared Previous HitusingNext Hit the available velocities turned out to differ by around 300 feet to the actual well data. To overcome the problem, an initial Previous HitvelocityNext Hit model was built Previous HitusingNext Hit all the hard data. Later, zones of anomalous Previous HitvelocityNext Hit in the area are identified(fig.3). To restrict and effectively isolate the influence of zones of sharp Previous HitvelocityNext Hit variations, suitable Previous HitvelocityNext Hit Previous HitfunctionsNext Hit are introduced in and around the anomalous zones by giving due weight to the drilled well data and depositional environment surrounding these zones. Once the seismic volume is converted into Previous HitdepthNext Hit domain Previous HitusingNext Hit the corrected final Previous HitvelocityNext Hit model, structural highs in time turns out to be reduced in magnitudes in Previous HitdepthNext Hit (fig.5).

Clear understanding of depositional environment, tectonic movements and paleo structural reconstruction may give insight into the sharp Previous HitvelocityNext Hit variations and will add confidence to the subsequent time to Previous HitdepthNext Hit conversions. Proper understanding of Previous HitvelocityNext Hit anomalies may help in reducing the surprises in exploration.

705858_A.jpgFig 1 : Map showing the Bahra area in the regional map of Kuwait Arch

705858_B.jpgFig 2 : Map showing the Fault polygons

705858_C.jpgFig 3 : Map showing Anomalous Previous HitvelocityNext Hit zones

705858_D.jpgFig 4 : Seismic section in Time

705858_E.jpgFig 5 : Seismic section in Previous HitDepthTop