Tectono-Stratigraphic Evolution and Hydrocarbon Presence Prediction of a Deep Water Prospect Based on the Integrated Interpretation of 3D Seismic and 3DCSEM

Abstract

The deep water basins of the Mexican sector Gulf of Mexico have been intensively investigated over the past decade via techniques including gravity and magnetics, 3D seismic analysis, ocean floor probing, regional basin studies, and 3D controlled source electromagnetics (CSEM) investigations. These efforts have enhanced the understanding of the structural and sedimentary evolution deep water of the Gulf of Mexico. This work describes the results obtained from the detailed interpretation and integration of 3D seismic and 3D CSEM data of deep-water prospects. This integration and interpretation allowed for the definition of a three-dimensional tectono-stratigraphic framework, identification of sand prone facies and hydrocarbon prediction. The seismic workflow included extensive use of attributes including RMS amplitude, coherence, variance and the use of post-stack seismic processing, noise removal, spectral decomposition and color blending of red-green-blue (RGB). The results of this methodology allowed for the illumination of high-quality geobodies which in turn helped define the tectonic and stratigraphic evolution through time and space. The extraction and co-visualization of attributes and stratal amplitude slices shed light to geobodies which enabled the definition of the major changes in sedimentary processes and flow directions through time and allowed for the delineation of three-dimensional sedimentary fairway migration routes, and identification of sand-prone facies. 3D Control Sourced Electromagnetic data (3D CSEM) resistivity cubes of horizontal and vertical resistivity were integrated and co-visualized with the seismic attributes and its interpretation. The interpretation analysis revealed strong evidence for the prediction of hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs. Where the main observations suggested the presence and spatial correlation of seismic amplitude anomalies, sand-prone facies, structural closure, and occurrence of resistive anomalies. This prediction has been confirmed by drilling results. The 3D CSEM data covers a waste area of undrilled prospects and ongoing interpretation helps mature, de-risk and rank undrilled prospects.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90189 © 2014 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Houston, Texas, USA, April 6–9, 2014