Multi-Attribute Integrated Data Analysis of the Washout Creek 3C-3D Data Set: Increasing the Resolution and Resolving Power of Seismic Data

Abstract

Abstract

The Washout Creek 3C-3D multi-client data set was acquired in March 2014 in order to evaluate multiple zones, including Cretaceous (Cardium) and Devnonian (Duvernay) formations. Particular interest was given to answering the question of whether the survey could help characterize an ongoing Cardium waterflood.

Principal investigations of this case-study centred on fracture analysis and reservoir characterization. Given the high density recording, attributes via four different fracture characterization approaches were undertaken: shear-wave splitting (“SWS”), azimuthal AVO (“AVAZ”), azimuthal velocity analyses (“VVAZ”) and curvature analysis. This information was then supplemented with multiple reservoir characterization attributes: simultaneous PP pre-stack inversion, joint PP-PS post-stack inversion and joint PP-PS pre-stack inversion. The attributes were examined and details regarding workflow construction and resultant interpretation will be addressed in the presentation.

Primary steps and corresponding results from the integrated geoscience study include AVO-friendly PP and PS processing, fracture characterization and reservoir attribute analysis to deliver calibrated solutions. Validation of the work is obtained via the strong spatial correlation observed between anomalous lineament patterns present in the reservoir attributes and the production and injector well locations; these lineaments also correlate well to production data. Anisotropy maps generated via SWS and VVAZ approaches show good agreement in orientation but puzzling differences in intensity patterns in the shallow section. In the deeper section the layer-stripped SWS and VVAZ show some similarity in both orientation and intensity.

The data set has proven to be rich in learnings, and provides an in-depth answer to the initial question and deliver geologically meaningful results. The overall conclusion is that 3C-3D data show great promise in optimizing future injector planning and highlighting areas of bypassed pay in waterflood applications for zones traditionally difficult to map.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90260 © 2016 AAPG/SEG International Conference & Exhibition, Cancun, Mexico, September 6-9, 2016