--> Visualizing the Interpretation of Faults from 3D Seismic Data, by Malcolm Francis; #90037 (2005)

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Visualizing the Interpretation of Faults from 3D Seismic Data

Malcolm Francis
West Africa Manager, Reservoir Services, WesternGeco, Schlumberger House, West Sussex, RH6 ONZ England
phone: +44 (0) 1293556290, [email protected]

West African Oil and Gas reservoirs contain fractures and faults that may seal or act as conduits to flow. Many occur during rapid sedimentation while others represent post-depositional movement. In West Africa we observe a range of faulting styles. Fractal models predict for every large fracture there will be greater number of smaller fractures and so on to finer scales. With improved seismic resolution and interpretation workflows we image faults with smaller offsets. Borehole measurements further extend the scale range.

In this presentation we illustrate fault description workflows from seismic volume to simulation models. Visualization of well data, horizons, and faults facilitates understanding of the stress mechanisms involved. Modern interpretation workflows can now include automatic detection of fault surfaces extracted from 3D seismic volume attributes. Visualization is an important tool in the organization of these fault surfaces prior to dynamic reservoir modelling.

The interpreter guides the rationalization process choosing from the surfaces those that represent faults important to the description of the reservoir. Experience allows the results to be split into separate fault systems. For example based on their orientations. Intersection of surfaces provides a special challenge to building the reservoir model. Flow simulation illustrates the importance of fractures and faults to flow within the reservoir. If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many is it worth to view several attributes and their interpretation in 3D. True value of visualization comes from the power it adds to the communication of ideas between different specialists within the asset team.