The Impact of Advances in Seismic Technology on Reservoir Mapping

Rod D. Erskine, John M. Hickson, Nina C. Lian

Technical advances in the area of seismic acquisition and processing coupled with the application of emerging interpretation technologies such as attribute extraction and visualization, are allowing geoscientists to better identify and map reservoir occurrence, properties, and fluid distribution. Early recognition of reservoir facies type, the degree of reservoir segmentation, the volumes of the reservoir compartments, and the type of drive mechanism is key to predicting producibility, and therefore optimizing development drilling and facility design for maximum profitability.

Important elements effecting reservoir continuity and producibility, such as facies changes, reservoir pinch outs, small-scale channels and faults, and changes in rock properties, are generally at or below seismic resolution. Any improvement in the capacity of the seismic data to properly image and spatially locate critical reservoir elements within a prospect or field will positively impact results. Calibration of rock property and production data to extracted seismic attributes can "extend" the predictive capabilities of the seismic data and allow mapping of features or characteristics not easily interpreted on individual vertical seismic sections. Proper and efficient integration of geoscience and engineering data is key to this process, and Exxon believes seismic data is the corne stone of integrated interpretation.

A series of examples will be shown to demonstrate these points. Both 2D and 3D seismic examples will be shown where improvements in imaging allowed better reservoir interpretations. The use of seismic attributes to 1) map hydrocarbon distribution where no "conventional" direct seismic hydrocarbon indicator (DHI) exists, and 2) predict in-place hydrocarbon volumes will be illustrated. Examples of the application of enhanced image processing will be compared with dip and azimuth maps for identifying small scale faults impacting reservoir continuity.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995