YE, MIKE Q., DOUG D. BOWLING, DESIREE
E. MCKIERNAN, and ELIZABETH G. GOODMAN
Texaco Exploration
and Production Inc., New Orleans, LA
Abstract: Depositional Facies Interpretation
and Reservoir Delineation Using Stratal-slicing Technique on 3D Seismic
Data
with
Example
from Lake Barre
Field
, South Central Louisiana
Depositional facies interpretation based
on 3D seismic data
has become increasingly popular over the past few years.
What made this possible is that horizontal resolution of 3D seismic, which
is controlled by acquisition bin width, is often finer than lateral facies
change. Therefore, a number of depositional facies can be resolved on 3D
seismic
data
. Proportional slicing or stratal slicing is a technique that
has been developed in recent years by geologists to aid in depositional
facies interpretations. It uses a program to slice through a 3D
data
volume
proportionally between two horizons, flatten the horizons as well as the
slices and convert the
data
into a relative chronostratigraphic time volume.
The resultant
data
can be easily visualized in a number of 3-D visualization
softwares. This enables geologists to study minor lateral facies variations
and vertical changes through time. Therefore, spatial and temporal distribution
of reservoirs can be delineated. Application of this technique in Texaco
has achieved the best results in fluival and deep-water turbidite systems.
The stratal-sliced 3D seismic volume from Lake Barre
field
revealed depositional
facies from large meandering channels, small distributary channels, tidal
channels, point bars, and shelf sheet sands. These depositional facies
can be correlated with well log
data
. Abrupt vertical changes between different
depositional systems are observed. We are currently using these results
along with production
data
to characterize the reservoirs in this
field
.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90928©1999 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas