--> Abstract: Faults Kinematic Analysis and 3D Characterisation of Re-migration Seismic Features: Two Key Elements to Assess and Predict Fault Seal Integrity within Reactivated Areas, by Laurent Langhi, Anthony Gartrell, and Julian Strand; #90072 (2007)

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Faults Kinematic Analysis and 3D Characterisation of Re-migration Seismic Features: Two Key Elements to Assess and Predict Fault Seal Integrity within Reactivated Areas

Laurent Langhi, Anthony Gartrell, and Julian Strand
CSIRO Petroleum, Perth, Australia

Structural reactivation has been widely recognised as a principal risk to trap integrity. Critical related processes such as fluid flow up the trap-bounding faults or fracturing of top seal can cause the partial or total loss of hydrocarbon accumulations. However, the mechanisms associated with faults reactivation leading to trap breach are still poorly understood and the identification and/or prediction of leaking structures still hazardous.
Through an integrated approach combining 3D structural architecture definition, strain and stress analysis and characterisation of hydrocarbon re-migration seismic features, both charge and fault seal potential can be assessed.
In the Timor Sea, a large amount of trap bounding faults have been reactivated during the Neogene, leading to a high incidence of breached traps. Integration of surface attributes mapping and continuity- and coherence-related 3D meta-attributes (structural or fault cubes) analysis is used to quickly and accurately define the post-rift structures. A series of analysis of the variations of the Neogene accommodation space have been performed to further investigate the post-rift faults kinematic evolution. This approach ensures the characterisation of a series of distinct Miocene-Pliocene tectonic pulses associated with stress field reorganisation, and results to the development of a reactivation scenario consistent with the regional tectonic evolution and plate deformation models. The integration of re-migration geobodies (eg. gas-chimneys, HRDZs, pockmarks, carbonate buildups, shallow anomalies …), characterised through seismic attribute cubes analysis, further demonstrates the close interaction between leakage activity (re-migration) and Neogene tectonic phases. This last step puts further constraints on regional trap integrity assessment models.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90072 © 2007 AAPG and AAPG European Region Conference, Athens, Greece