Reservoir Architecture of the Late Triassic Mungaroo Formation, a Case Study From the NW-Shelf, Western Australia

Abstract

The Late Triassic stratigraphy of the NW Shelf has been a focus of research by the petroleum industry and research organisations for past 4 decades. Much of this work has concentrated on understanding the reservoir architecture and connectivity of the fluvial Mungaroo Formation in response to variations in depositional accommodation. With the aid of modern 3D seismic acquisition parameters and improvement in processing quality it is now possible to improve imaging of these reservoirs and, when combined with seismic geomorphology, a better understanding of the depositional architecture, distribution and likely connectivity is possible. This study uses an open-file 3D seismic dataset (merged seismic surveys) with offset calibration wells to investigate the range of controls on reservoir distribution and shifts in depositional environment in a low accommodation setting within the Late Triassic Mungaroo Formation on the Exmouth Plateau (Northern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia). A variety of geomorphological features have been observed and identified on pre-conditioned (seismic enhancement techniques) high resolution 3D seismic data and mapped using ArcGIS software. This study illustrates the power of high resolution 3D seismic and its ability to visualise and quantify reservoir geometries to improve subsurface geological/stratigraphic models and guide exploration in the deep subsurface.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90217 © 2015 International Conference & Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia, September 13-16, 2015