Application of fluid modulus inversion to complex lithology reservoirs in deep-water areas

Abstract

It has been a challenge to distinguish between seismic anomalies caused by complex lithology and hydrocarbon reservoirs using conventional fluid identification techniques, leading to difficulties in accurately predicting hydrocarbon-bearing properties and determining oil-water contacts in reservoirs. In this study, we built a petrophysical model tailored to the deep-water area of the Baiyun Sag in the eastern South China Sea based on seismic data and explored the feasibility of the tri-parameter direct inversion method in the fluid identification of complex lithology reservoirs, offering a more precise alternative to conventional techniques. Our research found that the fluid modulus can successfully eliminate seismic amplitude anomalies caused by lithological variations. Furthermore, the seismic data-based direct inversion for fluid modulus can remove the cumulative errors caused by indirect inversion and the influence of porosity. We discovered that traditional methods using seismic amplitude anomalies were ineffective in detecting fluids, determining gas-water contacts, or delineating high-quality reservoirs. However, the fluid factor Kf, derived from solid-liquid decoupling, proved to be sensitive to the identification of hydrocarbon-bearing properties, distinguishing between high-quality and poor-quality gas zones. Our findings confirm the value of the fluid modulus in fluid identification and demonstrate that the tri-parameter direct inversion method can significantly enhance hydrocarbon exploration in deep-water areas, reducing associated risks.