Components of an Integrated Approach to Deep-Water Exploration in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

The principal exploration challenge to deep-water exploration in the Gulf of Mexico is to predict reservoir rock and fluid type in the absence of local well control. Successful exploration combines predictive rock property knowledge and quality seismic with geophysical modeling and data analysis techniques which do not require local well control for calibration. Rock property studies are discussed which describe the expected acoustic character of sand reservoirs as a function of depth, pressure, reservoir lithology, and fluid type. Statistical studies of reflectivity are used to calibrate zero-phase seismic amplitudes to modeled amplitudes defined by acoustic trend curves studies. The ability to predict reservoir rock and fluid type via integration of quality seismic calibrated to acoustic trend curve information is demonstrated for several deep water prospects in the Gulf of Mexico.