Deepwater reservoir prediction using seismic and geomechanical methods

Abstract

In deepwater exploration, due to a lack of well information, seismic data become the main means of predicting reservoirs and hydrocarbons. AVO is the most popular method to detect hydrocarbons. However, factors such as pressure, lithology, and thin‐bed effects can cause false AVO effects. The deepwater Gulf of Mexico, in addition to these complex factors, has simple‐to‐complex salt sheet morphologies. The evolution of these salt sheets through time significantly influences the accumulation and migration pathways of deepwater sediments. In this article, we propose that the hydrocarbon migration pathway and seal integrity can be better understood by combining information about pore‐fluid pressure, effective stress, lithology, and seismic energy attenuation.