Incorporating 3C seismic data quantitatively for enhanced geologic detail in an oil sands reservoir

Abstract

A workflow incorporating converted-wave (PS) data in an integrated quantitative interpretation (QI) was illustrated with a case study in the Canadian oil sands in which multiple data types were available including high-quality 3D multicomponent data, dipole sonic logs, and a multicomponent walk-away vertical seismic profile (VSP). In an area with unconventional rock property behavior and complex fluid distributions, the dipole sonic logs provided the data necessary for robust deterministic rock-physics templates. The VSP was essential in depth-registering the P-wave surface seismic with the PS-wave data and in determining the appropriate phase rotation of each data set. The 3D multicomponent seismic was used to derive a variety of separate and joint attributes incorporating amplitude variation with offset, prestack and poststack inversion and multiattribute processes. Finally, all elements of the workflow were combined in an interactive classification procedure for optimum representation of geology in the seismic volume. Results of the QI workflow with and without the PS data were compared with each other, and ultimately, to blind wells to assess the potential benefits of including PS data. The comparison showed that better prediction of fluid properties, without compromising P-wave data resolution, was possible when PS data were included.