Multiscale core-seismic analysis for karst characterisation of MX field, Central Luconia Province, Offshore Sarawak, Malaysia.

Abstract

Summary This study follows an integrated approach attempting to characterize karst morphologies in Middle Miocene carbonate build-ups of Central Luconia. Karst is a common phenomenon in carbonate build-ups world-wide. It has significant economic implications for exploration, drilling, field development and secondary recovery mechanism. In Malaysia over 250 carbonate buildups occur offshore in the Central Luconia province of Sarawak. Some 60 platforms have been drilled and almost every field has encountered indications for high permeability zones likely associated with karst such as mud losses and drill bit drops during drilling activities. Some fields were left abandoned due the mud losses that could not be controlled. Geometries, distribution and dimension of karst in Central Luconia fields remain unknown. They have not been studied in detail. To improve the geological understanding of karst morphology, a workflow is proposed by integrating drilling parameters data, cores, well logs data and seismic data. MX platform located in the central region of Central Luconia has been studied for this research. Three seismic attributes have been deployed on MX platform seismic to enhance the seismic for the characterisation of karst. Result shows that RMS amplitudes, spectral decomposition, and Acoustic impedance attributes are used to highlight karst features on seismic.