Abstract
Figure 1: The application of quantitative seismic interpretation techniques in poorly-calibrated basins where the nearest well control is some distance away is problematic. Quantitative seismic interpretation has been successfully applied to predicting lithology and fluids in areas with high-quality local-well control. By contrast, the application of the same techniques is problematic in frontier basins where the nearest well control is some distance away. The reason is when rock property models are extended out the range of calibration, seismic responses can not be always reliably predicted. Here we introduce an integrated methodology for frontier exploration that combines rock physics modeling and seismic-based evaluation, allowing the interpreter to consistently quantify seismic responses for a number of geologic scenarios. The key is to understand the underlying geological processes and, by so doing, focus on the main effects of geology on the seismic properties and variations thereof from a distant well to the prospect location. Stateof-art rock physics models have to be integrated with existing thermal, burial, and reservoir quality prediction models based on regional basin modeling and petrographic analysis. By combining geology and rock physics, this methodology helps generate a catalog of seismic responses of potential exploration successes and failures. From such catalogues, real seismic amplitudes are interpreted in terms of pore pressure, lithology, rock texture, fluid content, and porosity, thus providing a rock property-based seismic interpretation framework to de-risk exploration and support business decisions.
Published Version
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