Subsalt Target-oriented Salt Interpretation in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

The conventional method for salt interpretation begins with the search for salt-sediment interfaces, starting with the shallowest depths and progressively moving deeper. This search is typically conducted on intermediate seismic products like sediment flood volumes, salt flood volumes, and overhang sediment and salt flood migrations. However, with this approach, poorly imaged subsalt areas become known only after spending considerable time interpreting intermediate salt features. In this paper, I present a new methodology where a reference salt geometry is obtained early in the salt interpretation process. Having a reference seismic volume helps identify poorly imaged subsalt targets much sooner. A geologic model-based interpretation is performed in these identified areas, and changes in salt geometry are assessed based on their impact on subsalt imaging.