Method for interpreting seismic records to yield indications of gas/oil in an earth formation

Patent · Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5738127

Thompson, D; Brown, R; Runge, R

The present invention indicates that acoustic characteristics associated with gas/oil-containing strata of an earth formation, including reflectivity coefficients can be normalized (and favorably compared) with similar characteristics calculated and displayed by means of a machine-implemented processing method in which well logging and geologic data are fed thereto to calculate such characteristics without the need for shearwave velocities. In more detail, in accordance with the invention brine-saturated bulk and shear moduli, (i.e., Kw and Gw) of the strata of interest can be predicted as a function of, say, brine-saturated P-wave modulus (Pw) alone (independent of shear-wave velocity). In that way, resulting acoustic values including seismic velocities and amplitudes (also, reflectivities) as a function of saturation can ultimately be provided. Such values, when compared to actual field-generated characteristics, are surprisingly accurate predictors of the amount of gas/oil saturation in the zone of interest. The method has particular applicability to designating gas-sand zones within formations of interest.

• Assignee: Chevron Research Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4398273
• OSTI ID: 5738127
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 18 Nov 1981; Other Information: PAT-APPL-322509
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
SONIC LOGGING
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS
EXPLORATION
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
WELL LOGGING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
WELLS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
030200 - Natural Gas- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration