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Title: Three-demensional seismic modeling and seismic facies imaging

Journal Article · · AAPG Bulletin
OSTI ID:150583
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Texaco Inc., New Orleans, LA (United States)
  2. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

A set of 3-D rock-property models were generated for a lower Miocene shorezone system at Powderhorn field, Calhoun County, Texas. These models were based on detailed mapping of facies and rock-properties that involved 250 m of stratigraphic section over an area of 9 by 13 km. Examination of logs from 115 wells showed that fourteen sandy depositional units averaging 3-30 m in thickness were encased in 15 shale units. Effective porosity, P-wave velocity and bulk density were calculated from suites of wireline logs from five recent wells, and then expanded to older wells through regression with SP and resistivity logs. Idealized 3-D seismic models were generated by convolving a Ricker wavelet with the primary reflection coefficient series from stacked 2-D P-wave velocity and impedance models. The analysis to these models revealed the potential and limitations of seismic facies imaging for a clastic depositional sequence. Our models show that peak picking often distorts reservoir facies images. In some cases, seismic events from sand bodies in different units may interfere, forming a new event. An event typing as many as six depositional units over 50 m has been observed. Phantom mapping between reference events produces truer stratal slices, and makes it possible to map detailed depositional history from 3-D seismic data. Stratal slices from real 3-D seismic volumes in Gulf Coast Tertiary demonstrate that sequential, fairly high-resolution amplitude images of various depositional facies can be obtained from lower frequency seismic data. Depositional facies patterns on those stratal slices provide much desired high-frequency information that may not otherwise be recognized on vertical seismic sections.

OSTI ID:
150583
Report Number(s):
CONF-9510222-; ISSN 0149-1423; TRN: 95:007541-0056
Journal Information:
AAPG Bulletin, Vol. 79, Issue 10; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAGS) Gulf Coast Section meeting, Baton Rouge, LA (United States), 25-27 Oct 1995; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English