Gulf of Mexico subsalt play is building on its history
- Anadarko Petroleum, Houston, TX (United States)
- TGS-Calibre Geophysical, Houston, TX (United States)
For 45 years exploration and development drilling in the Gulf of Mexico stopped when salt was encountered at objective depths. Then in the 1980s quality reservoir rock, not visible on seismic, was discovered more than 1,000 ft below salt sheets. Since then, encouraged by prolific discoveries and aided by improvements in seismic acquisition and processing techniques, companies are investing millions of dollars in exploring the subsalt play. Horizontal emplacement of Gulf of Mexico salt sheets, and their effect on subsalt drilling results, can be demonstrated using 2-D time seismic sections, well logs and biostratigraphy from more than 30 wells drilled through varying thicknesses of the salt sheets. The presence of thick subsalt sands is now proven and the play confirmed. As advanced acquisition and processing techniques improve seismic image resolution, and subsalt well control refines geologic models and concepts, geoscientific integration will lead to additional significant discoveries in multiple-style traps beneath the horizontal salt sheets of the offshore Gulf of Mexico.
- OSTI ID:
- 175980
- Journal Information:
- Petroleum Engineer International, Journal Name: Petroleum Engineer International Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 68; ISSN 0164-8322; ISSN PEEID4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The evolving exploration of the subsalt play in the offshore Gulf of Mexico
The evolving exploration of the sub-salt play in the offshore Gulf of Mexico