Approaches to defining reservoir physical properties from 3-D seismic attributes with limited well control: An example from the Jurassic Smackover Formation, Alabama
Much industry interest is centered on how to integrate well data and attributes derived from 3-D seismic data sets in the hope of defining reservoir properties in interwell areas. Unfortunately, the statistical underpinnings of the methods become less robust in areas where only a few wells are available, as might be the case in a new or small field. Especially in areas of limited well availability, the authors suggest that the physical basis of the attributes selected during the correlation procedure be validated by generating synthetic seismic sections from geologic models, then deriving attributes from the sections. The authors demonstrate this approach with a case study from Appleton field of southwestern Alabama. In this small field, dolomites of the Jurassic Smackover Formation produce from an anticlinal feature about 3,800 m deep. They used available geologic information to generate synthetic seismic sections that showed the expected seismic response of the target formation; the they picked the relevant horizons in a 3-D seismic data volume that spanned the study area. Using multiple regression, they derived an empirical relationship between three seismic attributes of this 3-D volume and a log-derived porosity indicator. Their choice of attributes was validated by deriving complex trace attributes from their seismic modeling results and confirming that the relationships between well properties and real-data attributes were physically valid. Additionally, the porosity distribution predicted by the 3-D seismic data was reasonable within the context of the depositional model used for the areas. Results from a new well drilled after their study validated their porosity prediction, although their structural prediction for the top of the porosity zone was erroneous. These results remind one that seismic interpretations should be viewed as works in progress which need to be updated when new data become available.
- Research Organization:
- New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Socorro, NM (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 20062622
- Journal Information:
- Geophysics, Vol. 65, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Mar-Apr 2000; ISSN 0016-8033
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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