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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
Houston Geological Society Bulletin
Abstract
Abstract: 3-D Seismic Lithology Analysis Utilizing Extended AVO: A Case Study
By
Geophysical Development Corporation
In this Gulf of Mexico case study, extended Amplitude Versus Offset (AVO) analysis enables the generation of sand and gas reservoir maps not obtainable from conventional 3-D data. This seismic lithology interpretation is the result of calibrating the 3-D/AVO response to lithology and pore fluid variations.
- Analysis of well data provides lithology, velocity, and density control necessary to estimate Poisson's ratio, as well as rock property variations from wet to gas-filled conditions.
- AVO modeling based on these variations yields the anticipated seismic lithologic response, thereby linking the log properties to the 3-D seismic interpretation.
Processing
to recover the "extended" AVO response from data with source-to- receiver offsets out to two times the target depth enables lithologic mapping when supported by the above calibration.
The reservoir sands range from 6,000 to 13,000 feet in depth, lying above and below geopressure. Conventional seismic analysis associates the amplitude of the reflections to the contrast in acoustic impedance, the product of velocity and density. On the log data, the target sands appear to have little contrast in acoustic impedance with their encasing shales. Because of this low contrast, the amplitudes on the seismic stack sections show little to no discrimination between sand-shale lithologic variations or pore fluid variations.
A two-term model for the seismic amplitude
provides the basis for unraveling the
complex AVO responses of lithologic variations
and gas sands. The first term, the
Normal Incidence reflectivity (NI) responds
to changes in acoustic impedance. The second
term, defined as the Poisson reflectivity
(PR), relates to changes in Poisson's ratio. Crossplots show that even when the sands
have the same acoustic impedance as the
encasing shales, Poisson's ratio discriminates
between them. To obtain a robust estimate
of PR (called model-based PR or
MBPR), the AVO processing
incorporates
corrections
for anisotropy, which extends
the AVO analysis out to very far offset
traces. Finally, a view of the
lithostratigraphic properties develops by
displaying the NI and MBPR estimates
from the 3-D seismic data with a novel color
crossplotting method. Unlike the stack
amplitude, distinct reservoir features appear
in the seismic crossplot volume. After calibration,
these 3-D crossplot sections provide
maps of reservoir quality sands and
potential pay intervals, as well as the stratigraphic
setting.
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