About This Item
- Full TextFull Text(subscription required)
- Pay-Per-View PurchasePay-Per-View
Purchase Options Explain
Share This Item
The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
GCAGS Transactions
Abstract
Detecting Fault-Related Hydrocarbon Migration Pathways in
Seismic
Data: Implications for Fault-Seal, Pressure, and Charge Prediction
![Previous Hit](/data/images/arrow_left.gif)
![Next Hit](/data/images/arrow_right.gif)
David L. Connolly1, Friso Brouwer1, and David Walraven2
1dGB Earth Sciences, 1 Sugar Creek Center Blvd., Ste. 935, Sugar Land, Texas 77748
2Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, 1201 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands, Texas 77380
ABSTRACT
A method is demonstrated to highlight hydrocarbon migration related to faulting
in seismic
data. The method uses multiple
seismic
attributes and neural networks
to highlight the vertically aligned low-energy chaotic
seismic
data described
as gas chimneys, gas clouds, or seepage pipes. The result is a gas chimney
probability
volume. Methods are also described for highlighting faults in
seismic
data
using directional
attributes. When the gas chimney probability data are overlain on the fault
data, obvious
vertical
gas chimneys can be distinguished. However subtler fault-related
hydrocarbon
migration can also be seen. This hydrocarbon migration is often associated
with fault intersections or splinter faults related to shear along the fault.
Overlaying the chimney information on fault planes can often indicate which
parts of the fault have
been migration pathways and which parts of the fault have not. More than
125 chimney
analyses have been performed on drilled structural closures with effective
reservoir.
Approximately one quarter of the wells are dry holes. Thus, the dry holes
failed because
of either ineffective charge or seal. These structures were classified, based
on the character of the chimneys below and above the reservoir, into eight
classes. We will demonstrate
how this information can be used to risk
vertical
seal and charge prior to
drilling.
Gas chimneys are a means by which deep pressures can be transmitted into the shallow subsurface. This partly explains why producing reservoirs are often near the top of abnormal pressure. We will demonstrate the correlation of rock property data (fracture pressure and pore pressure), gas chimneys, and hydrocarbon column height. Case studies are shown from the Gulf of Mexico onshore, shelf, and slope.
Pay-Per-View Purchase Options
The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.
Watermarked PDF Document: $14 | |
Open PDF Document: $24 |