Abstract

Three-dimensional (3-D) outcrop data are critical for understanding the link between seismic-scale and well-scale data in the subsurface. Various methods have been developed for capturing this type of data, each with specific benefits and limitations. In this paper, we illustrate a methodology for collecting 3-D outcrop data, interpreting them, and using the interpretations, along with data integrated from other sources, to produce a 3-D reservoir model of deep-water outcrops in the Ainsa basin of Spain. The use of photorealistic outcrop-capture techniques provides a robust and flexible data set that can be reinterpreted many times subsequent to data collection. The benefits of this workflow are significant, resulting in more accurate interpretations (including projection into the third dimension), and the ability to construct and test multiple interpretation hypotheses. The reservoir model constructed from these data allows geoscientists and petroleum engineers to see the critical differences between real and modeled rocks, and provides a mechanism for an improved understanding of modeling subsurface reservoirs.