Using Simulation to Address Challenges of Subsalt Imaging in
Tertiary Basins with Emphasis on Deepwater Gulf of Mexico (Paper
23566) Michael Fehler SEG Advanced Modeling Project Slide 2 SEG
Advanced Modeling Project (SEAM) Use numerical simulation to Reduce
exploration and development risk through improvements to
geophysical methods Relevant and challenging datasets for testing
Acquisition design New imaging methods Joint inversion
methodologies Advance state-of-the-art of numerical simulation
Slide 3 How? Earth Model representative of GOM DW 35km x 40km x
15km Cell size 20m x 20m x 10m Computer generated datasets Outputs
look like real field data State-of-the-art simulation codes
Over-sampled for acquisition testing Slide 4 Perspective View of
SEAM Model Figure courtesy C. Stork, Landmark Software and Services
Slide 5 Scope of Work Subsalt acoustic earth model and simulation
Extend earth model for shear velocity, anisotropic resistivity
Non-seismic simulations: Gravity Electromagnetic and
Magnetotelluric Acoustic anisotropic TTI simulation Elastic
simulation Slide 6 SEAM Model Geological Indicator Volume Basement1
Mother Salt2 Cretaceous3 Oligocene-Paleo4 Lower Miocene5 Middle
Miocene6 Upper Miocene7 Pliocene8 Pleistocene9 Water10 Inv. Lower
Mio.11 Inv. Olig-Paleog.12 Inv. Cretaceous13 Salt Suture14 Salt15
Hetero Salt17 2 10 15 17 9 13 12 11 14 8 3 4 5 6 7 1 Slide 7
Rooting the Seismic Simulation to the Rock Properties Engages
Several Interest Groups Rock Properties Vshale, Porosity, Fluids,
Sat, Pressure, Resis, Elastic Parms Vp, Vs, Dn, Cij, Q (and their
reflectivities) Seismic Waves P, S, qP,S, atten/disp; EM response,
Gravity AVO reflectivity inversion for elastic parameters
Elasticity inversion for rock/reservoir properties Elastic
parameter modeling from Rock properties Seismic modeling from
Elastic parameters Interest groups on this end: Imagers,
Tomographers, Processors Interest group on this end: Reservoir
characterization and Monitoring Joe Stefani, Chevron Slide 8 Model
Properties are Derived from Log and Petrophysical Data Slide 9
Reservoirs in SEAM Phase I Model Catalogue Pleistocene 5 small
turbidite fans Pliocene 2 E-W trending braided channel systems
Upper Miocene 2 N-S trending braided channels in eastern half
Middle Miocene 2 Large turbidite fans that enter from North Lower
Miocene 2 Large turbidite fans that enter from North Vertically
integrated Reservoir thickness (white indicates thicker reservoir)
Slide 10 Turbidite and Stream Channel Reservoirs Defined Using
Geostatistics Slide 11 Several Geophysical Parameters Defined Using
Consistent Approach Slide 12 Model Testing to Design Acquisition
Tim Brice, WesternGeco Slide 13 Ensure the Quality of Numerical
Simulations Through the Use of Benchmark Codes Comparison of
Production and Benchmark Simulations Slide 14 SEAM PHASE I GRAVITY
MODEL Gravity at sea level calculated using GM-SYS 3D g xx g yy g
xz g xy gzgz g yz g zz Slide 15 CSEM Simulation Data Shows
Sensitivity to Reservoirs on East Side of Salt Slide 16 TTI
Acquisition Plan ~36,000 shots Vertical Seismic Profiles on 4 wells
Quality control Classic dataset extraction Acoustic anisotropic
model; tilted axis of symmetry ~36,000 shots ~440,000 surface
receivers per shot Vertical Seismic Profiles in 4 wells Slide 17
Proposed Elastic Acquisition Plan ~12,000 shots ~460,000 surface
receivers per shot Seafloor 4-component receivers Vertical Seismic
Profiles in 4 wells Slide 18 Simulation Specifications and Status
Slide 19 Slide 20 SEAM Model Used for Studies of Wave Phenomena
Finite Difference Simulation Boundary Integral Simulation Slide 21
Conclusions SEAM Phase I is providing geophysical data of
unprecedented scale Model is robust and easily extended for uses
beyond current modeling effort Honor geology, rock, and reservoir
properties Numerical datasets available for use in studying
acquisition, imaging, joint imaging for exploration and reservoir
assessment Joint geophysical imaging approaches Slide 22
Acknowledgments Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America
for support (RPSEA Subcontract No. 07121-2001) SEAM participating
companies (www.seg.org/seam)www.seg.org/seam Participating company
representatives to the SEAM Management Committee SEAM Board of
Directors
