PROCEEDINGS JOINT CONVENTION SURABAYA 2005 - HAGI-IAGI-PERHAPI

The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

JCS2005-T040

THE FACTS AND FANCY OF SEISMIC INVERSIONS, A CASE STUDY

Diah Rufaida, Imron Roestamadji, and Nana Djumhana

Department of Exploration, PetroChina International Bermuda Ltd.

ABSTRACT

Seismic inversions has been used and progressed to a stage that becomes a standard requirement in
drilling recommendation. In one extreme it become pre-requisite in a project proposal, as a result one can
argue that the advantage and limitation of the tool have been abused to secure the project approvals.

In our operating area we have experienced the success and failure of the methodology in almost depleted
Kasim Barat oil field. Following the 3-D seismic interpretation and seismic inversions a development
well was drilled with positive results. Subsequent development well was drilled in the area, that seismic
inversions indicate potential porous zones, but it was proven that the well did not come out as expected.

Following the failure of the second (new) development well, a rigorous evaluation of the seismic
inversions were conducted, which reveals a new phenomena, that is the reservoirs distribution of the field
is totally different than the previous assumption. The third development well came in as expected.
Qualitatively, the inverted sections may help the decision to locate additional well location, but it should
be used with an understanding that the inversions has it’s own limitation.

It is worth noted that in addition to a geophysical limitation such as reservoir thickness, frequency
bandwidth and the knowledge of end user the seismic inversions softwares may also inherently has a
drawback.

INTRODUCTION Indonesia, about 2,500 kilometers east of Jakarta

In the last three decades, the pseudo acoustic
technology has developed to the current stage
where its uses becoming wide spread and still be
one of the tool popularly used by the industry. It is
so popular that becoming a ‘must’ without
recognizing its limitation, where management or
institution insisted to have the seismic inversions
done before any approval given.
The discussions to follow should provide a case
study where the inherent limitation of seismic
inversion can be reviewed and used for a future
work. And it is expected that this share of
experiences will reduce the time and cost spent for
un-necessary seismic inversions study.
The study area is Kasim Barat field in the
PetroChina Kepala Burung Block PSC located in
the western part of Papua main land, eastern
(Figure-1).
DISCUSSIONS
Prior to 3D seismic survey in 2003/2004, the
Kasim Barat field was considered depleted. The
field was discovered by Petromer Trend in August
1975 when the Kasim Barat-1 well discovered oil
from the objective Kais reefal carbonate which
tested 8,867 BOPD, 35.80 API with no water. The
field was put on production with initial rate of
about 11,000 BOPD from two (2) wells on
October 26,1975. Five (5) more development
wells were then drilled. However, three (3) latest
wells were dry or wet. Therefore, the Kasim Barat
field was produced oil only from four (4) wells
(Kasim Barat-1 to 4) until 1988, and then only
from one (1) well (Kasim Barat-4) production
during 1988-2003.

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 PROCEEDINGS JOINT CONVENTION SURABAYA 2005 - HAGI-IAGI-PERHAPI
The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition
The stratigraphy of Kais formation at the lowest
section, composes of creamy white, chalky reefal
limestone, dominated by packstone to grainstone
with well developed vugular and moldic porosities
occasionally dolomitic and wackestone-mudstone
facies, overlied by Klasafet shales with minor
limestone and then claystones, siltstones,
sandstones with minor limestones of the
Klasaman formation in upper section. Figure 2 is
a general stratigraphy column of the Salawati
Basin .
3D survey in Kepala Burung Block during
2003/2004 resulted in better data quality, as
compared to the existing 2D seismic . Figure 3
shows a comparison of 3D and 2D seismic data,
particularly in the Kasim Barat (depleted field).
Processing of recent seismic data yields a good
image with high S/N ratio. The Kais level in the
Kasim Barat has dominant frequency of about 40
Hz and the interval velocity range from 12000 ft/s
to 18000 ft/s. Base on these, the porous zone of
the field was analyzed to investigate it’s
resolution power (λ= (V interval / f)/8) as shown on
figure 4. For Kasim Barat the resolution is 40 –
56 ft. .Please note that the thickness of the porous
zone from well data is in corridor of tuning
thickness or the porous zone still can be detected
by seismic data.
The Kasim Barat field top structure map is
presented by figure 5. The Base Model of seismic
inversion was applied in the Kasim Barat field
using density, sonic log from four (4) wells, and
about 4 sq km of 3D seismic data to generate a
pseudo Acoustic Impedance (AI).
The relationship between porosity and Acoustic
Impedance was analyzed using a porosity cross
plot from core and Acoustic Impedance log from
the well data. Blue zone presented as porous zone
that have the porosity value range 15 % - 20 %
corresponding with the low AI value (about
34000-41000), red color zone indicated tight
carbonate with porosity 4% - 7 % related with AI
values range of 44000-60000. The other zone
have high porosity with high value AI.(figure 6)
Based on the 3D seismic interpretation, and
seismic inversions approach, a new development
well, Kasim Barat-8 was drilled in early January
2005. Swab tested over the perforated interval on
top section of Kais reefal carbonate resulted oil
with low water cut (5.5%). The inversions process
is proven . Figure 7 is showing acoustic
impedance section across Kasim Barat-2 and
Kasim Barat-8 with overlying acoustic impedance
well and completed with lateral distribution
pseudo acoustik impedance .
The development well Kasim Barat-9 well was
then drilled in February/March 2005,Pseudo
Acoustic Impedance indicates low acoustic
impedance value. This well was expected to have
good porosity (figure8). The AI section and map
shows that the upper part of kasim Barat-9 will be
porous zone. The well encountered tight carbonate
the seismic inversions failed to indicate the
porous reservoirs (figure 9).
Although the well penetrated tight carbonate, the
Kasim Barat-9 is still producing some amounts of
oil from fractured reservoirs.
Following the failure of the Kasim Barat-9 well, a
rigorous evaluation of the seismic inversions were
conducted prior to drill next development wells.
Seismic inversion was built by adding new well
(Kasim Barat –9). The result of this model based
inversion yield an acoustic impedance relative
value range from about 24,000 – 37,000
presenting a good porosity zone indicated by blue-
green color. The tight carbonate have range
acoustic impedance relative value of more than
37,000 shown in yellow-red color. Please note
that the seismic inversions does not show any low
value at Kasim Barat-9 fracture porosity. Figure
10 show traverse line of pseudo AI trough Kasim
Barat-3, Kasim Barat-9 and Kasim Barat-8.
The west-east (figure 11) show a reef feature of
the Kasim Barat structure on Kais level which has
tight limestone as penetrated by the Kasim Barat-
9 well, to good reservoir quality as penetrated by
the Kasim Barat-8 and 10 wells.
Lateral distribution of Pseudo Acoustic
Impedance was done with the average acoustic
impedance values, each by 5 mS, 10 ms and, 25
ms below top kais as target zone on that field.
Lateral distribution of low acoustic impedance is
distributed from east to northwest around the
Kasim Barat-2 and Kasim Barat-3 wells. The
North side has high AI value as tight carbonate
which presented by Kasim Barat-9. Kasim Barat-1
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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition
indicates tight carbonate. The feature is caused by
limited porous zone thickness, overlying tight
carbonate 5 mSec below top kais. (Figure 12)
The distribution map 10 ms below top Kais
indicated to have good porosity presented in blue
color which distributed around Kasim Barat-2
wells to east of this field. Kasim Barat-3
distribution changes in green color which
presented tighter than Kasim Barat-2. (Figure 13)
The distribution map of 25 mS below top Kais
which presented as the OWC of the field, most of
the well become tight carbonate except the Kasim
Barat-2. (Figure 14)
Another development well; Kasim Barat-10, is
located on the west of the field presented in blue
color as low acoustic impedance which represents
good porosity zone. We got good result from
Kasim Barat-10 well as we predicted. Figure 15 is
Inline 371 through Kasim Barat-10.
CONCLUSIONS
The usage of seismic inversions will be effective
if the investigation of basic requirement is
fulfilled. Management has to be advised of it’s
drawback, therefore no time and cost spent
because of the unnecessary study.
Practically the existing software has an inherent
limitation where it will not be able to detect the
effect of porous zone with the layer below tuning
effect and where lacks of well control. However,
it still one of the best technology in reducing risk
and has been around four decades.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We wish to express our gratitude to PetroChina
International Bermuda Ltd. management and to
our Partners (PearlOil, Lundin, and Pertamina),
which have released this paper to be published
and presented in the HAGI/IAGI forum. We also
would like to thank DitJend MIGAS and
BPMIGAS that have approved the paper to be
published.
REFERENCE
Brian H. Russel, 1996, Introduction to Seismic
Inversion Methods, An SEG Continuing
Education short course
Desautels D.A ,Geological Study of The Wesi
Kasim Field Salawati Basin Irian Jaya, Jakarta
1998
Pertamina and Petromer Trend, 1989,
TheRemaining Hydrocarbon Potential of Salawati
Basin, Onshore, Western Irian Jaya, Indonesia,
Joint Pertamina – Trend Salawati Basin Study
Group, Jakarta, unpublished.
Pertamina-Petromer Trend, Final Well Report
Kasim Barat –1,Kasim Barat-3, Jakarta,
Unpublished.
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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

LOCATION MAP

WELL LOCATION
KLATOA-1
KASIM BARAT FIELD

KASIM-59
YOSIM-1

WAKAMUK-1
SAL. A-2X
SAL. A-1X
WALIO BLOCK
KASIM BARAT FIELD
LOCATION MAP

FIGURE 1: Location

FIGURE 2: General Stratigraphy column of Salawati basin

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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

2D SEISMIC

0 0.5 1
KM

3D SEISMIC

0 0.5 1
KM

FIGURE 3: Comparison of 3D and 2D Seismic Data

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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

Frequensi
dominan

W ell Name Ketebalan Frekuensi Vinterval Ketebalan

zona porous (ft) (Hz) (ft/s) tuning (ft)

KB-1 27 40 12650 40

KB-2 65 40 17500 55

KB-3 77 40 12000 36

KB-4R 46.5 40 13000 41

KB-8 57 40 13500 42
KB-9 3 40 18000 56

FIGURE 4: Tuning Effect Analysed

NORTH
IMR. OCT. ‘2004.

0 0.5

FIGURE 5: Kasim Barat Depth Structure Map Before 3D and After 3D

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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

AI Low ~ High Porosity

AI High ~ Low Porosity

LEGEND :
COLOR CORE POROSITY
AI Log
20 - 15% 34000 - 41000

20 - 10% 44000 - 50000

7 - 4% 42000 - 60000

FIGURE 6: Relation Between Porosity and Acoustic Impedance

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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

Kasim Barat-8

FIGURE 7: Acoustic Impedance Section & Lateral Distribution Before Kasim Barat-8

Kasim Barat-9

FIGURE 8: Acoustic Impedance Section & Lateral Distribution Before Kasim Barat-9
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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

FIGURE 9: Limited Porous Zone Thickness of Kasim Barat-9

ACOUSTIC IMPEDANCE SECTION ( KB#3, KB#9 & KB#8 )

Acoustic Impedance Wells

“U” MARKER

TOP KAIS

FIGURE 10: Acoustic Impedance Section Kasim Barat-3-Kasim Barat-9-Kasim Barat-8

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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

FIGURE 11: Structural Section W-E

ACOUSTIC IMPEDANCE MAP ( Below Kais 5 ms )

TIGHT

TIGHT

POROUS ZONE

FIGURE 12: Acoustic Impedance Map 5 ms Below Top Kais

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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

ACOUSTIC IMPEDANCE MAP ( 10 ms Below Top Kais )

TIGHT

TIGHT

POROUS ZONE

FIGURE 13: Acoustic Impedance Map 10 ms Below Top Kais

ACOUSTIC IMPEDANCE MAP ( 25 ms Below Top Kais )

TIGHT

TIGHT

POROUS ZONE

FIGURE 14: Acoustic Impedance Map 10 ms Below Top Kais

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The 30th HAGI, The 34th IAGI and The 14th PERHAPI Annual Conference and Exhibition

TOP KAIS FORMATION

TEST # :
4135’-
4147’

4152’-4175’

4200’-
4210’

4230’-4240’

FIGURE 15: Inline 371 Acoustic Impedance a cross kasim Barat-10

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