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Seismic Stratigraphy Analysis

Article · August 2011

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Seismic Stratigraphic Analysis on the Off Shore (Pelotas Basin).
Jorge Luis Triana Rodriguez & Luis Antonio Castillo Lopez.
Abstract
As a strategy of exploration of divergent margins
through deep and ultra deep water, the understanding of
this challenging and poorly known environment is really
relevant in terms of understanding the evolution of the
basin. Recent advances in technology, in marine seismic
acquisition, processing, and interpretation, has become
increasingly important the continental – oceanic
boundary for petroleum system within a basin still
unexplored for hydrocarbons.
Due to recent discoveries in the succession pre salt and
post salt in the Santos and Campos Basin, is worthwhile
to know what is the structural and stratigraphical context
of the southernmost basin of the Brazilian margin, The
Pelotas Basin.
The aim of this paper is to analyze this thick
stratigraphic succession using sequence stratigraphy,
seismic attributes in order to create and contribute a
better understanding of this basin (Pelotas) and its
Africans analogues, the Walvis and Nambia basins.
Background
Introduction
The Pelotas basin is located at the southermost section
of the Brazilian passive margin . This basin comprises
more than 210.000 km2 of potential stratigraphic or
structural traps, source rocks and a whole petroleum
system. The whole sedimentary succesion infill
includes siliciclastic, carbonates, extrusive volcanic
rocks with an average thickness of 8 km.
Brazilian and African continental margins have their
origins in tensional stresses during the Break up of
Gondwana which started in the south and advanced
toward to northern sector of the proto atlantic ocean.
Macro tectonic and structural features evidenced and
imaged as a Seaward Dipping Reflector (SDR’s)
demonstrates the transition and boundary between
continental and oceanic crust. This boundary is
composed of large basaltic flows which reached more
than 80 km of length and thicknesses of hundreds of
meters.
The southern Brazilian Pelotas basins has been
investigated in terms of 2D seismo-stratigraphy,
numerical inverse-basin and forward stratigraphic
modeling (Nadin and Kusznir, 1996).
We are focused to make a new proposal in terms of the
deposition of the basin. Using computational tools,
sequence stratigraphy we pretend to make a new
depositional model to provide a better understanding of
the condition and the role of allogenic and autogenic
controls in the development of this basin. Moreover, we
pretend to created a 3D sequence stratigraphic model
instead of 2D models described, proposed and studied
by several authors.
Detailed study of the seismic section shown in this work
(particulary the ones tied with well logs ) allowed he
subdivision of this thick sedimentary succesion into
depositional sequences which are bounded by regional
unconformities
2

Methodology and Data Available

Location

Data

Four seismic dip sections lines, three seismic strike lines,

which form a grid and allow us to create a 3D Horizon.

Software

In order to develop the seismic stratigraphy

interpretation, based on Sequence Stratigraphy we used
Opend Tect® of DGB Earth Sciences Group.

To make the interpretation of Sequence Stratigraphy, we

used the module SSIS (Sequence Stratigraphy
Interpretation System), which allow us to create a model,
assigning systems tracts, surfaces, type of units.

Seismic Stratigraphy

Based on the geometry of the reflectors, stacking

patterns, continuity, amplitude, seismic facies, we
interpreted an average of 20 representative reflectors for
each line, whereas reflect both and autogenic allogenic
controls such as sediment supply, eustacy, tectonism and
accommodation space.

Sequence Stratigraphy

In order to develop a stratigraphic model, based on

seismic stratigraphy, we use the terminology proposed
by Catuneanu et al, (2011) .

Fig 1. A) Location of the Pelotas Basin. Results

B) Distribution of the Seismic Lines that
form a seismic grid.
Using seismic attributes is easy to delimitate zone gas
The Pelotas Basin is located in South Atlantic between Brazil and
Uruguay. This basin is located between 26° and 30° South.
that can be interesting.
It is limited in its northern part by the lineament and Florianopolis In the appendix 1, we show the data and the
Fracture Zone, which separated it from Santos Basin. In the southern, methodology used in term to get the results that we got.
it is limited by Chui Lineament, which separated it from Punta del
Este Basin, Northern Uruguay.
We delimitate the basin in 4 sequences of second order
Pelotas basin covers more than 200.000 km. This gigantic area
includes Rio Grande Cone , shallow waters and ultra deep which can
using modern nomenclature and based on seismic
reach 3600 m. stratigraphy patterns. Spite of the lack of salt succession
in this basin, this basin is a good opportunity to study
petroleum systems and non conventional resources such
 [Seismic Stratigraphic Analysis on the Off Shore (Pelotas Basin).
3

as Gas Hydrates.

In the figure 2, we show and delimitate the BSR type

reflector, which is located below sea floor and play the
role as a possible multiple. Conversely, applying seismic
attribute such as spectral decomposition and energy
attribute, we propose an accurate position of this
reflector .

We associate this low frecuencies with presence of gas.

These anomalies appear likewise enery concentrated
and have the potential to be a strong indicator of
presence of gas hydrates or zones of gas accumulated
underneath this reflector. Even when BSR reflector is
not easy to detect or invisible.

Fig 3. Dip line section showing pre rift sequence.

Fig 4. 3D Stratigraphic surface created on OpendTect.

Finally, we proposed a new curve for this continental

margin, developed using Opend Tect and SSIS, and
Fig 2. a) Seismic Dip Section showing BSR reflector and sea using all data avalaible.
floor. B) Seismic dip section with energy attribute .
4
Conclusions
Integration of data (Bio, Seismic, Litho, Well Logs) is
really useful in terms of making a robust model and
environmental reconstruction. The aim of integration of
data is to get an accurate model and the conditions that
were predominant in a specific span of time within a
depositional succession.
Macrotectonics features such as Seaward Dipping
Reflectors widely known as SDR’s located in the Pelotas
basin give us a opportunity to research the origins and
development of this large basaltic flows and its
relationship to petroleum systems.
Evaporitic section is absent in the southern
segment(Pelotas Basin), but present in the northern part
of Brazilian margin (Campos and Santos basins). Hence
prospectivity (potential stratigraphical, structural or both
traps) must be better evaluated in terms of petroleum
systems. Moreover, the absence of salt enhances the the
quality of imaging of SDR´s which are masked and
seismically obscured below by aptian salt deposits.
Based on (Sad et al. 1998) the gas hydrates reserves of
Pelotas Basin are estimated in 780 trillion cubic feet.
That´s why Pelotas basin is a good opportunity to
explore non conventional resources such as Gas
Hydrates in the south Atlantic and go deeper into the
behavior of BSR reflectors that extends for more than
300 km.
Using seismic attributes such as Spectral Decomposition
or Energy Attribute, is possible to get an accurate
position of gas zones making the exploration more
precise and reducing the geological risk.
Acknowledgements
Constructive discussion developed within the Group of
Investigation on Seismic Stratigraphy (Grupo de
Investigaciones en Sismo Estratigrafia ) at the
Universidad Nacional de Colombia provided very useful
comments in order to enhanced the quality of this paper.
Also we want to thank to Opend Tect® (DGB Earth
Science Group) especially to Nanne Hemstra for his
support and comments.
Recommendations
To acquire a major exploration program that include new
exploratory wells, in order to establish a better model
about the evolution of the basin and use it as a guide, an
incentive for our curiosity and to understand the frontier
of exploration in this challenging and unexplored basin.
Acquire an extensive 3D marine seismic program in
order to improve the knowledge of BSR reflectors and
its context in the evolution in the basin.
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5

CATUNEANU, O.(2002):Sequence stratigraphy of clastic systems:

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Time–frequency spectral signature of Pelotas Basin deep
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APPENDIX 1. Methodology and Workflow.

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