OTC 22939

High Resolution Seismic Imaging and Reservoir Characterization for

Drilling Risk and Production Management
Gary (Jen) Yu*, Mike Smith, Geotrace

Copyright 2012, Offshore Technology Conference

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Offshore Technology Conference held in Houston, Texas, USA, 30 April–3 May 2012.

This paper was selected for presentation by an OTC program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
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Abstract

Often well planning, formation evaluation, reservoir engineering, and production management can ultimately be condensed
to analyze and utilize the nature and spatial distribution of reservoirs and fluid properties. This observation provides the
motivation for this paper’s objectives to: (1) review the impact of seismic resolution in imaging the reservoir, and (2)
examine the challenges and benefits of characterizing the reservoirs and fluid properties by integrating seismic, well, and
engineering data at different measuring scales (resolutions) and sampling densities. Two real case studies for sand and
carbonate reservoirs are used to illustrate how a new high resolution technique affects seismic image and elevates reservoir
characterization beyond the traditional resolution enhancement methods.

Introduction

The use of resolution enhancement techniques to improve the seismic image has been part of the seismic industry almost
since the origin of seismic signal processing. Geophysicists have used statistical deconvolution, signature deconvolution,
spectral whitening, log-bases blueing, and log-based wavelet shaping to better improve the seismic resolution, image the
subtle geological features, and evaluate the prospects.

This paper begins with the theory of a novel resolution enhancement technique in the continuous wavelet transform domain
and its implementation methodology. Then it introduces a rigorous workflow to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), velocity
analysis, resolution, and anisotropic migration for better flattened PSTM gathers, image, and prestack inversion. Finally,
presents real case studies for conventional and unconventional play types to illustrate how high resolution (HR) in seismic
imaging and inversion improves the subsurface image for detailed stratigraphical and structural interrelation, reservoir
characterization, and production management. The two case studies are: (1) complex Yegua sands with various thickness and
spatial distribution from lowstand deltas and slope fans in a shelf margin environment, and (2) low porosity Edward
carbonate reservoirs from distal slope wackestones, reef and bank complexes, and back reef lagoonal deposits in a
progradational sequence. Both studies are presented to show the holistic workflow of prestack data processing, resolution
enhancement, petrophysical evaluation, and prestack inversion.

Theory: High Resolution Enhancement with Bandwidth Extension

The bandwidth extension technique described here attempts to recover the lost wavelet characteristics from the available
bandwidth in seismic data. The available bandwidth acts as the fundamental frequencies, for which harmonics and
subharmonics are computed from and compared with the data, and then added back to the wavelet by a convolutional-like
process in the CWT domain. This effectively reshapes the wavelet and broadens the seismic bandwidth. Any high harmonic
and low subharmonics frequencies that do not match reflectivity in the recorded seismic data will not remain in the final
result (Smith et al., 2008).

The CWT is defined as the convolution of a time series f(t) with a scaled (s) and translated () wavelet (t).
2 OTC 22939

 1  t  
W   s)   f(t)   dt
-
s  s 

where (*) indicates the complex conjugate.

In order to complete forward and reverse CWT, the mother wavelet (t) must meet the admissibility condition (Qian,
2002).

The admissibility condition is given by:

    2
C 
- 
d  

where  is the Fourier transform of (t).

Morlet wavelet was selected as the mother wavelet for this application. It is a complex function representing a plane wave
modulated by a Gaussian function allowing the calculation of amplitude and phase for each scale at distinct times. The
wavelets scaled from the mother wavelet  are called daughter wavelets. Because the implementation of the CWT is a
discrete operator, and not a truly continuous operator, a choice needs to be made as to how many daughter wavelets will be
used, thus determining how much redundancy there will be. The CWT, although highly redundant, provides a very detailed
description of the signal in terms of time and frequency (Walker, 1999). These properties are utilized to predict the harmonics
and sub-harmonics used for bandwidth extension.

Note that the recoverable frequencies of this technique are ultimately constrained by the Sampling Theorem, and can not
regain reflectivity information higher than the Nyquist frequency. Moreover, the processing sequence with narrowband
filters, anti-aliasing filters, or imaging imposed bandwidth often limits the maximum recoverable reflectivity to less than
Nyquist.

High Resolution Imaging Methodology and Reservoir Characterization

Yegua Sands, Texas

The challenge of exploring and producing from the Yegua sands in south Texas along the coast of Gulf of Mexico is to map
the thin sands with multifaceted geological setting (Edwards, 1991). The combination of structural and stratigraphic
evolution in a shelf margin with lowstand deltas and slope fans has created a prolific production region with a wide range of
reservoir thickness and complicated reservoir distribution.

Bandwidth extension combined with a holistic workflow of controlled phase, controlled amplitude, SNR enhancement,
velocity analysis, migration, and prestack inversion was carried out on a 3D dataset to meet the exploration and producing
challenges mentioned above. The input field data went through first a rigorous normal processing sequence for statics
correction, noise attenuation, velocity analysis, and anisotropic prestack time migration (PSTM). Then the PSTM gathers
were further conditioned to improve the SNR with multi-channel filters in various domains to attenuate any remaining
residual coherent and random noises. After that, the aforementioned bandwidth extension technique was applied to improve
the resolution and pick high resolution high density (HRHD) anisotropic velocity for obtaining better flattened PSTM
gathers. Finally a spatially (time and offset) variant residual moveout correction was applied to achieve the best flattened
gathers for primary events before performing simultaneous three-term prestack inversion for P-wave velocity (Vp), S-wave
velocity (Vs), density (), and relevant rock and fluid attributes for depositional environment, and reservoir detection and
characterization.

Figure 1 shows the comparison the original and final enhanced PSTM sections with a few gathers at Well #1 location. The
zone of interest is highlighted in yellow circle. Figure 1a is the original PSTM stack with reasonable SNR and continuity for
structural interpretation. However, the original PSTM gathers in Figure 1a from another service company were noisy and low
resolution, and not suitable for reliable prestack inversion. An intermediate step, not shown here due to space limitation, was
carried out to improve the SNR by attenuating residual coherent including multiples and random noises with various filters in
tau-p, time-frequency, and wavelet domain for better anisotropic velocity picking. Once the SNR and velocity were
improved, the gathers were further resolution-enhanced with the bandwidth extension technique described earlier. Figure 1b
is the final stack and PSTM gathers that demonstrates the advantage of higher SNR, better velocity, and high resolution from
OTC 22939 3

the aforementioned workflow. The final result provides the data quality and resolution needed to perform detailed AVO
analysis, prestack inversion, structural and stratigraphic interpretation, and reservoir characterization for the Yegua sands.

Figure 1: (a-left) Original PSTM stack and gathers and (b-right) Final PSTM stack and gathers.

The final conditioned, HR-enhanced PSTM gathers were input into three-term simultaneous prestack inversion for Vp, Vs
and  as well as for lithology, fluid, and pay volume prediction. Figure 2 (a-left) and (b-right) compares the inverted result of
Vp/Vs ratio before and after HR-enhancement respectively. The target reservoir is in the center of the stack section and the
pay intervals are in yellow-orange color. A Vp/Vs curve from the logs is overlaid on top of the Vp/Vs section. It shows that
with HR input data the inverted result is also higher resolution, as demonstrated by the detailed variation of yellow/orange-
colored reservoirs in Figure 2b and better correlation with well information for sand quality, wet, pay, and thickness
identification.

Inverted density  was also used to characterize the spatial distribution and the quality of the reservoir sands and pays as
shown in Figure 3 correlating excellently with the known wells. In addition, combining Vp/Vs ratio and density allows a
better image of the sand spatial distribution and depositional environment which can then mapped and visualized as 3D
geobodies, as illustrated in Figure 4. The geobodies correlate very well with the known wells and productions in the field.

Figure 2: (a-left) Inverted Vp/Vs ratio from normal bandwidth data and (b-right) Inverted Vp/Vs from HR-enhanced data.

Figure 3: The inverted density map shows the Yegua Figure 4: The extracted 3D geoboides using Vp/Vs and density
pay sands distribution and depositional enviironment. that match the well measurments.
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Edwards Reef Complex, Texas

The Edwards reef complex is a progradational sequence consisting of distal slope wackestones, reef and bank complexes, and
back reef lagoonal deposits (Fritz et al., 2000).

The same bandwidth extension technology and workflow for SNR and HR enhancements as well as prestack inversion were
also applied to this project. Figure 5 shows the comparison of original and final PSTM gathers before and after the bandwidth
extension. The area highlighted is the Edwards B porosity zone. The normal bandwidth gather, to the left, does not show
accurately the top or the base of the porous zone, but the bandwidth extended gather, to the right, has resolved both the top
and the base of the Edwards B good porosity zone. Inversion produced Vp, Vs, , and other elastic attributes such as bulk and
Young’s moduli. Figure 6 shows the cross-plotting of limestone porosity and density with color-scaled Young’s modulus for
lithology discrimination.

Figures 7 and 8 show the horizon slices of the Edwards B facies for bulk modulus and density respectively. The wells (solid
white circle) spotted on the slices were all drilled based on the work done in this study. There is a high correlation between
the density and bulk moduli in this case, and either would be sufficient to identify the porosity in the Edwards B facies. Note
that in situations where shaley lime sequences are interspersed in a carbonate sequence, density can be misleading as shaley
carbonates generally have lower densities.

Figure 5: Comparison of CMP gathers before and after Figure 6: Bulk modulus vs. porosity (limestone)
bandwidth extension. with Young’s modulus in color for lithology typing.

Figure 7: Horizon slice of bulk modulus (GPa) volume Figure 8: Horizon slice of density volume showing
showing anomalous low values in blue. anomalous low values in green.
OTC 22939 5

Conclusions

The original PSTM data provided by the client did not have the quality and resolution to resolve the thin and complex sands
distribution for Yegua sands and the porous sweet spots identification for Edwards carbonates. The rigorous workflow of
data conditioning, bandwidth extension, HRHD anisotropic velocity analysis, and HR prestack inversion has contributed to
the successful reservoir characterization and drilling.

Seismic reservoir characterization requires good petrophysical analysis for better understanding of rock properties and cut-off
ranges of petro-elastic parameters for quantitative evaulation. For these two case studies, Vp/Vs ratio and  are the most
significant parameters to differentiate lithology and fluid types for the Yegua sands, and density, bulk modulus, and Young’s
modulus are the most significant parameters to identify lithology and porosity for the Edwards carbonates. Cross-plotting
significant parameters can also be used to decide the best cut-off thresholds for pay 3D geobodies extraction. 3D reservoir
and pay geobodies can ultimately be used for well planning, drilling risk assessment, reservoir simulation, and production
management.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Geotrace for permission to publish this paper.

References

 Edwards, M.B., 1991, Control of depositional environments, eustasy, gravity, and salt tectonics on sandstone distribution in an
unstable shelf edge delta, Eocene Yegua Formation, Texas and Louisiana: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies
Transactions, 41, 237-252.

 Fritz, D.A., Belsher, T.W., Medlin, J.M., Stubbs, J.L., Wright, R.P., and Harris, P.M., 2000, New exploration concepts for the
Edwards and Sligo margins, Cretaceous of onshore Texas, AAPG Bulletin, 84, 905-922.

 Qian, S., 2002, Introduction to time-frequency and wavelet transforms. Prentice-Hall, Inc.

 Smith, M., Perry, G., Stein, J., Bertrand, A., and Yu, G., 2008, Extending seismic bandwidth using the continuous wavelet transform:
First Break, 26, 97-102.

 Walker, J.S., 1999, A primer on wavelets and their scientific applications. CRC Press LLC.