Increasing the quality of seismic interpretation

Euan Macrae was funded by a NERC Open CASE PhD award (NE/F013728/1) with Midland Valley Exploration Ltd. as the industry partner. We thank the 763 geoscientists for their participation, and in particular, the reference experts who gave their time freely to the project. Marian Scott (University of Glasgow, UK) is thanked for assisting with the statistical analysis. Four reviewers are thanked for their constructive comments which improved the manuscript.

Increasing the quality of seismic interpretation

Euan Macrae was funded by a NERC Open CASE PhD award (NE/F013728/1) with Midland Valley Exploration Ltd. as the industry partner. We thank the 763 geoscientists for their participation, and in particular, the reference experts who gave their time freely to the project. Marian Scott (University of Glasgow, UK) is thanked for assisting with the statistical analysis. Four reviewers are thanked for their constructive comments which improved the manuscript.

New morpho-bathymetric and tectono-stratigraphic data on Naples and Salerno gulfs (southern tyrrhenian sea, Italy) derived from bathymetric and seismic data analysis and integrated geological interpretation

New morpho-bathymetric and tectono-stratigraphic data on Naples and Salerno Gulfs, derived from bathymetric and seismic data analysis and integrated geologic interpretation are here presented. The CUBE(Combined Uncertainty Bathymetric Estimator) method has been applied to complex morphologies, such as the Capri continental slope and the related geological structures occurring in the Salerno Gulf.The bathymetric data analysis has been carried out for marine geological maps of the whole Campania continental margin at scales ranging from 1:25.000 to 1:10.000, including focused examples in Naples and Salerno Gulfs, Naples harbour, Capri and Ischia Islands and Salerno Valley. Seismic data analysis has allowed for the correlation of main morpho-structural lineaments recognized at a regional scale through multichannel profiles with morphological features cropping out at the sea bottom, evident from bathymetry.Main fault systems in the area have been represented on a tectonic sketch map, including the master fault located northwards to the Salerno Valley half graben. Some normal faults parallel to the master fault have been interpreted from the slope map derived from bathymetric data. A complex system of antithetic faults bound two morpho-structural highs located 20km to the south of the Capri Island. Some hints of compressional reactivation of normal faults in an extensional setting involving the whole Campania continental margin have been shown from seismic interpretation.

Mass movement characterization using a reflexion and refraction seismic survey with the sloping local base level concept

This study proposes a new concept for upscaling local information on failure surfaces derived from geophysical data, in order to develop the spatial information and quickly estimate the magnitude and intensity of a landslide. A new vision of seismic interpretation on landslides is also demonstrated by taking into account basic geomorphic information with a numeric method based on the Sloping Local Base Level (SLBL). The SLBL is a generalization of the base level defined in geomorphology applied to landslides, and allows the calculation of the potential geometry of the landslide failure surface. This approach was applied to a large scale landslide formed mainly in gypsum and situated in a former glacial valley along the Rhone within the Western European Alps. Previous studies identified the existence of two sliding surfaces that may continue below the level of the valley. In this study. seismic refraction-reflexion surveys were carried out to verify the existence of these failure surfaces. The analysis of the seismic data provides a four-layer model where three velocity layers (<1000 ms(-1), 1500 ms(-1) and 3000 ms(-1)) are interpreted as the mobilized mass at different weathering levels and compaction. The highest velocity layer (>4000 ms(-1)) with a maximum depth of similar to 58 m is interpreted as the stable anhydrite bedrock. Two failure surfaces were interpreted from the seismic surveys: an upper failure and a much deeper one (respectively 25 and 50 m deep). The upper failure surface depth deduced from geophysics is slightly different from the results obtained using the SLBL, and the deeper failure surface depth calculated with the SLBL method is underestimated in comparison with the geophysical interpretations. Optimal results were therefore obtained by including the seismic data in the SLBL calculations according to the geomorphic limits of the landslide (maximal volume of mobilized mass = 7.5 x 10(6) m(3)).

A new method to estimate the infilling of alluvial sediment of glacial valleys using a sloping local base level

A new method is used to estimate the volumes of sediments of glacial valleys. This method is based on the concept of sloping local base level and requires only a digital terrain model and the limits of the alluvial valleys as input data. The bedrock surface of the glacial valley is estimated by a progressive excavation of the digital elevation model (DEM) of the filled valley area. This is performed using an iterative routine that replaces the altitude of a point of the DEM by the mean value of its neighbors minus a fixed value. The result is a curved surface, quadratic in 2D. The bedrock surface of the Rhone Valley in Switzerland was estimated by this method using the free digital terrain model Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) (~92 m resolution). The results obtained are in good agreement with the previous estimations based on seismic profiles and gravimetric modeling, with the exceptions of some particular locations. The results from the present method and those from the seismic interpretation are slightly different from the results of the gravimetric data. This discrepancy may result from the presence of large buried landslides in the bottom of the Rhone Valley.

Análise estratigráfica do Campo de Namorado (Bacia de Campos) com base na interpretação sísmica tridimensional

O presente trabalho analisa os reservatórios turbidíticos do Campo de Namorado, Bacia de Campos – RJ, com a apresentação de um novo modelo evolutivo para o intervalo entre o Albiano superior e Cenomaniano, na área do referido campo. As ferramentas utilizadas neste estudo consistiram da interpretação sísmica em ambiente tridimensional com o software VoxelGeo®, e da análise faciológica junto à perfilagem de poços do referido campo. A análise desenvolvida permitiu a individualização e a posterior visualização tridimensional de um paleocanal meandrante na base do intervalo estudado, feição esta até então não relatada em interpretações anteriores neste reservatório. Como resultado das análises sísmicas e faciológicas, foi possível elaborar um modelo deposicional, onde foram definidos quatro sistemas turbidíticos distintos, inclusos em duas seqüências de 3ª Ordem. Esses sistemas turbidíticos estariam, portanto, associados às seqüências de 4ª Ordem, que são interpretadas como parasseqüências, inseridas nos dois ciclos de 3ª Ordem. As seqüências de 3ª Ordem, que englobam os reservatórios do Campo de Namorado, representariam intervalos de alta freqüência no registro estratigráfico, dentro do contexto de afogamento (2ª Ordem) da Bacia de Campos. Pelas características da calha deposicional observada para o Campo de Namorado, é possível concluir que o sistema, como um todo, foi depositado em um complexo de canais, junto a sistemas de frentes deltaicas. Esses canais, provavelmente, foram esculpidos por fluxos hiperpicnais, formados a partir de inundações catastróficas. As informações provenientes deste estudo, proporcionaram uma melhor compreensão da gênese dos depósitos turbidíticos, acumuladores de hidrocarbonetos, no intervalo estudado, e cuja ocorrência está relacionada com etapas de rebaixamento relativo do nível do mar.

Interpretação sísmica e análise de atributos - área do levantamento sísmico 3D de siririzinho (Bacia Sergipe-Alagoas, NE do Brasil)

The main objective of the present thesis was the seismic interpretation and seismic attribute analysis of the 3D seismic data from the Siririzinho high, located in the Sergipe Sub-basin (southern portion of Sergipe-Alagoas Basin). This study has enabled a better understanding of the stratigraphy and structure that the Siririzinho high experienced during its development. In a first analysis, we used two types of filters: the dip-steered median filter, was used to remove random noise and increase the lateral continuity of reflections, and fault-enhancement filter was applied to enhance the reflection discontinuities. After this filtering step similarity and curvature attributes were applied in order to identify and enhance the distribution of faults and fractures. The use of attributes and filtering greatly contributed to the identification and enhancement of continuity of faults. Besides the application of typical attributes (similarity and curvature) neural network and fingerprint techniques were also used, which generate meta-attributes, also aiming to highlight the faults; however, the results were not satisfactory. In a subsequent step, well log and seismic data analysis were performed, which allowed the understanding of the distribution and arrangement of sequences that occur in the Siririzinho high, as well as an understanding of how these units are affected by main structures in the region. The Siririzinho high comprises an elongated structure elongated in the NS direction, capped by four seismo-sequences (informally named, from bottom to top, the sequences I to IV, plus the top of the basement). It was possible to recognize the main NS-oriented faults, which especially affect the sequences I and II, and faults oriented NE-SW, that reach the younger sequences, III and IV. Finally, with the interpretation of seismic horizons corresponding to each of these sequences, it was possible to define a better understanding of geometry, deposition and structural relations in the area.

Aplicação da modelagem estrutural computacional direta na análise da geometria de falhas: exemplo da falha de Baixa Grande (Bacia Potiguar - NE do Brasil)

The Baixa grande fault is located on the edge of the S-SW Potiguar Rift. It limits the south part of Umbuzeiro Graben and the Apodi Graben. Although a number of studies have associated the complex deformation styles in the hanging wall of the Baixa Grande Fault with geometry and displacement variations, none have applied the modern computational techniques such as geometrical and kinematic validations to address this problem. This work proposes a geometric analysis of the Baixa Fault using seismic interpretation. The interpretation was made on 3D seismic data of the Baixa Grande fault using the software OpendTect (dGB Earth Sciences). It was also used direct structural modeling, such as Analog Direct Modeling know as Folding Vectors and, 2D and 3D Direct Computational Modeling. The Folding Vectors Modeling presented great similarity with the conventional structural seismic interpretations of the Baixa Grande Fault, thus, the conventional interpretation was validated geometrically. The 2D direct computational modeling was made on some sections of the 3D data of the Baixa Grande Fault on software Move (Midland Valley Ltd) using the horizon modeling tool. The modeling confirms the influence of fault geometry on the hanging wall. The Baixa Grande Fault ramp-flat-ramp geometry generates synform on the concave segments of the fault and antiform in the convex segments. On the fault region that does not have segments angle change, the beds are dislocated without deformation, and on the listric faults occur rollover. On the direct 3D computational modeling, structural attributes were obtained as horizons on the hanging wall of the main fault, after the simulation of several levels of deformation along the fault. The occurrence of structures that indicates shortening in this modeling, also indicates that the antiforms on the Baixa Grande Fault were influenced by fault geometry

Estimativa da profundidade do embasamento na bacia potiguar usando inversão gravimétrica

The gravity inversion method is a mathematic process that can be used to estimate the basement relief of a sedimentary basin. However, the inverse problem in potential-field methods has neither a unique nor a stable solution, so additional information (other than gravity measurements) must be supplied by the interpreter to transform this problem into a well-posed one. This dissertation presents the application of a gravity inversion method to estimate the basement relief of the onshore Potiguar Basin. The density contrast between sediments and basament is assumed to be known and constant. The proposed methodology consists of discretizing the sedimentary layer into a grid of rectangular juxtaposed prisms whose thicknesses correspond to the depth to basement which is the parameter to be estimated. To stabilize the inversion I introduce constraints in accordance with the known geologic information. The method minimizes an objective function of the model that requires not only the model to be smooth and close to the seismic-derived model, which is used as a reference model, but also to honor well-log constraints. The latter are introduced through the use of logarithmic barrier terms in the objective function. The inversion process was applied in order to simulate different phases during the exploration development of a basin. The methodology consisted in applying the gravity inversion in distinct scenarios: the first one used only gravity data and a plain reference model; the second scenario was divided in two cases, we incorporated either borehole logs information or seismic model into the process. Finally I incorporated the basement depth generated by seismic interpretation into the inversion as a reference model and imposed depth constraint from boreholes using the primal logarithmic barrier method. As a result, the estimation of the basement relief in every scenario has satisfactorily reproduced the basin framework, and the incorporation of the constraints led to improve depth basement definition. The joint use of surface gravity data, seismic imaging and borehole logging information makes the process more robust and allows an improvement in the estimate, providing a result closer to the actual basement relief. In addition, I would like to remark that the result obtained in the first scenario already has provided a very coherent basement relief when compared to the known basin framework. This is significant information, when comparing the differences in the costs and environment impact related to gravimetric and seismic surveys and also the well drillings

Determinação da distribuição de um nível de turbidito na formação Macaé no campo de Namorado através de uso de atributos sísmicos

This study was developed on the basis of petrophysics characterization, 3D seismic interpretation, and rock-wire-log integration. The results were integrated with amplitude attribute through cross plot (rock attribute x amplitude value). 3D seismic data also allowed inteipreting the top of Lagoa Feia, Macaé, and Carapebus formations, and Outeiro Member. The analyses of the maps of structures and attributes, integrated with wire-log data, suggest that Namorado turbidite level is candidate to be mapped with stratigraphic attributes like AverageTroughAmplitude, RMS velocity and Total AbsoluteAmplitude. Lagoa Feia Formation attribute maps (Dip-Azimuth and TotalEnergy) allows to interpret a low fault density at the carbonate coquina level in the Namorado field. This level is also considered one at the best seismic reflector and an important reservoir of the Campos Basin.

Identificação automática das primeiras quebras em traços sísmicos por meio de uma rede neural direta

Apesar do avanço tecnológico ocorrido na prospecção sísmica, com a rotina dos levantamentos 2D e 3D, e o significativo aumento na quantidade de dados, a identificação dos tempos de chegada da onda sísmica direta (primeira quebra), que se propaga diretamente do ponto de tiro até a posição dos arranjos de geofones, permanece ainda dependente da avaliação visual do intérprete sísmico. O objetivo desta dissertação, insere-se no processamento sísmico com o intuito de buscar um método eficiente, tal que possibilite a simulação computacional do comportamento visual do intérprete sísmico, através da automação dos processos de tomada de decisão envolvidos na identificação das primeiras quebras em um traço sísmico. Visando, em última análise, preservar o conhecimento intuitivo do intérprete para os casos complexos, nos quais o seu conhecimento será, efetivamente, melhor aproveitado. Recentes descobertas na tecnologia neurocomputacional produziram técnicas que possibilitam a simulação dos aspectos qualitativos envolvidos nos processos visuais de identificação ou interpretação sísmica, com qualidade e aceitabilidade dos resultados. As redes neurais artificiais são uma implementação da tecnologia neurocomputacional e foram, inicialmente, desenvolvidas por neurobiologistas como modelos computacionais do sistema nervoso humano. Elas diferem das técnicas computacionais convencionais pela sua habilidade em adaptar-se ou aprender através de uma repetitiva exposição a exemplos, pela sua tolerância à falta de alguns dos componentes dos dados e pela sua robustez no tratamento com dados contaminados por ruído. O método aqui apresentado baseia-se na aplicação da técnica das redes neurais artificiais para a identificação das primeiras quebras nos traços sísmicos, a partir do estabelecimento de uma conveniente arquitetura para a rede neural artificial do tipo direta, treinada com o algoritmo da retro-propagação do erro. A rede neural artificial é entendida aqui como uma simulação computacional do processo intuitivo de tomada de decisão realizado pelo intérprete sísmico para a identificação das primeiras quebras nos traços sísmicos. A aplicabilidade, eficiência e limitações desta abordagem serão avaliadas em dados sintéticos obtidos a partir da teoria do raio.

Estudo da influência do lineamento Tibagi e Sinclinal de Torres na estruturação da porção norte da bacia de Pelotas

The area of this work is located along the Northern portion of the Pelotas´s basin. The onshore region extends from the Southern portion São Paulo State to the North of Rio Grande do Sul State, with a total area of 440 530 km ². The objective of the research is to characterize the main geological structures of the outcropping basement in the Paraná Basin and its correlation with the offshore portion of the Pelotas Basin. The characterization was performed through the integration of surface (SRTM images and outcrops) and subsurface data (seismic data and well logs), the method includes the use of remote sensing techniques and seismic interpretation. The main structures to be analyzed are the Tibagi Lineament and the “Torres Syncline in order to verify its influence on the geological evolution and deformation of the basin. As result, it was identified the continuity of the both structures inside the offshore basin (Pelotas Basin); but only the Tibagi Lineament represents an important structural feature in the offshore basin. In this sense, the Tibagi lineament shows a NW-SE direction along the both basins (Pelotas and Paraná) and it is defined by drainages and relief on the continental portion. It was classified as a graben structure limited by normal faults and it also was verified a trend of faults inside the lineament that cuts all the sedimentary package of Itararé Group from Paraná Basin. The Torres syncline is a structure that connects the arches of Ponta Grossa and Rio Grande, showing NW-SE orientation and a low angle dip in the NW direction. Its projection into the Pelotas Basin was not recognized by the methods applied in this work, because a preliminary analyze indicates that its projection corresponds to a structural high inside the Pelotas Basin

Caracterização dos reservatórios do grupo Macaé no Campo de Garoupa - Bacia de Campos - por meio de interpretação sísmica e perfis de poço

The study area is the Garoupa Field, located 75 km from the coast of Rio de Janeiro in bathymetric elevation of 125 m and it is the first important offshore discovery of the Campos Basin with hydrocarbon production in the Albian carbonates. The high significance of carbonate rock reservoirs for the global oil industry and its degree of complexity, combined with the fact that the Garoupa Field is a mature field, make this research project interesting to develop a re-exploratory vision of the study area. The objective of this paper is to characterize the physical properties of the Macae Group reservoirs in the Garoupa Field through well correlation techniques, petrophysical analysis and seismic interpretation (3D), in order to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the response of geophysical data to the presence of carbonate rock reservoirs. From the analysis of well profiles (gamma ray, resistivity, density and sonic) it was possible to identify six reservoir levels in the Quissamã Formation. As a result, the reservoirs have good correlation between the wells in the Garoupa Field and show lateral facies variation. In the seismic interpretation, structural contour maps were generated in time (ms) from the top of the Macae Group and two horizons that correspond to the reservoir levels. These maps show that the oil producing area of this field is a structural high located at the west of the interpreted seismic cube, and it was classified as a rollover limited by lateral faults forming a horst. The seismic attribute maps show a good response to the reservoirs of the Garoupa Field because they are associated with amplitude anomalies, verified by the correlation between the physical properties of the reservoir rock and seismic data through cross plots, with emphasis in a linear correlation between the resistivity profile and the values of Maximum Absolute Amplitude and RMS Amplitude attributes

Modelo petrofísico 3D do Arenito Namorado no Campo de Namorado - Bacia de Campos, RJ

The Namorado Oil Field represents the beginning of the oil exploration in Brazil, in the 70s, and it is still a subject of researches because the importance of this turbidite sandstone in the brazilian oil production. The Namorado’s production level was denominated “Namorado sandstone”, it is composed by turbidite sandstone deposited during the Albian-Cenomanian. In order to define the structural geometry of the main reservoir, geological and geophysical tools like RECON and Geographix (Prizm – Seisvision) softwares were used, and its application was focused on geological facies analysis, for that propose well logs, seismic interpretation and petrophysical calculations were applied. Along this work 15 vertical wells were used and the facies reservoirs were mapped of along the oil field; it is important to mentioned that the all the facies were calibrated by the correlation rock vs log profile, and 12 reservoir-levels (NA-1, NA-2, NA-3, NA-4, NA-5, NA-6, NA-7, NA-8, NA-9, NA-10, NA-11 e NA-12) were recognized and interpreted. Stratigraphic sections (NE-SW and NW-SE) were also built based on stratigraphic well correlation of each interpreted level, and seismic interpretation (pseudo-3D seismic data) on the southeastern portion of the oil field. As results it was interpreted on two- and three-dimensional maps that the deposition reservoir’s levels are hight controlled by normal faults systems. This research also shows attribute maps interpretation and its relationship with the selection of the reservoir attribute represented on it. Finally the data integration of stratigraphic, geophysical and petrophysical calculations lets us the possibility of obtain a detail geological/petrophysical 3D model of the main reservoir levels of “Namorado sandstone” inside the oil/gás field