3D Subsurface Modeling of Multi-Scenario Rock Property and AVO Feasibility Cubes—An Integrated Workflow

Abstract

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A novel inter-disciplinary methodology for the generation of rock property and AVO feasibility maps or cubes to be used in subsurface characterization and prospect de-risking is presented. We demonstrate the workflow for 1D, 2D and 3D cases on data from the North Sea and the Barents Sea, offshore Norway. The methodology enables rapid extrapolation of expected rock physics properties away from well control along selected horizons, constrained by seismic velocity information, geological inputs (basin modeling, seismic stratigraphy and facies maps) and rock physics depth trend analysis. In this way, the expected rock physics properties of a reservoir sandstone (saturated with any pore fluid) can be predicted at any given location between or away from existing wells while honoring rock’s burial and thermal history at this same location. The workflow should allow for more rapid, seamless and geologically consistent subsurface mapping and de-risking of prospects in areas with complex geology and tectonic influence. The AVO feasibility results can furthermore be utilized to generate non-stationary training data for AVO classification.

Keywords

• rock physics
• subsurface characterization
• AVO modeling
• exploration
• basin analysis/modeling