Seismic modelling and inversion
Consultancy and technical services
Executive summary
Vp Vs and Density logs
In addition to Core Team and OnDemand consultancy
services, Helix RDS also offer specialist technical
consultancy and services in the area of seismic
attributes, modelling and inversion.
Our goal is to provide expert independent advice on
seismic inversion solutions to ensure that our clients
expectations are realistic and that their objectives are
met. Depending upon the optimum solution, the
workflows can then be outsourced and managed, or
implemented at HRDS with industry standard software
and proprietary techniques as approriate.
Background
3D seismic volumes potentially contain a wealth of
information concerning rock type and quality (lithology),
as well as fluid type (gas, oil and water). In order to Figure 2: Backus upscaling of well logs models the effects of upscaling on bed
extract this data, the change of reflection strength with sequences and helps set expectations of bed detection and resolution.
angle (AVO, or elastic response) is analysed as well as
the normal incidence reflections.
The process of predicting from well logs and geological
assumptions what information the seismic contains is
modelling, while the process of extracting rock & fluid Log based modelling of elastic seismic
properties from seismic data is known as inversion. response
Expensive high-end inversion can potentially be
avoided with fit-for-purpose techniques if the geology is The Helix RDS petrophysics team provides support for
understood. We offer impartial advice on optimal rock physics studies with log QC, repair and prediction.
inversion workflows, independent of inversion Genetic Algorithms / Fuzzy Logic (GAFL) methods are
contractors. particularly well suited to shear wave (Vs) prediction.
(See HRDS fact sheet ‘LogDoctor’).
Gassmann fluid substitution is used to check the
consistency of the database, and to model expected
fluid responses missing from the actual log data.
Elastic log attributes are then studied to gain an
Colour coded by
working interval
understanding of the reservoir rock physics. Attention is
Fluid focused in particular on designing an optimized
Shale Approximate relative inversion workflow for each reservoir. This can often be
impedance projection
angles predicted from achieved using a relative impedance approach, but in
GI log based forward
modelling - validate some circumstances demands 2- or 3-term absolute
Lith
Oil Sand these on pre-stack
impedance AVO techniques.
o
Water Sand seismic using
Well Seismic Fusion
Calcite The effects of bed sequencing and tuning are
examined, setting expectations for bed detection and
AI resolution.
2D modelling
Project specific elastic models can be constructed,
varying in complexity from simple wedges to complex
geological profiles, using the RokDoc Scenario
Figure 1: Gradient Impedance / Acoustic Impedance crossplots provide a convenient package. These are used to predict the elastic seismic
domain to study the rock physics of a reservoir. Projections in this space can be mapped response, taking into account bed sequencing, wavelet
directly to relative impedance inversion products from pre-stack 3D seismic.
and variations of rock & fluid properties.
Seismic modelling and inversion
Consultancy and technical services
Amplitude (tuning)
and timing analysis
of picked ‘horizons’.
Volcanics
Shale
Sand
Shale
<- Depth
Models can be simple or
copied from SeisWorks
sections.
Figure 3: Forward modelling of simplified models analyses seismic tuning and bed interference.
Examples of application are: Pre-stack well ties
- Resolving ambiguities between seismic tuning
and fluid induced brightening Our workflows are based on the ‘Well Seismic Fusion’
package from Landmark. This provides firstly a central
- Verification of reservoir time-lapse (4D) data repository, enabling pre- & post stack seismic-to-
response well ties. It also provides a suite of tools for log and
seismic gather manipulation, allowing:
- Calibration of spectral decomposition products
- Verification of AVO response in actual seismic
with model based synthetic gathers
- Optimization of relative impedance elastic
inversion products
Horizons transferred from
SeisWorks / IESX
- Residual phase correction analysis
Wavelet from SeisWorks / IESX
AI values extrapolated from wells
- AVO friendly residual NMO corrections
The results of this analysis will determine whether the
Spectral pre-stack seismic is of sufficient quality to deliver
Decomposition
of model inversion products, before committing to volume-wide
products.
Figure 4: Simplified well logs, workstation images, and the seismic wavelet were used
to construct a 2D model containing a thinning sand wedge. A ‘tuning cube’ was
produced, predicting that a 25Hz frequency slice could be used as a sand indicator.
Seismic modelling and inversion
Consultancy and technical services
Figure 5: Well Seismic Fusion is used for pre-stack well ties. Logs, seismic gathers, tie lines and pre-stack synthetics are displayed on the same time or depth scale. This allows
analysis of AVO response, optimisation of elastic inversion parameters, QC of NMO and mute functions and offset dependent wavelet extraction.
Enhanced relative impedance inversion relative impedance products are fluid, lithology and
ortho-fluid volumes. If required to populate a geological
model, horizon extractions from these can be calibrated
Helix RDS can offer relative impedance pre-stack
as maps using well control.
inversion services based around the ArkCLS ‘Seismic
Coloured inversion’ (SCI) package. The basic workflow
is enhanced using our proprietary frequency and dip
adapted 3D filtering to prepare the input data. Typical
Section through migrated stack amplitude volume Section through conventional coloured inversion volume,
with low frequency ‘striping’ evident.
Section through enhanced relative impedance volume
Figure 6: Enhanced relative impedance inversion. Before ‘coloured’ inversion is applied, the data is prepared using a proprietary technique to improve the low frequency
signal/noise conditions.
Seismic modelling and inversion
Consultancy and technical services
Case Studies Case History 3 – Modelling, pre-stack well ties,
inversion
Case history 1 - Elastic inversion feasibility Elastic inversion was used to aid interpretation of two
vertically adjacent UKCS fields. Forward modelling
A study was made of 8 wells with Eocene Tay sands in
demonstrated that previous zero-offset based
UKCS field, to determine the ability of seismic attributes
interpretation was compromised, as this alone did not
to discriminate lithology and fluid fill. Gassmann fluid
separate sands and shales, or highlight the fluid
substitution confirmed the seismic response of
contacts. The 3D data were reprocessed, and pre-
hydrocarbon filled sands. A study of seismic resolution
stack gathers tied at well locations. Optimized fluid and
set limits for detection of thin sands. It was concluded
lithology volumes were then produced using enhanced
that despite reprocessing, inversion was unlikely to
coloured pre-stack inversion, increasing confidence in
meet required objectives.
sand presence and OWC across the fields.
Case history 2 – 4D modelling
Case history 4 – Elastic inversion feasibility study
This study was part of a large, multi-discipline project to
This study of a Far East field aimed to set expectations
match 3D seismic, geological and reservoir models and
from reprocessing and elastic inversion of recent 3D
time-lapse (4D) seismic on a UKCS field. Several 2D
seismic, with the goal of determining reservoir quality in
models were constructed using interpreted 3D seismic
the presence of thin coal beds. The approach
and populated using well log derived properties. The
demonstrated the need for 3-term AVO inversion for
reservoir properties were perturbed, guided by
coal detection, used resolution analysis to determine
predictions from the reservoir simulator, and the
minimum detectable bed thicknesses, and designed a
differenced model responses compared to the observed
3D reprocessing sequence which would produce
4D. This process confirmed geological and reservoir
seismic data of sufficient quality.
model consistency and in the prevailing noise
conditions proved more attractive than a 4D seismic
inversion approach.
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