Franklin J Goulding1,
Tim R. Garfield1,
Kurt W. Rudolph1,
Gerrick N. Jensen1,
Rick T. Beaubouef2
(1) Exxon Exploration Co, Houston, TX
(2) Exxon Production Research Co, Houston, TX
Abstract: Seismic
/Sequence Stratigraphy of deep-water reservoirs,
1.
Seismic
facies and recognition criteria ; Past experiences and new
observations
Seismic
facies analysis is a
method developed by Exxon in the 1970s for the description and geologic
interpretation
of
seismic
reflection parameters.
Seismic
facies are mappable,
three-dimensional groups of reflections whose parameters differ from those of
adjacent facies units. Application of this method for reservoir prediction hs
increased in deep marine settings due to increased exploration activity and the
paucity of well control.
Through integrated studies of
deep-water reservoirs in several basins, Exxon has made significant enhancements
to seismic
recognition criteria, mapping techniques and resulting depositional
models. The dramatic increase in the use of 3D
seismic
has made many of the
improvements possible.
Early seismic
stratigraphic
analysis recognized convex-upward external mounding as a characteristic of
deep-water reservoirs. Our current dee-water
seismic
facies classification
scheme builds on this earlier work and is based on reflection amplitude,
continuity and external form. Major reservoir-prone reflection configurations include:
High Amplitude Continuous Onlapping (HACO), High Amplitude Semi-Continuous
(HASC), High and Low Amplitude Semi-Continuous mounded and
"gull-wing" facies. The most reservoir-prone facies differ between
basins. In the Gulf of Mexico, the most reservoir prone facies is HACO whereas
in the lower Congo basin HASC
seismic
facies in confined channel complexes are
the most reservoir prone.
New techniques to interpret and
map seismic
facies on 3D
data
are providing the greatest potential for
improving our reservoir predictions in the immediate future.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90914©2000 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana