Seismic Stratigraphy of Upper Pennsylvanian Swope Limestone of Kansas and Oklahoma: Quantification of Thin-Bed Porosity Through Attribute Analysis

M. N. Austin, J. D. Pigott, J. M. Forgotson, Jr.

The Upper Pennsylvanian Swope Limestone is a prolific oil and gas-producing reservoir in central and western Kansas and northwestern Oklahoma. However, rapid lateral variations in the oolitic lithofacies impede the prediction of reservoir quality from available well control.

A detailed attribute modeling and interpretive analysis using MIRA (Oklahoma Seismic Corp.) software of Vibroseis-acquired and conventional zero-phase processed seismic was conducted on the Swope interval in Comanche County, Kansas, and Woods County, Oklahoma. Three discrete ranges of fluid-filled porosity thickness can be delineated: less than 1.5 m, 1.5-3.0 m, and greater than 3.0 m. Thin-bed detection below the classic 1/30 wavelength threshold is possible in this setting owing to constructive wavelet tuning from multiple acoustic interfaces.

Optimal application of this attribute modeling and interpretation method to oil and gas exploration and exploitation is controlled by the accuracy of the geologic model and the quality of the acquired and processed data.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91025©1989 AAPG Midcontinent, Sept. 24-26, 1989, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.