Velocity Modeling in Areas of High Structural Complex in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Abstract

The Yaxche Cretaceous field is one of the largest economic interest due to their high cumulative oil production 32API, was discovered through the well Yaxche-1 in the year 1993, we should also mention that it is one of the most geologically complex reservoirs marine region, production in naturally fractured carbonate has resulted in the early invasion of water in most wells.

The presence of allochthonous salt, autochthonous salt, erosive discordance both Tertiary and Cretaceous entry and syndepositional listric faults in the Tertiary, among other characteristics, are one of the major challenges for the various technologies that currently exist; in this study is shown as using specialized technology and well established methodologies, it is possible to construct models representing multiple velocity variations and geological changes that are key to the success of a velocity model.

The methodology that was applied here, begins thorough analysis and quality control of the velocities available, such as velocity of wells, or those from seismic data (Rms Velocity) converted and later intervallic, they serve as a guide to the intervallic well, but only in some intervals of Tertiary. Previous to the velocity distribution, stratigraphic and structural analysis for the construction of the structural model in high resolution volume, in time volume representing the entire stratigraphic column, changes of thickness, displacement by faults, salt intrusion, deformation, etc. was held, and later distributed by different geostatistical methods velocities to different stratigraphic levels, but not before making an analysis of sedimentary input addresses to determine the anisotropy she must carry velocity distribution in each interval. Once built a golf interval velocities and performed the necessary quality controls, it was converted to average velocities and a correction factor to calibrate with markers from all wells, thus to make the conversion of horizons was used, these markers matched well with a variation of +/- 3 meters. Conversion of seismic time-depth data interpretation fault and bodies allochthonous and autochthonous salt was performed, as well.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90260 © 2016 AAPG/SEG International Conference & Exhibition, Cancun, Mexico, September 6-9, 2016