Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Seismic Survey Planning and Interpretation in Widely Varied Tectonic Settings of Southeast Asia: Putting the Lines in Useful Places and Making the Most of the Design Tools and Resulting Profiles

William G. Dickson1, Mark E. Odegard2, James W. Granath3, and Janice M. Christ4
1 Dickson International Geosciences (DIGs), Houston, TX
2 Grizzly Geosciences, Sugar Land, TX
3 Forest Oil International, Denver, CO
4 J-SEA Geoscience, The Woodlands, TX

Recent papers by Christ & Dickson discussed means of ranking exploration prospectivity of and in the South China Sea region basins of East and Southeast Asia. Widespread coverages of raster data (gravity compilations including “Ultimate” satellite altimetry with enhanced bathymetry/ topography) augmented with published material can extend the interpretation of sparse 2D seismic lines to evaluate leads and prospects in such plays. The underlying data and methods can also promote efficient use of marine seismic budgets through improved line placement and good sampling of survey areas. Because the detail of `Ultimate` satellite altimetry permits the estimation of drainage areas associated with possible structural exploration targets, we can position seismic lines in optimum locations to determine: - adequacy of source rock burial - size and distribution of structures and - general influences on sediment distribution.

A second aim is to promote the correlation of interpreted trends and features between seismic lines, reducing the density of seismic control required for an initial evaluation.

Survey targets include gravity & magnetic highs & lows (to sample structures and sediment thicks) where burial and feature/trap size are deemed adequate by comparison to published seismic profiles and our sediment thickness mapping. The data and methods are versatile and can be used in basins across the area. Examples cover multiple tectonic regimes including passive margin (South China’s Pearl River Mouth Basin deepwater fan play), transtensional (Song Hong Basin of China & Vietnam), compressional setting with prograding delta (Baram Delta of Northwest Borneo) and inverted basin with overprinting by sediment distribution systems (East China Sea).