Improving Exploration in the Gulf of Suez Using 3D Pre-Stack Depth Imaging

By

 Jim Mika¹, Frédéric J. Billette¹, Dennis Yanchak¹, John Garing²

(1) BP Upstream Technology, Houston, TX (2) BP Exploration Alaska Inc, Anchorage, AK

 Amoco, and now BP, has been very active in the Gulf of Suez since the mid 1960’s. Time or post-stack processing has been extensively used in the past, but did not provide sufficiently accurate images sub-salt, where the hydrocarbon prospectivity is known to exist. In the last few years, we applied in-house modern imaging techniques to improve the understanding of sub-salt targets. The approach includes multiple attenuation using the SRME method, velocity model building using 3D tomography with residuals analysis on a fine grid, and Kirchhoff 3D pre-stack depth migration with massive usage of computers. In addition, we phase-matched and merged several surveys shot in various directions (also including OBC data) prior to imaging to ensure coverage continuity. We will develop the technical aspects of some our 3D imaging tools and use as illustrations imaging improvements obtained from the North central part of the Gulf of Suez down to the extreme southern portion of the Gulf, including the October, July, Ramadan, and Morgan oil fields, and the B-Trend.