Smaller Operators Finding Profitable Applications Of Seismic Technology

(Tech Connections Column, December 2003, American Oil and Gas Reporter)

Having participated in the Society of Exploration Geophysicist’s annual meeting in Dallas, it seemed appropriate to focus this column on seismic applications. The first point to make is that conventional three-dimensional seismic can be profitably used by even smaller operators. A case in point is work being led by PTTC’s North Mid-Continent Region, where PTTC is documenting how small- to moderate-sized independents in Kansas have been using smaller scale 3-D surveys to find new Arbuckle reserves. These smaller-scale features could not be identified with well control alone, or even by combining well control with two-dimensional seismic data.

There have been about 400 square miles of 3-D data acquired in Kansas in generally smaller surveys, three-four square miles each. The estimated commercial success rate for wells drilled from this seismic data is 70 percent. Three-D seismic time-structure and interval time-thickness maps are valuable tools for locating smaller structures.

Along the Central Kansas Uplift, there has been a great deal of success using 3-D to identify topographic relief related to karst development at the top of the Arbuckle. In one instance, the operator of a quarter-section lease joined a larger 3-D project as a paying participant. When the data was acquired, the lease contained one dry hole, two abandoned producers, and produced only four barrels of oil a day from one remaining well. Two new wells drilled to access newly-identified highs both had initial potentials exceeding 70 barrels of oil a day.

Luff Exploration has taken the next step in integrating seismic and other data sources. With support from the Department of Energy, Luff has developed an intelligent computing system (ICS). ICS contains a series of software modules for analyzing large volumes of multidisciplinary data. The utility of the concepts and software modules have been proven through applications in developing Red River fields in the Williston Basin.

The integrated software modules are designed to be used by small teams consisting of an engineer, geologist and geophysicist. They are flexible and robust, working in many environments. Key elements include clustering and neural-network techniques.

The tools are used to transform seismic attribute data to reservoir characteristics such as storage, permeability, probable oil/water contacts, structural depth, and structural growth history. When these reservoir characteristics are combined with neural network solvers, they can provide a more complete description of the reservoir. This leads to better estimates of hydrocarbons in place, areal limits, potential for infill or step-out drilling, and ultimate producible reserves. ICS software, with example data files, is free (visit http://www.luffdoeproject.com/).

In a similar example of getting the most from seismic data, Seismic Insight Inc. of Utah has been adapting technologies developed for analyzing brain waves in the medical field to analyzing waveform differences in 3-D seismic data. Holding an exclusive license for oil and gas applications of the Thoughtform technology, Seismic Insight has been working to evolve the technology since 2001, moving the technology from merely isolating signals for oil and gas to finding signals that identify economic quantities. Using Contrast Imaging^TM techniques, the signals create a binary Contrast Volume^TM, which correlates with successful/unsuccessful wells. The approach requires data sets for areas that have both good and bad wells. Seismic Insight’s Web site (http://www.seismicinsight.com/) presents data showing both oil and gas applications.

Companies operating in the Gulf Coast may want to monitor progress on the Acadiana Technology Immersion Center, a 3-D immersive visualization facility being constructed in Lafayette, La. A joint project of the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, and the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, facility applications will include exploration, managing hydrocarbon fields, and high-end training. Contact Director Robert Schneider (rschneider@louisiana.edu) to learn about the facility’s timing and how you can benefit.

Those interested in learning how seismic is impacting recovery factors should consider participating in SEG’s Development and Production Forum, May 16-21 in Galveston, TX. This forum, titled “Increased Recovery Factors Through Intelligent Reservoir Characterization,” will include sessions on tight and/or fractured reservoirs, enhanced recovery, carbonate reservoirs, and passive and permanent monitoring. Various asset teams have been invited to share their experiences.

Everyone is aware of carbon dioxide sequestration initiatives. During SEG’s Development and Production Luncheon, Larry Myers from the Berkeley National Laboratory shared how seismic technologies would likely be involved. There are opportunities in enhanced coalbed methane recovery, enhanced gas recovery, enhanced oil recovery, and outright geological (subsurface) storage.

With storage, knowing where the CO2 is going is important, and 4-D seismic, or 3-D seismic surveys repeated at time intervals, can monitor that. It is also critical to know that the CO2 remains captured. Researchers are applying 4-D technology to monitor seal integrity, but monitoring at the low leakage levels required may be a challenge.