Improved Pre-Carbonate Imaging with Broadband Data - Offshore Malaysia

We present significant improvements in pre-carbonate imaging that has been one of the major challenges in deeper sections of offshore Malaysia. The deeper imaging challenges have been affecting the exploration and production activities offshore Malaysia for the past few decades. Presence of carbonate pinnacles, fine internal layering, karstification and rugosity provide a challenging task for data processing and imaging. These phenomenas mask the accurate imaging of deeper pre-carbonate target structures due to severe noise caused by the geological and geophysical complexities. The 3-D broadband seismic data was acquired using constant gradient cable geometry, and combined with appropriate and targeted noise and multiple suppression, detailed preconditioned velocity analysis and extensive gather flattening, has led to very good pre-carbonate imaging results. The seismic data processing workflows established in this project has opened the gateways for future projects of similar challenges and have given a new dimension in interpretation of carbonates and pre-carbonates section.