Application of Raypath Modelling to Verify the Mapping of Gippsland Gas Fields

One of the Victorian Government’s policies in the oil and gas area is to enhance the benefits to the State in the energy sector by assessing the nature and extent of the petroleum resources.

To evaluate the production capacity of developed and undeveloped gas fields, a comprehensive study was commissioned by the DITR in 1988.

The first step in a study of this type is to check the accuracy of the depth maps, to see if they adequately describe the reservoir geometry.

Raypath modelling, using the Advanced Interpretation Mapping System (AIMS – Version III), was carried out by Geophysical Services International (GSI), Sydney, on a number of selected profiles over the Snapper, Marlin-Turrum, Barracouta, Kipper and Emperor fields for the DITR. Input data for the models were extracted from the operator’s maps. The software simulates the normal incidence raypaths (or wave theory solution) for all shotpoints, and from this information it generates gather records and/or synthetic seismic profiles. By comparing the model data with those from data acquisition, processing and interpretation, it was possible to check the validity of the interpretation of the reservoir’s geometry.

This modelling work showed that the synthetic data were comparable with the acquisition and processing data, confirming that the depth maps (tied to well control) produced by the operator using its proprietary software are adequate and most likely to represent subsurface configuration of the reservoirs.