- Home
- A-Z Publications
- First Break
- Previous Issues
- Volume 25, Issue 9, 2007
First Break - Volume 25, Issue 9, 2007
Volume 25, Issue 9, 2007
-
-
Advances in subsurface imaging technology boost the search for elusive hydrocarbons
Authors F. Dumanoir, B. Wang and S. BaldockFrank Dumanoir, Bin Wang and Simon Baldock, TGS (Houston) review the development of today’s highly sophisticated seismic data processing and imaging technology and discuss the challenges ahead. The remarkable improvements in data quality due to rapid advances in processing algorithms and computer technology over the past several years have been nothing short of phenomenal. The provision of 3D data cubes processed through pre-stack depth migration has given explorationists the ability to analyze and look for elusive reservoir targets in ever more complex geologic settings.
-
-
-
From time to depth imaging with ‘Beyond Dix’
Authors G. Lambaré, P. Herrmann, P. Guillaume, S. Zimine, S. Wolfarth, O. Hermant and S. ButtGilles Lambaré, Philippe Herrmann, Patrice Guillaume, Serge Zimine, Simon Wolfarth, Olivier Hermant, and Suhail Butt introduce a processing innovation to bridge the gap between time and depth imaging which goes beyond the familiar 1D Dix conversion. In many parts of the world, pre-stack time migration (PSTM) still represents the majority of seismic imaging activity in the industry. The reason for this is the simple efficiency and robustness of time imaging and its ability to focus seismic reflectors for many geological settings. Limitations of PSTM appear in the case of strong lateral velocity variations, where the more rigorous imaging and more accurate velocity models offered by Pre-Stack Depth Migration (PSDM) are required. In areas of moderate complexity, where PSTM begins to struggle we introduce a new, accurate method, ‘Beyond Dix’, to help bridge the gap between PSTM and PSDM.
-
-
-
A data processing and integration environment for the 21st Century
Authors J. Weigant and P. HahnJohn Weigant, vice president geotechnical applications, and Paul Hahn, software project manager, Geotrace, explain how their company went about designing a new seismic data processing system to accommodate today’s E&P environment. There has been much discussion in the last few years about the aging of our industry. In particular, the aging workforce has been a topic of some concern. An additional topic of concern is our ageing processing software infrastructure. While there have been many new and exciting technology developments within the last 10 years that have inevitably led to the writing of new applications, seismic data processing systems have remained largely unchanged. By these, we mean the monolithic applications that perform large scale, time domain, batch seismic data processing.
-
-
-
Predicting oil and gas production in Russia until 2030
Authors A. Stavskiy, I. Egorova, A. Moskvin, M. Puzanova and L. YapaskurtA. Stavskiy, I. Egorova, A. Moskvin, M. Puzanova, and L. Yapaskurt of the Mineral Group, Moscow, amplify, with more illustrations, their predictions made in a presentation at EAGE London 2007. There are more than 30 potential oil-and-gas provinces in Russia. Retrospective analysis of the current reserves, resources, and production in Russia since 1970 suggests that growth in oil and gas production is possible from now until 2020. In the next 10 years a small decrease in the oil and gas production is forecast.
-
-
-
Integrated land seismic and VSP survey geometries offer improved imaging solution
Authors A.A. Tabakov and K.V. BaranovAlexander A. Tabakov and Konstantin V. Baranov discuss their research into combining 2D and 3D land seismic with vertical seismic profile data to provide better imaging of small hydrocarbon accumulations and difficult geological environments. The increasing demand for detailed exploration of small hydrocarbon deposits and complicated structures cannot always be met by means of conventional seismic surveys such as surface 2D or 3D seismic or standalone VSP as they feature a number of significant limitations. Surface seismic (especially when carried out in complicated topographic conditions) suffers from near-surface uncertainties and strongly varying shot conditions which often lead to misinterpretation and decrease in resolution. VSP by its nature provides for higher resolution but can be carried out only in fixed directions. Furthermore, asymmetry of observation geometry in VSP causes amplitude distortions on resulting seismic images which cannot be compensated for.
-
-
-
Detailed velocity structure of salt domes in Pricaspian basin from refraction data
Authors V.B. Piip, N.G. Zamozhnyaya and A.K. SuleymanovValentina B. Piip, Nadezhda G. Zamozhnyaya, and Arsen K. Suleymanov demonstrate that seismic refraction data offers advantages in the imaging of salt domes. We demonstrate a distinct methodology from the standard approach to interpretation of refraction data. First arrivals of refraction waves received from deep long offset CDP surveys in Pricaspian basin were inverted by a homogeneous function method. We not only received velocity images but the detailed inner structures of salt domes, including structures below the salt overhangs and against of flank of salt body, and also fault blocks. The conventional method using only reflected waves coincided with the more detailed image from refraction data.
-
-
-
Straight ray datuming in 3D media: fast and flexible
Authors T. Alkhalifah, H. Innemee, C. Benson and S. SpoorsTariq Ali Alkhalifah, Henk Innemee, Chris Benson, and Sarah Spoors provide the background to a project sponsored by GGS-Spectrum which is investigating a statics innovation in processing based on straight ray datuming in 3D media and designed to be more effective than existing datuming options. Common datuming approaches, like the Kirchhoff or finite difference methods, require reasonable sampling of the sources and receivers. This becomes a serious limitation for datuming data acquired using 3D conventional land acquisition layouts, because of the typical sparse spacing of either the sources or receivers. To combat that, we extend Alkhalifah and Bagiani’s (2006) straight ray datuming (SRD) to handle 3D acquisition geometries. As in the 2D case, 3D SRD is based on straight-rays assumption above and below the datum with Snell’s law honoured in between. This allows for the application of SRD to common shot gathers in one operation (no need to sort the data to common receivers). Similarly, it can be applied to common receiver gathers without the need to sort the data back to common shot gathers. This feature allows for more flexibility in acquisition as it requires, unlike in the conventional case, either the sources or receivers to have a complete fine coverage of the area. In addition, SRD does not require detail description of the near surface velocity model, information from refraction static or any other commonly used method to obtain near surface time shift suffice.
-
-
-
Large-scale pore pressure prediction after pre-stack depth migration in the Caspian Sea
Authors N. van de Coevering, H. Hameed Al-Dabagh, L. Min Hoe and T. JollyIt is vital to the planning of drilling wells to have an estimate of the expected pressure regime to be encountered in the subsurface. Direct concerns are the safety of the personnel and equipment, in particular minimising the associated risks. Furthermore, it facilitates more effective planning and ordering of the required material. With respect to the reservoir, the right drilling mud weight is important. If it is too low, a blow out might occur and conversely, if it is too high, the formation might be damaged by invasion of the drilling fluid.
-
Volumes & issues
-
Volume 42 (2024)
-
Volume 41 (2023)
-
Volume 40 (2022)
-
Volume 39 (2021)
-
Volume 38 (2020)
-
Volume 37 (2019)
-
Volume 36 (2018)
-
Volume 35 (2017)
-
Volume 34 (2016)
-
Volume 33 (2015)
-
Volume 32 (2014)
-
Volume 31 (2013)
-
Volume 30 (2012)
-
Volume 29 (2011)
-
Volume 28 (2010)
-
Volume 27 (2009)
-
Volume 26 (2008)
-
Volume 25 (2007)
-
Volume 24 (2006)
-
Volume 23 (2005)
-
Volume 22 (2004)
-
Volume 21 (2003)
-
Volume 20 (2002)
-
Volume 19 (2001)
-
Volume 18 (2000)
-
Volume 17 (1999)
-
Volume 16 (1998)
-
Volume 15 (1997)
-
Volume 14 (1996)
-
Volume 13 (1995)
-
Volume 12 (1994)
-
Volume 11 (1993)
-
Volume 10 (1992)
-
Volume 9 (1991)
-
Volume 8 (1990)
-
Volume 7 (1989)
-
Volume 6 (1988)
-
Volume 5 (1987)
-
Volume 4 (1986)
-
Volume 3 (1985)
-
Volume 2 (1984)
-
Volume 1 (1983)