Integrating Resistivity and Seismic Surveys to Identify Shallow Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

Direct current resistivity survey is one of the oldest geophysical methods used for prospecting natural resources. When integrated in interpretation with seismic investigations, it usually offers high quality results, even in difficult investigation settings and complicated geology. The purpose of the study was to enhance seismic interpretation of the near-surface geology using high resolution direct current resistivity surveys, in order to confirm structures of potential shallow hydrocarbon reservoirs. Resistivity surveys have been executed in an area in Romania where seismic data gave poor results for the near surface geology delineation. Either by constraining inversion or interpretation, seismic and resistivity surveys proved to be an efficient couple of geophysical methods for delineating near-surface geology even in high noise and complicated geological settings. Geological models could be built for the studied area and structures with potential for hosting hydrocarbons have been identified.