f Uncertainties – From Seismic to Accumulation through Hydrocarbon Migration Modeling

High success rates in the exploration for oil and gas can be accomplished by incorporating best practice strategies in estimating the geological uncertainties from seismic data and geological models. A tight coupling of the seismic information and hydrocarbon migration modeling may allow for a consistent handling of uncertainties throughout the analysis. Seismic uncertainties include velocities used for depth conversion, the positioning of structural interpretations - including faults - and assigning (flow) properties from seismic attributes. Needed output from the seismic uncertainty analysis could be provided as uncertainty fields that may be used as input to hydrocarbon migration modeling.<br><br>The non-linearity of the hydrocarbon migration process, including flow-path selection and trap phase filtering, frequently require that local uncertainties are addressed in more detail. These uncertainties may require high-resolution seismic analyses in order to be further resolved. The structural interpretation is of particular importance to accumulation uncertainties, and fault juxtaposition and carrier dip direction uncertainty estimations can improve phase prediction estimates in exploration prospects.<br>It is therefore suggested that an improved best practice for exploration for oil and gas should include a tight coupling of the handling of uncertainties from seismic in hydrocarbon migration modeling.<br>