Reducing Exploration Risk by using an Integrated Approach: A Case Study from Offshore Suriname

Aiming at de-risking exploration by predicting stratigraphy and facies architecture in unexplored/ less explored areas, forward stratigraphic modelling (FSM) reconstructs facies architecture through geological time at basin or appraisal scale while honouring sequence stratigraphy models based on core, well logs and seismic data. Petroleum System Modelling (PSM) dynamically simulates the evolution of a sedimentary basin through geological time, assessing generation, migration, trapping and accumulation processes and thus contributing thoroughly to play assessment. It predicts accumulated volumes in reservoir formations as well as the quality of trapped hydrocarbons through rigorous compositional modelling. Using seismic inversion and Quantitative interpretation (QI) techniques we can transform seismic traces into lithologic properties, which helps to reduce the uncertainty related to reservoir quality.

These techniques results have different levels of vertical and spatial resolution and extent, but each provides valuable information about geological properties and petroleum system elements, by integrating the results from these techniques we can reduce exploration risk. This paper describe the integration of FSM, PSM and Seismic QI studies to de-risk the identified leads/ prospects in exploration block located in Offshore Suriname basin.