From Seismic to Simulation: A Versatile Multi-Scenario Workflow for Subsurface Trap Evaluation

This work emphasizes fast, interactive fluid-migration simulation to evaluate trap capacity and containment under multiple geological assumptions. Using a top-reservoir surface as the structural framework, we couple a combined spill-point and seal analysis with an invasion–percolation algorithm to route buoyant phases and compute trap fill, spill destination, and leakage pathways in real time (after Abrahamsen et al., 1998 ). Users vary fault behaviour (sealing, passing, or leaking), capillary entry pressures, column height limits, fluid properties, and entry locations; each change instantaneously updates closures reached, maximum fill levels, gross rock volume and derived net pore volumes, and predicted escape routes along faults. Scenario ensembles quantify sensitivity to uncertain parameters and support probabilistic screening by comparing volumes and risks across best-, base-, and worst-case configurations, including the impact of fault-seal uncertainty on retained column height. Crucially, the workflow maintains a direct link to the underlying seismic data, so every scenario can be cross-checked directly against seismic observations, including DHI responses, AVO behaviour, amplitude conformance to structure and attribute anomalies. This tight loop enables iteration from seismic to simulation, refinement of fault and horizon geometries when mismatches arise, and systematic ranking of scenarios whose simulated accumulations are most consistent with independent seismic evidence.