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Master of Science / Department of Geology / Matthew W. Totten / Ness County has contributed 30 billion barrels to Kansas oil production since 1995, and has been an actively developing county in oil activity. The focus of this research project is to identify the reservoir qualities that make Mississippian-aged production favorable. Modern day logging techniques and seismic data allow specialists to seek out subtle heterogeneities to an oil producing formation once thought to be homogenous. Having success with horizontal drilling in other locations worldwide, large oil companies have acquired tens of thousands of acres with the intentions of drilling into the Mississippian, although some have recently backed out of the area. While some horizontal wells are producing today, complications with the compartmentalized, relatively thin Mississippian producing zones and short production longevities make horizontal drilling a high risk technique. Better understanding favorable reservoir qualities are essential for future production and development of oil fields in Ness County. This case study utilizes different variations of post and pre-stack 3D and 2D seismic data shot on about 3,200 acres spanning over 8 sections located in northwestern Ness County. The physical and chemical properties associated with the Mississippian formation in this area can be better analyzed with different methods for processing seismic data. Raw seismic signatures show little variation within the Mississippi Lime/Dolomite. Utilizing Seismic attributes derived from raw data may bring certain featured hydrocarbon bearing zones into view. Attributes such as curvature and coherency aid in interpreting physical features within the study area while spectral decomposition, amplitude, instantaneous frequency, and instantaneous Q hold detailed signatures dependent upon rock properties.

This study shows how the use of modern geological investigative techniques can reopen old, “drained” hydrocarbon fields. Specifically, it looks at the White Castle Field in South Louisiana. This field has pay sections ranging from late Oligocene to late Miocene. The late Oligocene package is underexplored and understudied and contains 3 primary reservoirs (Cib Haz (CH), MW, and MR). This study established the depositional history of these reservoirs. During most of the late Oligocene, the White Castle Salt Dome was located in a minibasin on the continental slope. The CH and MW deposited in this minibasin. The CH is an amalgamation of slumped shelfal limestones, sandstones, and shales deposited during a lowstand systems tract (LST). The MW comprises a shelf-edge delta that is part of a LST. The MR is an incised valley fill located in the continental shelf that was deposited during LST after the minibasin was filled.

Upper to lower delta plain fluvial sand bodies, sealed by delta plain mudstones, form important hydrocarbon reservoir targets. Modelling complex geobodies in the subsurface is challenging, with a significant degree of uncertainty on dimensions, distribution and connectivity. Studies of modern and ancient paralic systems have produced a myriad of nomenclature and hierarchy schemes for classifying fluvial architectural elements; often lacking clearly-defined terminology. These are largely based on outcrop data where lateral and vertical relationships of bounding scour surfaces can be assessed in detail. Many of these key defining criteria are difficult to recognise or cannot be obtained from typical 3D seismic reflection data at reservoir depths greater than or equal to 2 km subsurface. This research provides a detailed statistical analysis of the Triassic fluvio-deltaic Mungaroo Formation on the North West Shelf of Australia, which is one of the most important gas plays in the world. A multidisciplinary approach addresses the challenge of characterising the reservoir by utilising an integrated dataset of 830 m of conventional core, wireline logs from 21 wells (penetrating up to 1.4 km of the upper Mungaroo Fm) and a 3D seismic volume covering approximately 10,000 km2. Using seismic attribute analysis and frequency decomposition, constrained by well and core data, the planform geobody geometries and dimensions of a variety of architectural elements at different scales of observation are extracted. The results produce a statistically significant geobody database comprising over 27,000 measurements made from more than 6,000 sample points. Three classes of geobodies are identified and interpreted to represent fluvial channel belts and channel belt complexes of varying scales. Fluvial geobody dimensions and geomorphology vary spatially and temporally and the inferred controls on reservoir distribution and architecture are discussed. Results document periods of regression and transgression, interpreted in relation to potential allocyclic and autocyclic controls on the evolution of the depositional system. Statistical analysis of width-to-thickness dimensions and key metrics, such as sinuosity, provided a well-constrained and valuable dataset that augments, and has been compared to, existing published datasets. Uncertainty in interpretation caused by data resolution is addressed; something recognised in many other studies of paralic systems. Given the data distribution, type and resolution, geobodies have possible interpretations as either incised valleys or amalgamated channel belts, with implications for developing predictive models of the system. This study offers the first published, statistically significant dataset for the Mungaroo Formation. It builds upon previous regional work, offering a detailed analysis of this continental scale paralic system and provides insight into the controls and mechanisms that influenced its spatial and temporal evolution. Focusing on improved understanding of geobody distribution and origin, the statistical parameters generated provide a robust dataset that can be used for 3D static reservoir models of analogue systems. Thus, helping to constrain potential geobody dimensions and reduce the uncertainties associated with modelling.

Submitted by MILENA CRISTINA ROSA null (mcr.geol@gmail.com) on 2016-11-14T15:14:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Rosa_Milena.pdf: 19467400 bytes, checksum: fa91b5605b8ee38726bb63bf4d4271da (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-11-17T15:10:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 rosa_mc_me_rcla.pdf: 19467400 bytes, checksum: fa91b5605b8ee38726bb63bf4d4271da (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-17T15:10:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 rosa_mc_me_rcla.pdf: 19467400 bytes, checksum: fa91b5605b8ee38726bb63bf4d4271da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-20 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Na Bacia de Campos, os reservatórios carbonáticos da Formação Coqueiros do Grupo Lagoa Feia, de idade eobarremiana-neoaptiana, representaram grandes e importantes descobertas de campos produtores de hidrocarbonetos na década de 70. O avanço dos conceitos geodinâmicos e geotectônicos sobre as novas e potenciais acumulações na seção rifte das Bacias Marginais Brasileiras, a partir de 2007, retomaram os reservatórios formados por rochas carbonáticas como atrativos alvos de estudos, devidos principalmente a grande importância econômica atribuída a esses reservatórios. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi compreender a distribuição das propriedades físicas dos reservatórios carbonáticos formados por depósitos do tipo coquinas (rudstones e grainstones de moluscos bivalves) e definir os principais fatores petrofísicos que caracterizam os níveis-reservatório (e.g. densidade, índice de radioatividade, composição mineralógica e de rocha, etc.) e os fatores que controlariam a qualidade do mesmo (e.g. porosidade, saturação de água e permeabilidade) com o intuito de compreender a distribuição geométrica do seu sistema permo-poroso. O presente estudo fez uso de métodos geológicos/geofísicos, como interpretação estratigráfica de perfis de poços, cálculos petrofísicos, interpretação de dados sísmicos 3D e interpretação e correlação de atributos sísmicos. Dentre os resultados obtidos, a análise estratigráfica permitiu definir os limites de sequências, em ciclos de 3°ordem, das quatro sequências deposicionais (Sequência Clástica Basal; Sequência Talco-Estevensíta; Sequência das Coquinas e Sequência Clástica-Evaporítica) que compõem o Grupo Lagoa Feia. A Sequência das Coquinas, que é o foco deste estudo, apresenta uma divisão, interna aos seus depósitos de coquinas, em seis níveis-reservatórios (um na Coquina Superior e cinco na Coquina Inferior) onde os limites estratigráficos estão associados a ciclos de 4°ordem. A análise petrofísica indicou que o principal nível produtor na área está na Coquina Inferior 4 (CI-4), e é o que apresenta as melhores respostas de espessura (35 à 100 m) e altas qualidades potenciais de reservatório para o Campo de Linguado (valores médios de Igr = 0,1; PHIE = 11%, Sw ≤ 18%), enquanto que no Campo de Pampo, os níveis CI-4 (valores médios de Igr = 0,15; PHIE = 7,5%, Sw ≤ 30%) e CI-2 (valores médios de Igr = 0,13; PHIE = 7%, Sw ≤ 26 %) apresentam potencial para reservatório. Finalmente, a análise dos mapas, construídos com a integração da informação de poço e os atributos sísmicos, mostra uma distribuição da propriedade PHIE, para o nível-reservatório CI-4, com alta influência da estruturação tectônica, indicando os mais altos valores seguindo as principais estruturas com direção NW-SE. O controle deposicional é um importante condicionante da qualidade permo-porosa, nesse principal nível-reservatório, isso porque a tectônica ativa e intermitente proporcionou a abertura de espaços de acomodação e a formação de barreiras que atuaram na seleção das fácies de alta energia, no acúmulo, no retrabalhamento e na consequente formação e preservação das melhores condições para a formação desses reservatórios. No entanto, para o nível-reservatório Coquina Superior (CS) a distribuição da propridade PHIE mostra que a tectônica-estrutural não influencia no seu sistema permo-poroso e consequente qualidade desse nível-reservatório, assim como na distribuição de suas espessuras. Tal análise nos leva a conclusão de que os fatores deposicionais como as oscilações climáticas foram os responsáveis na seleção e no retrabalhamento para a formação dos bancos de coquinas, assim como, os processos diagenéticos foram os que, possivelmente, mais influenciaram na distribuição permo-porosa dos níveis-reservatório superiores. / In the Campos Basin, the eobarremian-neoaptian carbonate reservoirs from Coqueiros Formation, Lagoa Feia Group, represented large and important discoveries of hydrocarbon fields in the 70´s. The advances in geodynamic and geotectonic concepts about new and potential accumulations on rift section of Marginal Brazilian Basins, from 2007, brought again the carbonate reservoirs rocks as attractive studies targets, mainly due to great economic importance attached to these reservoirs. The main objective was to understand the distribution of physical properties on carbonate reservoirs composed by coquinas deposits (rudstones and grainstones of bivalve molluscs), define the main petrophysical factors that characterize those reservoir levels (eg density, radioactivity content, mineralogical and rock composition, etc.) and factors that could control the quality (eg, porosity, water saturation and permeability) in order to understand the geometric distribution of its permo-porous system. This study employed geological/geophysical methods such as well logs stratigraphic interpretation, petrophysical calculations, 3D seismic interpretation and seismic attributes interpretation and correlation. Among the results, the stratigraphic analysis has identified limits, in 3 rd order cycles, to four depositional sequences (Basal Clastic Sequence, Talc-Stevensitic Sequence; Coquinas Sequence and Clastic-Evaporitic Sequence) that belong to Lagoa Feia Group. The Coquinas Sequence, focus of this work, shows a split, internally to its coquinas deposits in six reservoir levels (one in Upper Coquina and five in the Lower Coquina) where the stratigraphic limits are associated with 4 th order cycles. The petrophysical analysis indicated that the main producer level are at Lower Coquina 4 (CI-4), with the best thickness responses (35 to 100 m) and high potential reservoir qualities for Linguado Field (average values of Igr = 0,10; PHIE = 11%, Sw ≤ 18%), while in Pampo field, CI-4 level (average values of Igr = 0,15; PHIE = 7.5%, Sw ≤ 30%) and CI-2 level (average values of Igr = 0,13; PHIE = 7%, Sw ≤ 26%) have both reservoir potential. Finally, the map analysis, built with integration of well information and seismic attributes, shows a distribution of PHIE for CI-4 with high tectonicstructural influence, indicating higher values following the main structures with NW-SE direction. The depositional control is an important determinant of permo-porous system quality at CI-4 level, the main reservoir level, it is because the active and intermittent tectonic afforded the opening of depositional spaces and the formation of barriers to act on selection of high-energy facies, accumulation, reworking and consequent generation and preservation of the best conditions for reservoirs best quality. However, the Upper Coquina level reservoir distribution of PHIE shows that tectonic-structural does not influence its permo-porous system and reservoir quality, as well as the distribution of its thickness. This analysis leads us to the conclusion that the depositional factors, such as climatic variations were responsible to the selection and reworking of coquinas banks, as well as diagenetic processes were possibly most influenced the permo-porous system distribution on higher reservoir levels. / CNPq: 134409/2014-0

[pt] A melhoria nas técnicas de obtenção de dados sísmicos fez com que estes dados sejam da ordem de até terabytes, o que gera um grande problema no armazenamento e transmissão dos mesmos. No que se refere ao problema de armazenamento em disco, apesar da queda no preço do disco rígido, o avanço das técnicas de obtenção do dado sísmico e o barateamento destas técnicas de obtenção do dado fazem com que a demanda por espaço em disco cresça mais rápido do que a queda no preço do hardware. Outro fator importante é a limitação de espaço físico para armazenar todos os discos rígidos de forma a garantir a segurança da informação destes discos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar uma nova técnica de compactação para dados sísmicos utilizando a transformada wavelet 3D. É feito um comparativo com as técnicas de compressão atuais, que utilizam a transformada 2D. / [en] Improvements made in techniques for seismic data acquisition have led to data that are of the order of terabytes, which in turn creates the problem of data storage and transmission of them through the network. In regards to the problem of disk storage, despite the hard disk decreasing price, the improvement and reduction cost in seismic data acquisition techniques has pushed the demand for disk space to grow faster than the reduction of the hardware cost. Another important factor is the space necessary to store all hard drives, to provide security for information from these records. In order to tackle these problems this thesis presents a new technique for seismic data compression using 3D wavelet transform. It is also presented in comparison with current compression techniques which use the 2D transform.

This study integrates sequence stratigraphy of the Late Permian Toolachee Formation in the non-marine intracratonic Permian-Triassic Cooper Basin, Australia with 3-D seismic attribute analysis to predict the extent of depositional environments identified on wireline and well core data. The low resolution seismic data (tuning thickness 23 - 31 m) comprised of six seismic horizons allowed the successful testing of sequence stratigraphic interpretations of the productive Toolachee Formation that were based on wireline data. The analysis of 29 well logs and three 20 m core intervals resulted in the identification of eleven parasequences that comprise the building blocks of an overall transitional systems tract, characterised by a gradual increase in accommodation. The parasequences reflect cyclic transitions between braided and meandering fluvial systems as a result of fluctuations in sediment flux, possibly driven by Milankovitch climatic-forcing. The seismic horizon attribute maps image mostly the meandering fluvial bodies within the upper parts of the parasequences, but some maps image the lower amalgamated sand sheets and show no channel structures. Categorisation of the fluvial bodies in the overbank successions reflects a gradual decrease in sinuosity, channel width, and channel belt width up-section, supporting the overall increase in accommodation up-section. Similar acoustic impedance values for shales and sands do not suggest successful seismic forward modelling between the two lithologies. Geological interpretations suggest most imaged channel fill to be made up predominantly of fine sediments, as channel avulsion and abandonment is common and increases with time. Seismic forward modelling resulted in the interpretation of carbonaceous shale as a possible channel fill, supporting the geological interpretations. The three major identified fluvial styles; braided, meanders, and distributaries are potential targets for future exploration. Extensive sand sheets deposited from braided fluvial systems require structural traps for closure. Meandering and anastomosing channel systems represent excellent stratigraphic traps, such as the basal sands/gravels of laterally accreted point bars.

The use of seismic methods in hard rock environments in Western Australia for mineral exploration is a new and burgeoning technology. Traditionally, mineral exploration has relied upon potential field methods and surface prospecting to reveal shallow targets for economic exploitation. These methods have been and will continue to be effective but lack lateral and depth resolution needed to image deeper mineral deposits for targeted mining. With global need for minerals, and gold in particular, increasing in demand, and with shallower targets harder to find, new methods to uncover deeper mineral reserves are needed. Seismic reflection imaging, hard rock borehole data analysis, seismic inversion and seismic attribute analysis all give the spatial and volumetric exploration techniques the mineral industry can use to reveal high value deeper mineral targets. / In 2002, two high resolution seismic lines, the East Victory and Intrepid, were acquired along with sonic logging, to assess the feasibility of seismic imaging and rock characterisation at the St. Ives gold camp in Western Australia. An innovative research project was undertaken combining seismic processing, rock characterization, reflection calibration, seismic inversion and seismic attribute analysis to show that volumetric predictions of rock type and gold-content may be viable in hard rock environments. Accurate seismic imaging and reflection identification proved to be challenging but achievable task in the all-out hard rock environment of the Yilgarn craton. Accurate results were confounded by crocked seismic line acquisition, low signal-to-noise ratio, regolith distortions, small elastic property variations in the rock, and a limited volume of sonic logging. Each of these challenges, however, did have a systematic solution which allowed for accurate results to be achieved. / Seismic imaging was successfully completed on both the East Victory and Intrepid data sets revealing complex structures in the Earth as shallow as 100 metres to as deep as 3000 metres. The successful imaging required homogenization of the regolith to eliminate regolith travel-time distortions and accurate constant velocity analysis for reflection focusing using migration. Verification of the high amplitude reflections within each image was achieved through integration of surface geological and underground mine data as well as calibration with log derived synthetic seismograms. The most accurate imaging results were ultimately achieved on the East Victory line which had good signal-to-noise ratio and close-to-straight data acquisition direction compared to the more crooked Intrepid seismic line. / The sonic logs from both the East Victory and Intrepid seismic lines were comprehensively analysed by re-sampling and separating the data based on rock type, structure type, alteration type, and Au assay. Cross plotting of the log data revealed statistically accurate separation between harder and softer rocks, as well as sheared and un-sheared rock, were possible based solely on compressional-wave, shear-wave, density, acoustic and elastic impedance. These results were used successfully to derive empirical relationships between seismic attributes and geology. Calibrations of the logs and seismic data provided proof that reflections, especially high-amplitude reflections, correlated well with certain rock properties as expected from the sonic data, including high gold content sheared zones. The correlation value, however, varied with signal-to-noise ratio and crookedness of the seismic line. Subsequent numerical modelling confirmed that separating soft from hard rocks can be based on both general reflectivity pattern and impedance contrasts. / Indeed impedance inversions on the calibrated seismic and sonic data produced reliable volumetric separations between harder rocks (basalt and dolerite) and softer rock (intermediate intrusive, mafic, and volcaniclastic). Acoustic impedance inversions produced the most statistically valid volumetric predictions with the simultaneous use of acoustic and elastic inversions producing stable separation of softer and harder rocks zones. Similarly, Lambda-Mu-Rho inversions showed good separations between softer and harder rock zones. With high gold content rock associated more with “softer” hard rocks and sheared zones, these volumetric inversion provide valuable information for targeted mining. The geostatistical method applied to attribute analysis, however, was highly ambiguous due to low correlations and thus produced overly generalized predictions. Overall reliability of the seismic inversion results were based on quality and quantity of sonic data leaving the East Victory data set, again with superior results as compared to the Intrepid data set. / In general, detailed processing and analysis of the 2D seismic data and the study of the relationship between the recorded wave-field and rock properties measured from borehole logs, core samples and open cut mining, revealed that positive correlations can be developed between the two. The results of rigorous research show that rock characterization using seismic methodology will greatly benefit the mineral industry.

3D seismic attribute analysis of the Jurassic Entrada/Curtis interval within the North Hill Creek (NHC) survey has been useful in delineating reservoir quality eolian-influenced dune complexes. Amplitude, average reflection strength and spectral decomposition appear to be most useful in locating reservoir quality dune complexes, outlining their geometry and possibly displaying lateral changes in thickness. Cross sectional views displaying toplap features likely indicate an unconformity between Entrada clinoforms below and Curtis planar beds above. This relationship may aid the explorationist in discovering this important seismic interval. Seismic and well log attribute values were cross plotted and have revealed associations between these data. Cross plots are accompanied by regression lines and R2 values which support our interpretations. Although reservoir quality dune complexes may be delineated, the Entrada/Curtis play appears to be mainly structural. The best producing wells in the survey are associated with structural or stratigraphic relief and the thickest Entrada/Curtis intervals. Structural and stratigraphic traps are not always associated with laterally extensive dune complexes. Time structure maps as well as isochron maps have proven useful in delineating the thickest and/or gas prone portions of the Entrada/Curtis interval as well as areas with structural and stratigraphic relief. We have observed that the zones of best production are associated with low gamma ray (40-60 API) values. These low values are associated with zones of high amplitude. Thus, max peak amplitude as a seismic attribute may delineate areas of higher sand content (i.e. dune complexes) whereas zones of low amplitude may represent areas of lower sand content (i.e. muddier interdune or tidal flat facies). Lack of significant average porosity does not seem to be related to a lack of production. In fact, the best producing wells have been drilled in Entrada/Curtis intervals where average porosity is near 4 %. There are however zones within the upper portion of the Entrada/Curtis that are 40 ft. (12.2 m) thick and have porosities between 14% and 20%. By combining derived attribute maps with observed cross plot relationships, it appears that the best producing intervals within the Entrada/Curtis are those associated with high amplitudes, API values from 40-60 and structural relief.

The research focuses on analysis and subsurface imaging of siliciclastics rocks on steam-affected 3D poststack seismic data, merged from different vintages, from the Temblor Formation in the Coalinga heavy oil reservoir in the San Joaquin basin, California. The objective was identification, delineation, and demarcation of reservoir heterogeneities by seismostratigraphic and seismogeomorphic analysis. The proximity of the San Andreas Transforms greatly controlled basin evolution and caused substantial reservoir heterogeneity by changing the depositional environment from shallow marine to near-shore fluvial. Moreover, two unconformities dissect the reservoir interval. The seismic dataset exhibits erratic, distorted reflection strengths and amplitudes caused by steam-injection-aided production. A petrophysical analysis based on Gassmann fluid substitution suggests a 27% P-wave velocity decrease in steam-saturated intervals. Seismic to well log ties were problematic and vexing due to the resulting statics, wavelet changes, and line mismatches. Mapping and flattening on a deeper horizon, however, allowed mapping of the internal unconformities and well ties which were crucial for seismostratigraphic sequence identification. Visualization of seismic attributes brought out stratification patterns and two distinct, laterally and vertically extensive, porous, and interconnected facies tracts interpreted as incised valley fills and tidal-to-subtidal deposits as evidenced by bright, steam related amplitudes. Seismic attribute analysis, Geobody Visualization and Interpretation, and structure and isochron maps brought out two prominent channel-systems, recut and restacked in the central part of the area. These deposits were identified on seismic data and correlated to high-gamma coarsening-upward sands on logs and cores. The deeper one, shifting towards SSE with depth, lies between the Base Temblor and Buttonbed unconformities both in the southwestern and northwestern parts of the study area and is scattered in the western-central portion. The shallower one originates in southwestern corner below the Top Temblor unconformity shifts towards ESE-SE with depth, and runs nearly parallel to the Top Temblor unconformity. It cuts across the Valv unconformity in central part creating a channel incision, and follows the Buttonbed unconformity towards the north. The investigation segmented the reservoir into channels, non-channel bearing, and unconformity-bounded subunits which will allow the operator to improve steam injection and optimize placement of oil producing infill wells. / Ph. D.