Few considerations, warnings and benefits for the E&P industry when incorporating stratifications inside salt sections

Abstract

This article presents a review of procedures and techniques describing the importance of considering the stratification within the evaporitic section, combining seismic attributes and well information during the processes of seismic migration, in order to build seismic images closer to the geological realities. A new nomenclature is proposed, reflecting the interval velocity and density behavior of different salt strata. The study also reviews the parameters for geomechanical simulations of the reservoir seals, allowing better decisions in terms of production and/or injection rates, among others. The incorporation of intra-salt heterogeneities, or stratifications, allows for a better prediction of operational aspects such as mud weight and penetration rates, which are essential information for drilling safety, and economy. Important considerations about the lithotypes were carried, especially concerning the accumulated frequency of occurrence, the evaporites cyclicity, salt movements, etc. The data resolution, when comparing well models versus seismic models, was another important aspect considered in this review, with emphasis on the uncertainty analysis.