Enhanced Prospect Definition Using Well and 4D Seismic Data in a Niger Delta Field

Abstract

We carried out time-lapse analysis in a producing Niger Delta X-field, by first investigating the response and sensitivity of rock properties/attributes to lithology and pore fill in 3-D cross plot domain and by Gassmann’s fluid substitution modeling. Furthermore, 4-D seismic data were inverted into acoustic impedance volumes through model based inversion scheme. This served as input into a multi-attribute neural network algorithm for the extraction of rock attribute volumes based on the results of the petrophysical log analysis. Subsequently, horizon slices of rock properties/ attributes were extracted from the inverted seismic data and analyzed. In this way, we mapped hydrocarbon depleted wells in the field, and identified probable by-passed hydrocarbon zones. Thus, the integration of well and time lapse seismic (4-D) data in reservoir studies has remarkably improved information on the reservoir economic potential, and enhanced hydrocarbon recovery factor.