SPECTRAL INVERSION TO RESOLVE THIN SANDS AND FAULTS IN THE HITTS LAKE FIELD, SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS

Date

2012-12

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Abstract

Seismic data are commonly inverted for acoustic impedance in order to image the physical layers of the Earth. However, the thickness of layers relevant to reservoir prospecting is often below vertical resolution. The conventional limit of ¼ wavelength for vertical resolution may be improved using an inversion aided by spectral decomposition. Spectral decomposition decomposes the two-dimensional seismic trace (amplitude vs. time) into a three-dimensional set (amplitude vs. frequency changing with time). Spectral inversion is the process whereby a seismic data volume is inverted for broader-bandwidth reflectivity of the Earth using attributes calculated from seismically decomposed volumes of amplitude and phase at different frequencies for input. These attributes exhibit a more beneficial interference pattern than traditional reflectivity, and the resulting spectrally inverted seismic survey can be verified using well data from within the survey area. This project uses spectral inversion to enhance the resolution of short-throw faults and Cretaceous sandstones in the Hitts Lake Field, located within the East Texas salt basin. The results are supported using wellbore synthetics and comparison with log-guided fault cutting.

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Keywords

Resolution, Spectral inversion, Spectral decomposition, Paluxy formation, Hitts lake field

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