Seismic Reservoir Characterization: Including Sensitivity to the Overburden, Survey, and Reservoir Properties when Simulating the 3D Seismic Response to the Reservoir

The simulation of seismic data from 3D Earth models is an integral part of the decision process within the Exploration and Production cycle. Although major advances have been made in the representation of the Earth and the dynamic processes present within the reservoir, the accurate simulation of seismic data from these models still remains a challenge. Conventionally, 1D convolution methods are used to simulate seismic data from the properties within the Earth model. However, this process does not generally consider the effect that the survey and overburden have on the seismic signal. We look at why this is limiting the effectiveness of the 3D Earth model and consider why there is a need to incorporate the 3D illumination and resolution effects from the overburden and survey into the simulation process. We present a new methodology, which integrates rock physics modelling with a new seismic simulation technology to provide a workflow, which enables the explorationist to rapidly simulate 3D PSDM data that incorporates the illumination and resolution effects of the overburden and survey. Using data from an existing field off the Norwegian coast, we demonstrate how the perturbation of rock physics properties followed by the simulation of seismic data, which incorporated illumination and resolution effects, can be used to improve the accuracy of the 3D Earth model and our understanding of the reservoir.