Major geological surfaces of the Exmouth Plateau from the new Broadband PreSDM reprocessed 3D seismic data with full waveform inversion
Feng Xu Jian A * , Pooya Hadian A , Stephen Doyle B , Simon Molyneux A and Hongfeng Wu AA Molyneux Advisors, Perth, WA, Australia.
B Multi-Client Resources, Perth, WA, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 62 S442-S448 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21049
Accepted: 11 March 2022 Published: 13 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.
Abstract
The Barrow Sub-basin and Exmouth Plateau, of Australia’s North West Shelf, contain Australia’s largest gas reserves, underpinning the three major LNG facilities, including Gorgon, Wheatstone and Pluto. In addition, there remains significant near-field exploration potential such as the Sasanof prospect. While there is full 3D seismic coverage in the basin, the existing 3D surveys are of different vintages covering only parts of the basin with diverse acquisition and processing parameters. Multi-Client Resources has produced an extensive 3D seismic reprocessing project (BEX-MC3D) incorporating 23 legacy 3D surveys to provide a seamless 25 570 km2 3D dataset. The BEX-MC3D was processed from field tape through DUG Technology’s advanced Broadband PreSDM processing sequence with Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) imaging. The BEX-MC3D provides one continuous superlative 3D dataset covering almost the entire Barrow Sub-basin and the Exmouth Plateau. Major geological surfaces corresponding to key tectonic events from overburden to reservoirs have been interpreted from the BEX-MC3D Priority area in the current study. These high-fidelity imaged surfaces form a basin-wide framework for: (1) rapid exploration lead and prospect identification through the creation of trap and reservoir visualisations; (2) improved reservoir connectivity analysis and modelling of producing and discovered fields to support better reservoir management and field development decisions; and (3) improved understanding of basin-burial history for reservoir quality and geo-mechanical property prediction. This paper will present and discuss major geological surfaces in the context of future exploration lead/prospect identification, reservoir characterisation for field development and management, and improving overall understanding of the basin history.
Keywords: BEX-MC3D, burial history, infrastructure-led exploration, major geological surfaces, reservoir characterisation.
Feng Xu Jian holds a PhD in Geology from the University of New South Wales and a BSc in Petroleum Geoscience from China Petroleum University. He has more than 30 years of experience, mainly with Chevron in Australia and U.S. as a Geology Consultant on reservoir modelling and field development for Chevron’s major capital projects, also including 4 years with Roxar in Australia as a Reservoir Modelling Specialist and 3 years with Australia Petroleum Co-operative Research Center as a Research Fellow on reservoir characterisation. Feng is currently associated with Molyneux Advisors as a Principal Geoscientist. He is a member of PESA, AAPG, SPE and EAGE. |
Pooya Hadian is an experienced exploration geophysicist with expertise in seismic interpretation for play fairway analysis, reservoir characterisation and seismic acquisition/processing. He holds a PhD in CO2 Storage from Curtin University and MSc in Petroleum Geoscience from Tehran Polytechnic University. Pooya has more than 15 years of experience with Petropars, NIOC Exploration Directorate in Iran and Molyneux Advisors in Australia. He is a member of PESA, EAGE, ASEG and SEG. |
Stephen Doyle is the Managing Director of Multi-Client Resources, an Australian company he founded in July 2018 that specialises in the development, management, promotion and delivery of high-quality non-exclusive geophysical data products and services to the energy industry. Stephen is a geophysicist with more than 30 years’ experience in the upstream oil and gas industry. He has held senior executive positions globally with PGS and Polarcus as well as oil and gas operating companies – Arcadia Petroleum, Cathay Petroleum and Enovation Resources. He is a member of PESA, EAGE, PESGB, AIPN and SEAPEX. |
Simon Molyneux is the Principal Geoscientist and Managing Director of Molyneux Advisors. Simon has 25 years of experience acquired during his time at Santos, Talisman Energy, Shell and as a consultant. |
Hongfeng Wu is the Principal Reservoir Engineer and Director of Molyneux Advisors. He comes with over 24 years of experience, where he has consistently applied his unique process and passion for achieving elevated results in global companies like Shell, BP and CNOOC. He was Shell’s lead Reservoir Engineer for Prelude and Auriga in the Browse Basin, Australia and the Champion and Champion West fields in Brunei. Hongfeng’s career has overseen the entire project lifecycle that encompasses exploration through to development. He is a member of SPE and SPEE. |
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