Integrating 3D seismic data and hydraulic units to improve reservoir property models

Abstract

We present a new method for reservoir property modeling based on integration of 3D seismic data and hydraulic flow units, and apply it to an example of a producing reservoir offshore Western Australia. Our method combines hydraulic unit analysis with a set of techniques for seismic reservoir characterization including: rock physics analysis, Bayesian inference, pre-stack seismic inversion and geostatistical simulation of reservoir properties. Hydraulic units characterize regions and properties of fluid flow in porous permeable media, and are defined at well locations. However, usually the number of wells and their lateral coverage is extremely limited. In contrast, the lateral resolution of 3D seismic data is excellent, and this can be used to extend hydraulic unit analysis away from well locations into the 3D reservoir volume. We develop a probabilistic relationship between each of the hydraulic units defined at well locations, and the 3D seismic information. Reservoir models jointly constrained by 3D seismic and hydraulic unit analysis can therefore be useful to improve the production history matching process.