INVERSION FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR RESERVOIR Supported by

CHARACTERIZATION OF OSI FIELD ONSHORE NIGER DELTA BASIN

A. Ogbamikhumi*, O. I. Imasuen and O. I. Omoregbe

Department of Geology, University of Benin, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: alexander.ogbamikhumi@uniben.com

Received: July 02, 2018 Accepted: October 26, 2018

Abstract: Well based feasibility analysis for the sensitivity of rock properties to variation in reservoir properties was carried
out to determine the best seismic inversion process to be adopted for the characterization of the undrilled areas of
the CHU reservoir in OSI field. Biot Gassmann’s Fluid Substitution Modeling and Castagna Equation were used to
estimate shear wave velocity in the absence of acquired shear wave log. Cross plot techniques such as V p/Vs ratio
against P-impedance, Mu-rho against Lambda-rho and Lambda-rho/Mu-rho Vs Lambda-rho were adopted to
evaluate the responsiveness of their respective attribute to lithology and fluid discrimination. The V p/Vs ratio and
Lambda-rho attributes gave the best indication of lithology types, while the Lambda-rho attribute demonstrated to
be an excellent fluid discriminant. Since the Lambda-rho attribute is a P-wave derived attribute and was sufficient
for both lithology and fluid discrimination, P-Impedance inversion will be the best technique for characterization
of CHU reservoir in the undrilled area of the studied field.
Keywords: Cross-plot, lambda-rho, mu-rho, rock-physics, seismic-inversion, Vp/Vs ratio

Introduction extracted from seismic. P-impedance inversion output elastic

Seismic inversion is the process of extracting from seismic properties that have strong relationship with compressional
data, elastic rock properties that conveys information of the wave velocity. Whereas, AVO inversion is a more complex
underlying geology that gave rise to the seismic (Russell, and effective inversion process that extract elastic properties
2005). Inversion provides information of the underlying with shear deformation influence as wave energy travels
geology using the derived impedance from the seismic data, through a rock. The availability of some input data such as
which is an interval property useful for estimating reservoir shear sonic log influence the applicability of AVO inversion
properties. Impedance as discussed by Veeken (2007) is an since it is rarely available in most wells due to the high cost of
important tool as it contains essential data from the logs and acquiring the log. Hence, where P-impedance inversion is
seismic data. Unlike seismic data which is an interface sufficient to characterize a field, AVO inversion is avoidable.
property, acoustic impedance is a rock property which shows The choice of the most suitable inversion process to execute
geologic layer and is also closely related to lithology and can only be determined by carrying out well base feasibility
reservoir characteristics such as porosity and hydrocarbon study.
saturation. Reservoir characterization is the integration of This research work focuses on carrying out a well based
different data to describe the reservoir properties of interest in feasibility study in order to ascertain the sensitivity of rock
inter-well locations (Mehdipour et al., 2013; Ezekwe and properties to changes in reservoir properties so as to determine
Filler, 2005; Hadi et al., 2005). Hence in reservoir the type of seismic inversion method suitable for reservoir
characterization, integrating seismic inversion processes with characterization the OSI field, onshore Niger Delta Basin.
various rock properties and other petrophysical studies can
help in efficient planning and further assist effectively in Materials and Methods
reservoir management. The adopted techniques involved integrating seismic inversion
The knowledge of rock physics is very important and serves feasibility studies with both petrophysical interpretation from
as the bridge that links elastic properties to the reservoir the well logs and rock physics cross plots. Well log data were
properties (Avseth et al., 2005). Rock properties are those used for this study. Hampson Russell suite was the
physical properties of a rock such as compressional wave (P- subsurface software used to complete the work. The data were
wave), shear wave (S-wave), velocity, bulk density, porosity, quality check for spurious readings after loading into the
compressibility and their derived attributes that will affect software reservoir. The CHU reservoir interval was delineated
how seismic waves physically travel through the rock (Dewar, with the gamma ray log and fluid type were defined with the
2001). Simple combination of compressional wave (Vp), shear aid of the resistivity, Density and Neutron logs (Fig. 1).
wave (Vs) and density properties can be used in generation of Petrophysical evaluation was done to estimate reservoir
all rock properties needed for the cross plots (Omudu and properties while elastic rock properties were generated from
Ebeniro, 2005). Cross plotting of rock properties from well sonic and density logs (Fig. 2). Biot- Gassmann (1951) fluid
logs is a very convenient and efficient way of studying substitution and Castagna (1985) equation were used to
various rock properties or their attributes at the same time estimate shear sonic log since the log was not acquired. The
(Burianyk, 2000). It shows quite decisively which rock cross plot analysis was completed using several crossplot
properties or their attributes will be helpful in discriminating techniques that include Vp/Vs ratio against p-wave impedance,
both lithology and fluid content in a particular reservoir. mu-rho against lambda-rho and lambda-rho/mu-rho against
P-impedance inversion and AVO inversion are two common lambda-rho.
types of inversion possible base on the kind of rock properties

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 Determination of Seismic Inversion Method Suitable for Reservoir Characterization

Fig. 1: Lithology and fluid discrimination in the objective CHU reservoir using well logs

Fig. 2: The raw logs, generated petrophysical logs and the defined CHU reservoir interval

Fig. 3: Derived rock–physics attribute logs and the objective reservoir interval

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e-ISSN: 24085162; p-ISSN: 20485170; October, 2018: Vol. 3 No. 2B pp. 972 – 976 973
 Determination of Seismic Inversion Method Suitable for Reservoir Characterization

Results and Discussion According to Omudu and Ebeniro (2005), high lambda-rho
Five acoustic rock properties were selected for this study; values indicate greater incompressibility as typically evident
Vp/Vs ratio, P-wave impedance, lambda-rho, mu-rho and in shale and highly compact sandstone Lithologies. Burianyk
lambda-rho/mu-rho. P- Impedance and lambda-rho attribute (2000) argued that water filled sandstones are more
are derivative of P-wave velocity that can be generated from incompressible than gas filled sandstones, and that the Mu-rho
P-impedance inversion while Vp/Vs ratio, mu-rho and lambda- attribute is insensitive to fluid change in the pore space of
rho/mu-rho are complex derivative that has shear wave and rocks. As observed in the lambda-rho Vs Mu-rho plot (Fig. 5),
AVO effect that depends on the presence of shear wave and shale lithology has the lowest Mu-rho values than sands and
can only be generated from AVO inversion process. These can be used to discriminate shale from sand (Burianyk, 2000).
rock properties were evaluated, cross plotted and analysed for The hydrocarbon bearing zone was excellently separated from
their sensitivity to variation of lithology and fluid to present the brine filled sand along the lambda-rho axis indicating an
the best attribute, cross plot technique and inversion type that excellent sensitivity to fluid change. Also, the attribute was
will be suitable for characterization of the undrilled areas in able to conveniently discriminate between the two lithologies.
the field. Therefore, Lambda-rho attribute can serve as an excellent
Three cross plot techniques were adopted for this study; fluid and good lithology discriminant for the objective
Vp/Vs ratio Vs P-wave impedance, Mu-rho Vs Lambda-rho reservoir in the field. Low values of lambda-rho with little
and Lambda-rho/Mu-rho Vs Lambda-rho. variation in Mu-rho are indicative of hydrocarbon sands
Low Vp/Vs ratio value corresponds to a clean sand lithology presence (Burianyk, 2000; Dewar, 2001).
which could be hydrocarbon saturated while higher values The cross plot of lambda-rho/mu-rho ratio with lambda-rho
defines shale lithology (Assefa et al., 2003; Ebeniro et al., gave a very good result for both lithology and fluid
2003). P-impedance values are higher for shales due to greater discrimination. The lambda-rho/mu-rho ratio is a complex
compaction response in shales, but are generally lower for average similar to the Vp/Vs ratio. The attribute show a good
sand and much more lower for hydrocarbon bearing sands. separation between shale and sand on the vertical axis, and
The Vp/Vs ratio Vs P-wave impedance plot of the CHU fair fluid separation between brine sand and hydrocarbon sand
reservoir interval and the top bounding shale shows three better than the Vp/Vs ratio in Fig. 4. The lambda-rho attribute
distinct clusters of data points (Fig. 4); each of the cluster in this cross plot again shows its superiority for fluid and
zone defined by a particular colour ellipse in the cross plot lithology discrimination for the study field. A very high
panel (the right panel) corresponds to the depth interval values for Lambda-rho/Mu-rho ratio and Lambda-rho defined
defined by the same colour in the well log panel (the left the shale lithology cluster, low values for both attributes
panel). In the well log panel, the first two tract houses the define the brine sand while very low value for both cross
cross plotted rock physics attribute while the last two panels plotted attribute define the hydrocarbon sand.
are the gamma ray and resistivity log employed to define the From the rock physics attribute evaluated in the cross plot,
reservoir interval and hydrocarbon presence, respectively. The Vp/Vs ratio and Lambda-rho were the best lithology
cluster points within the ‘Red’ ellipse is defined by a very indicators while the Lambda-rho attribute gave the best fluid
low value of Vp/Vs ratio and the least value of P-impedance discrimination. Vp/Vs ratio is an AVO attribute that can be
and this corresponds to areas on the resistivity colour coded generated from AVO inversion that require acquired shear
region with high resistivity value indicative of hydrocarbon wave log. But the Lambda-rho attribute that has been
presence. The area of the plots clustered within the ‘Blue’ demonstrated to be the best attribute for lithology and fluid
ellipse is defined by greater values for Vp/Vs ratio and P- discrimination is a P-wave dependent attribute and can be
Impedance. The low value of resistivity within the cluster generated from P-Impedance inversion from seismic.
confirms that the region is a brine sand since their exist Therefore, for seismic base characterization of CHU reservoir
similarity in Vp/Vs ratio that resulted due to fluid content in the undrilled area of the study field, P-impedance inversion
variation. A horizontal line inserted along the Vp/Vs ratio axis is sufficient especially as there are no acquired shear wave
clearly separate the lithology. Hence we can conclude here logs present in the field.
that the attribute is a good lithology discriminant compared to
the P-impedance attribute. For fluid discrimination, both
attribute are required.

Fig. 4: Cross section and cross plot of Vp/Vs ratio (Y-axis) against P-wave impedance (X-axis) colour coded with
Resistivity

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 Determination of Seismic Inversion Method Suitable for Reservoir Characterization

Fig. 5: Cross section and cross plot of Mu-rho (Y-axis) against Lambda-rho (X-axis) colour coded with Resistivity

Fig. 6: Cross section and cross plot of Lambda-rho/Mu-rho (Y-axis) against Lambda-rho (X-axis) colour coded with
Density

proved to be sufficient for CHU reservoir characterization in

Conclusion the undrilled areas of the field.
The inversion feasibility study on the CHU reservoir
examined both AVO rock attributes and P-wave dependent Conflict of Interest
rock attributes using three cross plot techniques; Vp/Vs ratio Authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
against P-wave impedance , Lambda-rho/Mu-rho against
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