INTERPRETERS CORNER

Coordinated by Rebecca B. Latimer

Integrating seismic attributes for reservoir characterization in Melandong Field, Indonesia

SIGIT SUKMONO and DJOKO SANTOSO, Institute of Technology Bandung, Indonesia ARI SAMODRA, WALLY WALUYO, and SARDJITO TJIPTOHARSONO, Pertamina Upstream, Jakarta, Indonesia
eodynamically, Melandong Field in Indonesias northwest Java Basin (Figure 1) resides in an active margin area controlled by the subduction of the Eurasia plate in the north and beneath the India-Australia plate in the south. During the Tertiary period, the basin underwent two tectonic deformation phasesa tensional stress regime during the Paleogene and a compressional stress regime during the Neogene. The depositional process was also affected by these two tectonic phases and resulted in two main sediment groups: Paleogene synrift deposits represented by the Talang Akar Formation (TAF), and Neogene postrift deposits represented by the Baturaja, Cibulakan, Parigi, and Cisubuh formations (Ascaria et al., 2000). Major producing reservoirs in the basin are the Talang Akar and Baturaja. The Paleogene synrift Talang Akar Formation deposited in a fluvial environment in the older, lower interval which gradually changed to fluviodeltaic and shallow marine environments in the younger, upper interval. It consists mainly of interbedded quartz sand, lithic arenite, and shale with coal streaks. The early Neogene postrift sequences are interbedded argillaceous sands with thin limestones in the lower section which gradually change to the pure limestone of Baturaja Formation in the upper part. The postrift sediments are

Figure 1. Location of the study area.

characterized by karstification of Baturaja Formation overlain by transgressive sequences consisting mainly of fineto-medium grained glauconitic sands passing upward into the pure limestone of Lower Cibulakan Formation. Figure 2 illustrates the characteristics of prerift, synrift, and postrift deposits in the study area. Figure 3 gives the complete stratigraphic column of the Northwest Java Basin.

Figure 2. Illustration of the prerift, synrift, and postrift deposits in the study area.
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The main objective of the study was to complete a seismic reservoir characterization on the fluviodeltaic channels of Talang Akar Formation and the carbonates of Batu Raja Formation (BRF). Seismic reservoir characterization is a process to describe qualitatively and/or quantitatively the detailed character of the reservoir using primarily seismic data. The process generally has three main steps: delineation, description, and monitoring. Reservoir delineation is the determination of a reservoirs geometry, including the faults and facies changes which can affect production. Reservoir description defines the reservoirs physical properties (porosity, permeability, water saturation, pore fluid, etc.). Reservoir monitoring mainly is associated with identifying physical property changes during the production of hydrocarbons. In this case, it is mainly porosity that will affect the reservoir production performance. The integrated results were subsequently used to further the exploration and development of the TAF and BRF reservoirs. Methodology. Seismic attribute analysis is generally defined as a derivative of the basic seismic measurement. All available horizon and formation attributes are not independent of each other. The differences are in the analysis of the basic information contained in the seismic wavelet and their resulting seismic properties. For example, the acoustic impedance resulting from seismic trace inversion will give information on the product of velocity and density, while the instantaneous phase (from the complex trace) will highlight the information of wavelet phase. The attributes used in characterizing TAF and BRF reservoirs were: 1) complex attributes for the tops of the TAF and BRF surfaces, BRF facies identification, and mapping direct hydrocarbon indicators (DHI) 2) an rms amplitude variance attribute for paleogeography and facies analysis, and sand thickness mapping 3) acoustic impedance for porosity mapping The application of complex attributes. The computation of complex seismic attributes is Figure 4. Flattened instantaneous-phase section showing that the development of the TAF delta-plain basically a transformation to sep- channel was mostly controlled by the paleohigh normal growth faults. arate the information on amplitude and angle (phase and frequency) into distinct displays. phase shift from the real data, it does not contain new inforInformation in the seismic section will be mathematically mation but it can give a new perspective on the interpretamanipulated to produce a new display which will enhance tion because it often highlights reflector details which are the amplitude or angle component. The term complex obscured in real data. does not mean that the procedure and its results are comIn this study, the main types of complex attributes used plex but refers to the computation which assumes that con- were instantaneous phase and the cosine of the phase. ventional seismic trace data are the real part of a complex We know that phase will always have values between mathematical function. The imaginary component is ob- 180 and +180 and that, in general, as the real trace changes tained by applying a Hilbert transform to the real seismic from the peak to the trough, the instantaneous phase changes trace. The imaginary trace is identical to the real trace but from 0 to +180. On the trough, the instantaneous phase is with its phase shifted 90. It can be assumed that this rep- sharply wrapped from +180 to -180. Therefore an instanresents the potential energy while the real trace represents taneous phase display is like a discontinuous sawtooth due the kinetic energy of particles that are oscillating as they to the sharp change in the phase. To obtain a more norrespond to seismic wave energy. Imaginary trace data are mal display, the cosine of phase was used in this project. used as a basis for other complex attribute computations. Independent of the magnitude of peak or trough ampliBecause the imaginary trace is merely the result of a 90 tudes, the magnitudes of instantaneous phase are always
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Figure 3. Stratigraphy of Northwest Java Basin. The studied reservoirs were Talang Akar Formation and Batu Raja Formation (BRF).

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Figure 5. Cosine of phase section showing the BRF facies. The top of BRF is identified by the green line and the top of TAF by the magenta line. The red line shows the position of a 2000-ms time slice in the variance cube.

Figure 6. A closeup of cosine of phase showing the DHI anomaly as a flat spot and reversals of the sign of the cosine phase in a structure northwest of well Melandong-1. Red is positive and blue is negative. The extent of the flat spot (dashed yellow line) can be roughly mapped and is indicated by red rings in Figure 13.
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the same (0 for peak amplitude, 180 for troughs). Because of this, the instantaneous phase tends to balance the weak and strong reflectors. Therefore when analyzing instantaneous phase, it is easier to interpret the weak coherent reflectors such as unconformities or sequence boundaries (SBs) and reflectors with different dips (onlaps and downlaps) as shown in Figure 4. It has been widely known that the tops of both TAF and BRF were sequence boundaries (SBs) associated with regional relative sea-level drops. In the seismic sections, these two tops were characterized by distinct erosional truncation and onlapping/downlapping of seismic reflectors. Therefore for picking and mapping these two SBs, instantaneous phase was intensively applied. Figure 7. 3D visualization of the distribution of TAFs fluviodeltaic deposits using rms Using seismic stratigraphic concepts amplitude. which mostly rely on the geometry of the reflectors, the BRF carbonate facies can be grouped into the main reef, backreef, and forereef environments. To enhance the reflectors geometric differences for these three facies, the cosine of phase displays were used (Figure 5). The backreef facies is characterized by parallel, horizontal, strong continuous reflectors with high similarity. The main reef has mounded, discontinuous reflectors with low similarity. The forereef has sigmoid discontinuous reflectors with low similarity. As these three facies are also characterized by a degree of similarity, variance was used to map their distribution. DHI signature analysis was performed to locate amplitude anomalies such as flat spots, bright spots, dim spots, and polarity reversals which could be associated with the Figure 8. The attribute rms amplitude variance (horizontal axis) presence of hydrocarbons. Phase attributes again were plotted against gross sand (vertical axis) for TAF interval. applied intensively in this analysis because the phase attribute enhances the weak reflectors such as the flat spots or the cosine of phase reversal in the top of gas column and gas-fluid contact. In Figure 6, for example, the DHI signature is clearly displayed as cosine phase changes from positive to negative at the top of the reservoir and from negative to positive at the flat spot showing the gas-water contact. The application of variance and rms amplitude attributes. The TAF section was deposited in the environment from the delta plain to the delta slope (Priambodo et al., 2001). Further analysis using well and seismic data revealed that, in the delta plain, the TAF fluvial channels developed under controls of synsedimentary faults and the presence of paleohighs. To map the channel geometry and thickness of the sand in the channels, a combination of rms amplitude and variance was used (Figure 7). Variance, which measures the degree of dissimilarity, is applied to enhance lateral changes of seismic data due to changes of geologic conditions. In the variance cube, the main similarity measurement is in the crosscorrelation, which compares the center trace with neighboring traces by multiplying samples from the center trace times those of a neighboring trace within a window and normalizing by the autocorrelations of these two traces. Because the TAF fluvial channels were developed under controls of synsedimentary faults and the presence of paleohighs, the similarity of traces crossing the faults or paleohighs is generally associated with a low autocorrelation. Faults or paleohighs with significant vertical elevation are generally low-similarity zones which also occur if there

Figure 9. Plot between AI (horizontal axis) and porosity for BRF interval. The lower AI is associated with higher porosity.

are abrupt contrasts in seismic character due to stratigraphic or lithologic changes (such as in the case of channel sands). To evaluate the validity of this analysis, the well datas gross sand thickness was plotted against rms amplitude variance. A linear relationship was obtained where high variance or low similarity associated with a paleohigh was related to thinner gross sands and the high similarity was related to thicker gross sands of the channel deposit (Figure 8). However, since this relationship is based on data from just three wells, this conclusion is preliminary and must be applied cautiously. The application of acoustic impedance. Acoustic impedance (AI) is a rock parameter determined by lithology, porosMAY 2006 THE LEADING EDGE 535

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Figure 10. 3D model of TAF gross sand distribution using the attribute rms amplitude with thick sand; high attribute values (red) are associated with the thin sand.

variance. Low attribute values (blue) are associated

Figure 11. Time slice at 2000 ms of the variance attribute (time slice position is shown in Figure 5). Low variance or high similarity is imaged as a light color; high variance or low similarity is imaged as a dark color. It is apparent that the backreef and main reef lineament at well Melandong-1 are controlled mainly by the structure.

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Figure 12. 3D visualization of the distribution of the top TAF porosity derived from AI. The paleohigh was subjected to a more intense erosional process which in turn controlled the porosity distribution.

ity, fluid contents, depth, pressure, and temperature. AI will be controlled mostly by the P-wave velocity. Porosity and gas content have the greatest effect on the value of P-wave velocity. In this area, high porosity is usually related to low velocity and vice versa. Poststack seismic inversion techniques are generally used to get quantitative AI values from reflectivity. The applied inverse modeling algorithm, basically, is a deconvolution between the seismic record and seismic wave which then produces the AI section. The AI section will give the subsurface geology more detail than the normal seismic section, because the reflection coefficients on the normal seismic section will image the interface boundary while AI will image the layer itself. In this study, AI was used to map the porosity of the TAF and BRF. A crossplot between AI and porosity (Figure 9), as expected, shows a relatively linear relationship with higher porosity associated with low AI and vice versa. Results. Using the method above, the paleogeography and the facies of the TAF and BRF reservoirs were modeled and mapped. Figure 10 shows the 3D visualization of the TAF facies and the paleogeography using the rms amplitude variance attribute. From this visualization, it could be concluded that the channel geometry and gross-sand distribution in TAF were very affected by the presence of paleohighs and faulting during TAF deposition. The east-west tension stress system created paleohighs (horsts) and paleolows (grabens) bounded by NS, NNESSW and NWSE normal faults, which controlled the channel geometry and gross sand distribution. The NS and NNESSW faults played a more dominant role than the NWSE faults. The depositional extent of backreef, main reef, and for-

ereef facies of the BRF could also be deduced from the related variance attribute model (Figure 11). Two reef systems could be recognized; the Melandong in the southeast and the Wanajaya in the northwest. In both, the backreef facies, with high similarity, was imaged as a low-variance area (light color), but the main reef and forereef with low similarity were imaged as high-variance areas (dark color). The lineaments of the backreef, main reef, and forereef facies in both reef systems were NS, agreeing with the previous discussion that NS faults played a dominant role in TAF and BRF facies development. In the open basin between these two reef systems, several oval-shaped features indicating pinnacle reefs could be recognized. The linear feature of the barrier reef in the south end of Melandong reef system was also observed. An integrated analysis of the sequences and facies revealed that the depositional interval of the preTAF was related to the transgression which ended when sea level dropped. The depositional interval of TAF was also related to the transgression process which reached a maximum when BRF was deposited and also ended with a fall in sea level. Thus overall, the preTalang Akar, Talang Akar, and Baturaja sequences represent a transgressive cycle, with a depositional direction of NNWSSE and a landward direction to the north. Mapping porosity and DHI signatures. As discussed previously, the porosity maps for the TAF and BRF intervals were constructed from the AI derived from seismic inversion. Because the seismic inversion was completed for onshore data only, the porosity maps could be constructed only in these areas. Figure 12 shows a porosity map for a 10-ms window below top TAF. Red is associated with low AI and high porosity; blue, with high AI and low porosity.
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Figure 13. DHI signatures (red circles) overlain on the depth structure map of top BRF. Larger flat spots were more concentrated in the east of study area, possibly because the eastern area experienced more intense faulting which then increased the porosity of the rocks in this area.

Based on the porosity maps of the TAF and BRF, it was apparent that the porosity distribution in these two intervals was controlled by the NS, NNESSW and NWSE faults. In addition to the fault control, the paleoelevation also played an important rolei.e., the east has a higher elevation than the west and therefore was subjected to a more intensive erosional process and appears to have higher porosity. During the DHI signature mapping, six potential amplitude anomalies were observed. The first was in a structure northwest of well Melandong-1, the second and third were west of Melandong-1, the fourth was in the proximity of well KHB-2, the fifth and sixth were northeast and north of well Wanajaya-1. The observed DHI signatures were mainly evident in the BRF interval as flat spots and as a reversal of the cosine phase (Figure 6). Recent drilling results confirm the existence of hydrocarbons in the structure northwest of well Melandong-1 and within the Melandong structures. This technique for mapping DHI signature allows the extent of the flat spot in each anomaly to be roughly mapped. Figure 13 shows that the flat spots with the largest areal extent (within the red rings) were concentrated in the eastern portion of study area. This may be related to the fact that the east experienced a more intensive faulting and erosional process which would tend to increase the porosity of the rocks in the area. Conclusions. The integration of phase attributes, rms amplitude, variance, and AI has been successfully applied to the interpretation and characterization of the TAF channels and the BRF carbonate reservoirs in Melandong Field. The 3D visualization of the TAF facies and the paleogeography using an rms amplitude variance attribute concluded that the channel geometries and gross sand distribution in the TAF were highly affected by the presence of paleohighs and faulting at the time of the TAF deposi538 THE LEADING EDGE MAY 2006

tion. The east-west tension stress system created paleohighs (horsts) and paleolows (grabens) bounded by NS, NNESSW, and NWSE normal faults. These faults then controlled the channel geometries and gross sand distribution. The BRF carbonate facies can be grouped into three categories; main reef, backreef, and forereef. Two reef systems could be recognized; the Melandong in the southeast and the Wanajaya reef system in the northwest. The lineaments of the backreef, main reef, and forereef in both reef systems were NS, showing that these faults played a dominant role in controlling the TAF and BRF facies development. Integrated analysis of the sequences and the facies showed that the preTalang Akar, Talang Akar, and Baturaja sequences represent a transgressive cycle, with the depositional direction trending NNWSSE with the landward direction to the north. The NS and NNESSW faults also controlled the porosity distribution of the TAF and BRF. Paleoelevation also played an important role. The east, with higher elevation than the west, was subjected to a more intensive erosional process and thus has higher porosity. Because the east experienced more intensive faulting and erosion which increased the porosity of the area, the larger prospects were also found to be concentrated in that area.
Suggested reading. Play concept of syn-rift and post-rift sediments of Cipunegara low, northwest Java by Ascaria et al. (Proceedings of Indonesian Petroleum Association Annual Convention, 2000). Reservoir development in Talang Akar sequence, Cipunegara low, northwest Java by Priambodo et al. (Proceedings of IAGI & GEOSEA-10 Convention, 2001). TLE
Acknowledgments: The authors thank Pertamina Upstream management for providing the data, support, and permission to publish this work. Corresponding author: sigit@bdg.centrin.net.id

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