Amplitude versus Offset (AVO) Processing and Interpretation in The Greater Pratu Tao Area of The S1 Concession

by Robert Gardham and Suhattaya Kaewla-iad

Contents
Introduction Objectives Geological Setting Seismic in The Greater Pratu Tao Area
Acquisition Processing

AVO Response of The Seismic Amplitudes in The Greater Pratu Tao Area Conclusions Thai Shell

Introduction
The Greater Pratu Tao (GPTO) area is part of the S1 Concession within the Sukhothai and Phitsanulok provinces. Six exploration wells were drilled in this area with somewhat disappointing results, which are mainly due to offstructure drilling (interpretation based on 2D seismic data). 3D seismic survey was acquired in 1983/84 to improve the structural Thai Shell resolution.

Introduction (cont)
In 1999/2000, re-processing review was applied in GPTO area in order to improve subsurface image and to obtain more structural information. The AVO studies in Phase I presented the preliminary evaluation and qualitative results. The Studies in Phase II would be quantitative interpretation combined petrophysical evaluation.
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Thai Shell

GPTO 3D seismic survey

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Objectives
To perform preliminary evaluation AVO processing and qualitative interpretation as a direct hydrocarbon indicator. To indicate constraints in AVO interpretation. To provide potential area for drilling exploration well, Wat Taen BA.
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Geological Setting
Depositional Environment and Stratigraphy: Pre-Tertiary
Most of Pre-Tertiary rocks are metasediments, metamorphics, volcanics and igneous basement litologies.

Tertiary
The predominant depositional environments were open lacustrine, fluvial plain and basin margin alluvial fans. Thai Shell

W
5 OROGENIC EVENTS
PLIOCENE-RECENT IV TRANSPRESSION

E
PING FM YOM FM PRATU TAO FM
~15.10 Y
6 6

STRATIGRAPHY

10

Basaltic Rhyolitic Volcanism

III TRANSTENSION TRANSPRESSION

137.10 Y

MIOCENE

LATE MIDDLE EARLY Himalayan Orogeny Asia / India Collision

Phitsanulok Group Fluvio Lucustrine ?

15

II EXTENSIONTRANSPRESSION

20

I EXTENSION

~17.10 Y

OLIGOCENE EOCENE PALEOCENE CRATACEOUS JURASSIC TRIASSIC PERMIAN CARBONIFEROUS

CHUM SAENG FM
30

Khorat Group Indosinian IV Shan Thai / Indosinian Blocks Collision Marine Sediments Not Differenciated 40

SARABOP FM

LKU FM
KHOM
FM

NONG BUA FM
50 Seismic Horizon ~30-23.10 Y
6

Fig.
2

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Geological Setting (cont)

Structural Framework: The riedel fault patterns are dominated by N-S and NW-SE trending faults. Faults control the occurrence of hydrocarbon accumulations via the formation traps (juxtaposition and clear smear) and their influence on basinal sedimentation.
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NE SW

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Seismic
Acquisition: The 1983/84 GPTO 3D seismic survey was acquired by Companie Generale Geophysique (CGG) using swath/split spread technique. A total of twenty swaths covered a rectangular area of 447.53 km2. Shot spacing was 60 m in the cross-line direction and 360 m in the in-line direction.

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Seismic (cont)
Acquisition: Spread configuration: Minimum offset 42.4 m Maximum offset 2358 m Normal coverage 12 fold (3 fold in X; 4 fold in Y) CDP sampling 30 m x 30 m

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Seismic (cont)
Processing: GSI Processing Sequence
The survey was originally processed by Geophysical Services International (GSI Singapore) in 1985. The original processing objective was to enable an accurate structural and stratigraphic interpretation of the GPTO area, especially the deep target area.

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Seismic (cont)
Processing: Processing review by Shell Geoscience Services
The re-processing of seismic survey in 1999/2000, using powerful high resolution processing SIPMAP software and EPSI technology, were to improve the structural image and to enable AVO studies to lower the exploration risk.

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AVO Response
of The Seismic Amplitude in The GPTO Area Introduction to AVO: Amplitude versus Offset is performed on seismic data to determine the reflection amplitude behaviour with changing offsets between shot and receiver. This can indicate the difference between a hydrocarbon- and waterfilled reservoir.
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Far offset Near offset Sn R3 S3 Rn S2 S1 R1 R2

Reflect or CMP

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AVO Response
of The Seismic Amplitudes in The GPTO Area (cont) AVO Processing: Near and Far EPSI
Near Blanking Far Blanking Full Blanking

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AVO Response
of The Seismic Amplitudes in The GPTO Area (cont) AVO Interpretation:
Lan Krabu Sands Plane-wave reflection coefficients at the top of each Rutherford and Williams (1989) classification of gas sand. Class IV sands, not discussed by Rutherford and Williams, have a negative normal-incidence reflection coefficient, but decrease in amplitude magnitude with offset. Yom/PTO Sands

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AVO Response
of The Seismic Amplitudes in The GPTO Area (cont) AVO Interpretation: AVO effect in Top K Formation surrounding Wat Taen A01 (WTNA01) area.

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E W N

In-line 280

Oil in Top K Fm.

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Near Stack

Far Stack

RC +

RC -

Normal Stack

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RC +

RC -

RC +

RC -

Amplitude extraction from near stack

Amplitude extraction from far stack

Amplitude extraction from farnear difference.

RC +

RC -

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AVO Response
of The Seismic Amplitudes in The GPTO Area (cont) AVO Interpretation: Limitation of AVO studies due to poor offset sampling in Lower Pratu Tao Formation surrounding Nong Tum A01 (NTM-A01) area. Prospect is deeper than maximum offset.

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E W N

In-line 370

Oil in Lower Pratu Tao Fm.

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Near Stack

Far Stack

RC +

RC -

Normal Stack

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RC +

RC -

RC +

RC -

Amplitude extraction from near stack

Amplitude extraction from far stack

RC +

RC -

Amplitude extraction from farnear difference

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AVO Response
of The Seismic Amplitudes in The GPTO Area (cont) AVO Interpretation: The first well to potential prove this concept in fluviatile sediments of the Pratu Tao Formation will be drilled in 2000, Wat Tean BA (WTN-BA)

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E W N

Anomal y

In-line 341

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Near Stack

Far Stack

RC +

RC -

Normal Stack

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RC +

RC -

RC +

RC -

Amplitude extraction from near stack

RC + RC -

Amplitude extraction from far stack

Amplitude extraction from farnear difference

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Conclusions
AVO studies allow the prediction of hydrocarbon fill in the prospect of GPTO area. The concept will be confirmed by further drilling programme. Success in deeper prospects may be constrained by limited offset in land seismic data. Further studies in petrophysical evaluation would be continued in Phase Thai Shell II.