3D seismic interpretation, reservoir characteristics and petroleum prospects for South Marsh Island OCS Blocks, Gulf of Mexico /
The South Marsh OCS Blocks, located approximately 150 miles southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana, contain a 100-million-barrel oil field. In recent years, exploration in this area has focused on plays in Pleistocene salt-related rollover structures with reservoirs of fluvial-deltaic sandstones and p...
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| Format: | Thesis eBook |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2003.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Summary: | The South Marsh OCS Blocks, located approximately 150 miles southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana, contain a 100-million-barrel oil field. In recent years, exploration in this area has focused on plays in Pleistocene salt-related rollover structures with reservoirs of fluvial-deltaic sandstones and proven high oil-producing potential. After more than twenty years of exploration, exploitation and producing, this area remains an attractive target for exploration with its potentially high-quality reservoirs that have not been drilled. The I, K and L reservoirs of the Pleistocene have contributed to the majority of the production of over 100 million barrels of oil and near 200 billion cubic feet of natural gas. More than 90 well penetrations in these sands show great stratigraphic diversity within short distances, making the ability to accurately determine whether sand lenses have been adequately produced or bypassed essential for production opportunities for operators. New 3D seismic processing and interpretation techniques have been applied to interpret 3D seismic data with significantly improved accuracy. This has led to a renewed interest in the South Marsh area in an attempt to identify new plays and prospects. An interactive 3D-seismic interpretation has been carried out for the entire area. The objectives of this study are to conduct 3D seismic interpretation, to build a depositional environment model that encompasses the different sedimentary facies and sequence stratigraphic framework by using the prestack time migrated 3D volume and existing well control, to study rock properties using seismic modeling and well data to explain seismic attribute response, and to study the hydrocarbon potential of the area. Three horizons were mapped from well, seismic, and petrophysical data for the I, K and L formation tops respectively. Structure styles were well-defined by the 3D seismic interpretation. Well correlation has been completed for I, K and L formations throughout the study area. Reservoirs were studied vertically and horizontally. Reservoir types and properties were identified. One prospect related to the proven play of fault-bounded anticline structures was identified within the area. The plays involve the stratigraphic pinch out of basal transgressive sands deposited in the flank of the structure. |
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| Item Description: | "Major subject: Geophysics". Vita. |
| Physical Description: | xii, 69 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm. Also available online. Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68). |