720 N. Post Oak Road, Suite 285
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 823.2900
www.ofscap.com
ENHANCED AND INTEGRATED SEISMIC
TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW PLAY GENERATION
A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Marc H. Helsinger, PHD, Managing Director-Technology-OFS Cap LLC.
Seismic Stratigraphy and Geomorphology Analysis combined with multivariate
attributes plays a critical role in the complete integration and evaluation of exploration
and development projects. Seismic stratigraphic analysis, available to industry for over 25
years, is not sufficiently utilized. Such analysis leads to better delineation of depositional
environments, reservoir geometry, and potential porosity trends. There is enormous reserve
potential onshore and offshore Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast that have gone unrecognized as a
result of a lack of a completely integrated analysis. Large reserve potential can be found in
stratigraphically complex slope fan environments that are at depths that do not exhibit classic
amplitude anomalies.
The industry perception that there is a lack of available conventional large potential
prospects is unwarranted. Of all the wells drilled in the U.S. approximately 7% are
exploratory creating a large window of opportunity for companies that use state of the art
technology. In addition less than 5% of all wells drilled in the last 50 years have been to
depths greater than 15000 feet. At these depths with seismic resolution decreasing the use
of seismic stratigraphy and proprietary processing is critical to uncover the potential that t
industry is missing.
Companies need to focus their capital and energy where they have a competitive
advantage. Seismic Stratigaphy and Geomorpholgy Analysis combined with
proprietary processing and attribute analysis provides that competitive advantage.
THE CHALLENGE
Seismic interpreters work with huge volumes of data. Advances in seismic attributes
further increase data volumes with multiple attribute data sets. The end result is an
incomprehensible data management and interpretation challenge to the oil industry.
THE SOLUTION
The use of seismic stratigraphic and geomorphology analysis as a rapid data mining tool
is the key part to unraveling the puzzle of finding unrecognized new plays and prospects
OBJECTIVES
Seismic stratigraphy and geomorphology analysis is the key evaluation tool for a
complete regional basin analysis and configuration

Develop enhanced understanding of Sequence Stratigraphy and Geomorphology and
its exploration and development applications

Improve the prediction depositional environments with special focus on reservoir
facies, reservoir quality, reservoir thickness, reservoir geometry and continuity

Integrate and correlate well log profiles with high resolution biostratigraphy and paleo
bathymetry to define seismic facies

Integrate well log signatures with seismic stratigraphic signatures

Interpret sequence and system tract boundaries, external morphology and internal
geometry

Complete seismic facies analysis encompassing reflection configuration, continuity,
amplitude

Develop an enhanced understanding of slope depositional systems

Improve the prediction of reservoir quality sands based on seismic response

Improve the understanding of reservoir architecture of slope fan deposits

Petrophysical analysis of well logs and tying them to the seismic stratigraphic facies
CONCLUSIONS
Seismic Stratigraphy and Geomorphology when combined with multivariate attribute
analysis can provide a predictive exploration and development tool by delineating potential
hydrocarbon bearing reservoir sands.
Seismic stratigraphy can provide a framework to delineate optimum productive fairways
Future exploration and development success will be dependent upon the OPTIMAL
APPLICATION AND INTEGRATION OF ALL GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL
DATA AVAILABLE
The easily identifiable structures and amplitude anomalies have been drilled