Sonic-Density relationship for Southern North Sea Evaporites
Milos Savic, MILitho Ltd
Summary
A sonic-density relation for “forgotten” evaporite data is
presented to compliment the classical Gardner et al. study
(1974). The fourth order polynomial function should be
used for Southern North Sea well ties where no density data
is available. It is applicable in the Zechstein interval only.
Outside this interval, in clastic sediments, the Gardner
relationship with locally derived coefficients should be
used. Synthetic density data match measured density data
very accurately. Unreliable sonic values should be removed
(or flagged) prior to synthetic density generation. Accuracy
of synthetic seismograms is dramatically improved if the
new method is used to generate missing density data in the
overburden. This in turn allows much better deterministic
wavelet estimation. Wavelets derived in such a way can be
used for seismic inversion that provides more reliable input
for Permian (Rotliegendes Leman) as well as Carbiniferous
(Lower Ketch, Murdoch etc.) reservoir characterization.
Introduction
One of the main reasons for well misties in SNS is the lack
of reliable density logs. A typical SNS well often contains a
decent long sonic run and very short density run1.
Experienced interpreters dealing with SNS can often
identify the key seismic events with good confidence; the
most important and easily recognized is Top Rotliegendes .
But when they generate synthetic traces they rarely provide
an accurate amplitude match. The main reason for this is
the lack of long enough and reliable density logs. For many
interpreters this is not a big concern since they use seismic
data for structural interpretation only. Recent requirements
to “push the seismic to the limit” to provide lithologic
discrimination, reservoir quality mapping and in some
cases even to distinguish the fluid type put much stricter
demands on good quality well to seismic ties. Most of the
modern seismic reservoir characterisation techniques
require seismic inversion as a starting point. Successful
seismic inversion requires a reliable wavelet.
Deterministic2 wavelet estimation techniques require
synthetics that extend over several (two to three) wavelet
1
Neutron-Density tool is typically used only for final log runs
through reservoir.
2
Where the wavelet is estimated directly by matching the well log
reflectivity with the seismic at the same location. Statistical
wavelet estimation techniques analyse seismic data only.
SEG/New Orleans 2006 Annual Meeting
lengths. Available density logs are seldom long enough to
provide reliable wavelet estimation. To extend the density
log into the overburden one faces a choice of setting a
constant value for density (estimating reflectivity from
velocity only) or using a standard Gardner velocity-density
relationship3 to generate a synthetic density log. Choosing
the constant value for density is a very poor approximation
since density plays a significant part in impedance contrast
in evaporites. The famous Gardner velocity-density
relationship was derived along a trend covering “main”
litho types: sands, shales, limestones, and dolomites. Rock
salt (halite) and anhydrite are “left behind” since these
lithologies are not “lined-up” with the rest and at the time
they did not seem to have a direct influence related to
“diagnostic for stratigraphic traps”. What is shown here is
the fact that in the Southern North Sea Gas Basin
evaporites play an important role since they often form the
main seal for Leman reservoirs. A simple fourth order
polynomial is provided that gives a relationship between
formation density and P-velocity for the main evaporite
types: rock-salt (halite), dolomite and anhydrite.
Interestingly enough the polynomial also handles “unusual”
Potassium rich salts and polihalites that are on the trend
connecting halite and dolomite clouds. This polynomial can
be used in any simple program to generate reliable
synthetic density logs4. The typical interval for application
is between Top Zechstein and Base Basal Anhydrite.
Outside this interval the standard (or locally modified)
Gardner relationship can be used.
Method
A fourth order polynomial that gives a sonic-density
relationship for Zechstein evaporites is generated from six
wells that have both sonic and either complete or partial
density log available over the Zechstein interval. A multi-
well sonic-density cross plot shown in Figure 1 was used to
fit the polynomial. Outlying points were excluded in order
to improve precision. This was achieved by drawing a zone
around the main evaporite clouds (elongated polygon in
blue). The polynomial is given as:
3
ρ = 0.23*Vp0.25 – Some tools allow constants ( 0.23 and 0.25) to
be estimated locally (users should not forget that coefficients are
derived for Logarithm of Velocity).
4
One can use programs like Microsoft Excel or MathLab, or more
sophisticated and “infinitely” more expensive packages like Jason
FuncMod, or Interactive Petrophysics. One needs to edit the sonic
log prior to density generation or to include some limiting
(Boolean “else-and-if-or”) statements to avoid generating
unreliable density values where sonic value is incorrect.
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RHOB[g/cc]=81.41630–6.22517*DT+0.181392*DT2
0.00229831*DT3 + 1.06578e–5 DT4[µs/ft]5
Note that for problematic wells with washouts sonic data
must be edited prior to density generation. Spikes in the
synthetic density curve will be generated if unreliable sonic
samples are left in the input. Due to this the procedure can
be used to QC the quality of sonic log in the Zechstein
interval.
Figure 2 show synthetic density generated (cyan curve) at
48/18b-6. Measured density curve is shown as the red curve
in the same log panel. One can see that synthetic density
provides excellent match to measured density. The well
48/18b-6 was used to provide the first deterministic wavelet
estimate that initially provided the highest synthetic-to-
seismic correlation coefficient. In this case synthetic
density generation helped determine actual Top Zechstein.
This is due to the fact that any clastic sonic samples (that
appear to have sonic values outside the range expected for
evaporites) generate spike in density indicating that halite
rich parts of Lower Triassic or Brockelshiefer were miss-
6
interpreted as Zechstein .
Examples
Figure 3 shows a well tie at well 48/18b-3 with the old
wavelet. The figure shows 4 panels. Going from left to
right the are: (1) wavelet panel showing wavelet used for
well tie, (2) seismic panel showing seismic data in vicinity
of the well, (3) synthetic panel showing synthetic seismic
traces generated by convolving wavelet with well log
reflectivity, and (4) well log panel showing sonic log
(pink), density (green), acoustic impedance (blue) and
gamma ray log (red). Note that the measured density log is
available from just above top Rotliegendes. Synthetic
density was generated using standard Gardner coefficients.
The synthetic density produced in such a way is incorrect in
the Zechstein interval. Note the very poor amplitude match
at both reservoir and in the overburden.
Figure 4 shows the repeated tie at well 48/18b-3 using
synthetic density data generated using fourth order
evaporite polynomial. The overburden seismic shows that
the Zechstein section is relatively flat at this well making it
a good input for reliable wavelet estimation. The wavelet
5 Acknowledgments
Note that higher order terms still give considerable contribution
to the estimated density value and cannot be dropped. These terms
tend to “blow” density values that are calculated from unrealistic
low sonic values and in away serve as a QC for sonic samples.
6
Note that some density values flagged by unrealistically low
sonic value are set to undefined value (-999.25) that program
displays as spike. Also note that Top Zechstein in Figure 3 still
shows old pick that in fact had a part of Lower Triassic interpreted
as part of Zechstein. Actual Top Zechstein is slightly below 8000ft.
SEG/New Orleans 2006 Annual Meeting
– panel in Figure 4 shows the newly estimated wavelet. Note
the highly improved amplitude match.
The new wavelet was used to re-run Sparse Spike Inversion
(SSI) and comparison of inversions based on the new and
old wavelet is shown in Figure 5. Both displays show
Relative Acoustic Impedance (RAI) in colour background.
In the foreground Gamma Ray logs (black wiggle) and
Relative Acoustic Impedance logs (colour stripes) are
shown. RAI logs were generated applying band pass filter
8-6-75-15 (the same filter was used for SSI output). The
upper display was generated using the new wavelet
estimated at well 48/18b-3 based on a synthetic density log
generated with evaporites polynomial. The lower display
was generated with the initial wavelet estimated from the
measured density log at deviated well 48/18b-6. Note that
the new wavelet provided better inversion results with
better amplitude match as well as better signal-to-noise
ratio (fewer stripes).
Conclusions
A sonic-density relationship for evaporite rocks is
presented to compliment the classical Gardner et al. study.
The fourth order polynomial function should be used for
well ties where no density data is available. It is applicable
in the Zechstein interval only. Outside this interval, in
clastic sediments, the Gardner relationship with locally
derived coefficients should be used. Synthetic density data
match measured density data very accurately. Unreliable
sonic values should be removed (or flagged) prior to
synthetic density generation. Accuracy of synthetic
seismograms is dramatically improved if the new method is
used to generate missing density data in the overburden.
This in turn allows much better deterministic wavelet
estimation. Wavelets derived in such a way can be used for
seismic inversion that provides more reliable input for
Rotliegendes (Leman) reservoir characterization.
References
Gardner, G.H.F., Gardner L.W. and Gregory, A.R., 1974,
Formation velocity and density; the diagnostic basis for
stratigraphic traps, Geophysics, 39, 770-780.
I am grateful to Gaz de France Britain and Anglia partners:
Dana Petroleum (EP) Limited, RWE Dea UK Limited and
First Oil Expro Limited for providing input well log and
seismic data. This work was conducted as a part of project
aimed at reservoir characterization at Anglia gas field
where Gaz de France Britain is operator.
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Figure 1 Multi-well cross-plot of Sonic vs. Density (DT-

RHOB) coloured by Gamma Ray. The sonic values are
plotted along the x-axis and the density values are plotted
along the y-axis. Data from the following six wells were
used: 48/18b-6, 48/18b-6z, 48/18b-2, 48/18b-3, 48/18b-13,
and 48/18c-12. One can see that the main evaporites Figure 2 Synthetic density at 48/18b-6 (cyan curve).
(halites, dolomites, and anhydrites) are grouped in three Measured density curve is shown as red curve in the same
dense clouds. A single fourth order polynomial is fitted in log panel. One can see that synthetic density provides an
such a way that polynomial curve (red line) passes through excellent match to measured density.
the middle of all three clouds. The three clouds are clearly
separable along the slowness (DT) axis. The lowermost
cloud belongs to relatively slow halites, followed by rather
fast dolomites and the fastest anhydrites. At the same time
the curve approximates points belonging to unusual
evaporites like potassium salts that are lined up along the
trend connecting halite cloud and anhydrite cloud.

Figure 3 Well tie at well 48/18b-3. Synthetic density curve
in the overburden was generated using Gardner
relationship. Four panels from left to right show: estimated
wavelet, seismic in vicinity of the well, synthetic data and
well log panel (density-green, gamma-red, sonic-pink,
acoustic impedance-blue). Note very poor amplitude match
between seismic and synthetic data.
Figure 4 Well tie at well 48/18b-3 using synthetic density
data generated using fourth order evaporite polynomial.
The new wavelet was estimated using this well. The new
density curve is cyan and corresponding acoustic
impedance is blue.

SEG/New Orleans 2006 Annual Meeting 2084

 Figure 5 Comparison of inversion results using two wavelets. Both displays show Relative Acoustic Impedance (RAI) in colour
background. In the foreground Gamma Ray logs (black wiggle) and Relative Acoustic Impedance logs (colour stripes) are
shown. RAI logs were generated in time applying band pass filter 8-6-75-15 (the same filter was set for SSI output). The upper
display was generated using the wavelet estimated at well 48/18b-3 using synthetic density log generated with evaporites
polynomial. The lower display was generated with the initial wavelet estimated from measured density log at deviated well
48/18b-6. Note that the new wavelet provided better inversion results with better amplitude match as well as better signal-to-
noise ratio (less stripes).

SEG/New Orleans 2006 Annual Meeting 2085

 EDITED REFERENCES
Note: This reference list is a copy-edited version of the reference list submitted by the
author. Reference lists for the 2006 SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts have
been copy edited so that references provided with the online metadata for each paper will
achieve a high degree of linking to cited sources that appear on the Web.

REFERENCES
Gardner, G. H. F., L. W. Gardner, and A. R. Gregory, 1974, Formation velocity and
density; the diagnostic basis for stratigraphic traps: Geophysics, 39, 770–780.

SEG/New Orleans 2006 Annual Meeting 2086