Geohazard interpretation

Truth or Myth?
Dag Lundqvist, Principal Geologist, Statoil ASA

1 - Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

Extract from a Site Survey Report anno 2011

Shallow gas detection is normally made, in the first instance, by recognition of

anomalously high amplitude, usually phase reversed reflectors ('bright' spots), allied
to a number of other characteristics, such as acoustic masking, velocity pulldown,
structural closure, edge effects, frequency reduction, and basal 'flat' spots.
Why was no gas seen when it was predicted in the Site
Survey?
Reasons Why Predicted Gas is not seen when drilling

• Well Moved outside an anomaly

• Countermeasures makes it very difficult to detect
Gas
• Wrong Interpretation
Avoiding Anomalies -Problems

C
B
A

Well A: Warning at 550 ms

Well B: No Warning
Well C: Warning at 700 ms
Avoiding Anomalies -Problems

A1

A2
A3
 2D vs 3D Intepretation Problems
Rev_19_Jan

- ST10330-15010 -
SP: 2200.0 2240.0 2280.0 2320.0 2360.0 2400.0 2440.0 2480.0 2520.0

0.300 0.300

0.400 0.400

0.500 0.500

0.600 0.600

0.700 0.700

0.800 0.800

0.900 0.900

1.000 1.000

1.100 1.100

7 - Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

 2D vs 3D Intepretation Problems
Rev_19_Jan

Line: 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0 1674.0
Trace: 5608.0 5568.0 5528.0 5488.0 5448.0 5408.0 5368.0 5328.0 5288.0 5248.0 5208.0 5168.0 5128.0 5088.0 5048.0 5008.0 4968.0 4928.0 4888.0

0.300 0.300

0.400 0.400

0.500 0.500

0.600 0.600

0.700 0.700

0.800 0.800

0.900 0.900

1.000 1.000

1.100 1.100

8 - Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

Real Case studies
Chimneys
Chimneys
Chimneys
 13

Chimneys

S180

S182

S185
 Chimneys (Summary)

• Blanked Zones (suggesting gas migration) have been drilled by Statoil on many
occasions. Gas has never been encountered in the last 15 years
• Gas has been encountered when the chimney appears like a series of amplitude
anomalies. One on top of the other.
• The blanked area often thought of as a gas filled chimney is caused by layering
being disturbed by past gas migration rather than the of shallow gas today

14 - Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

Gas Kick Case 1
Gas Kick Case 1

Anomalies
Gas Kick Case 1

Blanking

Anomalies
Gas Kick Case 1

Structure
Blanking

Anomalies
Gas Kick Case 1
Gas Kick Case 2 (Spot the Gas….?)
Gas Kick case Case 2 (Spot the Gas….?)
 Gas Kick (Summary)

• Seeing shallow gas as an amplitude anomaly is not always possible

• Gas can be solved in water and released while drilling. Such gas will leave no
seismic response
• The nature of the sediments can be such that the shallow gas is not visible on
seismic

22 - Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

 Shallow Gas Case 1 (AVO Anomaly)

Classif
ication:
Interna
 Shallow Gas Case 1 (AVO Anomaly)

1250m

Classif
ication:
Interna
 Some Technology Advances
1986 2011

Single Channel Echo Sounder Multichannel Echo Sounder

Analogue Paper records Digital Files
48 Channels Streamers 96-120 Channels Streamers
140 Cu In Air Gun Sleeve Gun Clusters
Single Channel Multielectrode Multichannel mini airgun
Sparker
Seismic Interpretation on paper Seismic Interpretation on Work
records Stations
No 3D Seismic Used 3D Seismic Used
Reports on paper PDF-Files

25 - Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

Always think geology when you look at
seismic!
Believe it or not… This reflects real geology!
 The art of Geohazard Interpretation

28 - Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

 The art of Geohazard Interpretation

29 - Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

 Actions to Improve Prediction

• Systemise well information

• Get an understanding for the local Amplitude/Gas relationships
• Try and optimize acquisition parameters

30 - Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

 Thank you

Shallow Gas interpretation

Truth or Myth
Dag Lundqvist
Principal Geologist, Statoil ASA
daglu@statoil.com

Classification: Internal 2010-05-03

31 -