Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/10/2019
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Location
Wynkoop Brewery
Categories No Categories
Please join us October 10th
with guest speaker Jim Applegate, PhD
Located at Wynkoop Brewery
1634 18th Street in downtown Denver
Talk starts promptly at noon.
Extracting Key Exploration Information from Vintage Seismic
An Example from the NPRA, Alaska
Jim Applegate*, Barry Newman**, and Filip Soos*.
*Seismic Utensils, LLC & **3D Imaging Technology LLC
There are many miles and square miles of vintage (ancient?) 2D and 3D seismic data in the world. The availability of 1000s of miles of 2D data from the NPRA, Alaska, coupled with the significant discoveries by Armstrong and Conoco-Phillips prompted 3D Imaging Technology and Seismic Utensils to embark on a project to see if modern processing can be used to extract AVO information and other attributes to provide an inexpensive approach to reconnaissance exploration in the NPRA area.
The primary geological target is a series of prograding depositional packages in which the various components of these depositional bodies create potential stratigraphic traps. While the current discoveries are limited to shallower features it appears that other stratigraphic features at greater depths may be viable targets. Seismic examples derived from 1970s & 80s 2D data show excellent results. Careful reprocessing and the extraction of attributes including AVO have proven to be very useful tools in finding analogs to the major discoveries. This is in spite of the fact that the data is often only 3- to 6-fold at the shallow target. The results show that careful processing by a highly experienced processor and analysis of the updated data can be a valuable early stage exploration tool.
However, these applied approaches to vintage data are applicable to other areas outside the NPRA where one does not have modern 3D or even 2D seismic. These approaches are an inexpensive, yet valuable tool in guiding new exploration efforts. Additional examples illustrate that AVO derived from pseudo-gathers can be included in neural network analysis to define interesting stratigraphic features in various geological locations, both onshore and offshore.
In summary, vintage (ancient?) data with updated processing and interpretation can be very useful in guiding reconnaissance exploration efforts.
Jim Applegate Bio
Jim Applegate is CEO/Managing Member for Seismic Utensils, LLC and Managing Member/Geophysicist for Applegate Exploration, LLC. He has extensive US and international experience in developing new play concepts, maturing prospects and in operations. Currently, he consults, generates prospects, and develops software. His career includes time in industry and academia. He has worked for large and small companies. He was Department Head, founded the geophysics program, and managed research programs at Boise State University; taught & was Director of the Exploration Research Lab at Colorado School of Mines; professor at University of Louisiana – Lafayette and Director of the Energy Institute; and the first Professor of Petroleum Geophysics in Australia at the University of Adelaide, Australia. His management experience includes both applied exploration research groups and small startup companies in both exploration/development, technology development, and consulting. He has been involved in the development and application of new exploration technology for over 40 years, and holds multiple patents. Jim holds the degrees of Geophysical Engineer, MS and PhD in geophysical engineering, all from Colorado School of Mines, and is an AAPG Certified Petroleum Geologist, and SIPES certified.
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