Education

CSEG DoodleTrain

Seismic Geomorphology

Instructor: Henry Posamentier
Date: November 15 – 16, 2012
Duration: 2 days
Members: (early bird/price): CAD $750 / $850 (plus GST)
Non-Members (early bird/price): CAD $ 950 / $1050 (plus GST)

Venue: TBA
Time: TBA

Audience:

This course targets explorationists with access to 3D seismic data. Both geologists and geophysicists will benefit from this course. Both exploration and development issues will be addressed. Prediction of reservoir presence, compartmentalization, and spatial and temporal distribution will be addressed.

Course Objective:

This course is designed to enhance interpretation skill sets with regard to geologic interpretation of 3D seismic data. The overall objective is to present methods for reducing risk with regard to prediction of lithology, reservoir compartmentalization, and stratigraphic trapping potential in exploration and production. Specifically, the participant will be shown:

  • workflows designed to facilitate extraction of stratigraphic insights from 3D seismic data
  • techniques for 3D seismic geomorphologic/stratigraphic analyses
  • numerous examples of various depositional systems in various depositional settings

Course Description:

The application of seismic geomorphology and seismic stratigraphy to exploration and field development is a natural consequence of the advent of high-quality and increasingly more affordable and widespread 3D seismic data currently available. Integrating analyses of plan view (geomorphologic) and section view (stratigraphic) images can significantly enhance predictions of the spatial and temporal distribution of subsurface lithology (reservoir, source, and seal), compartmentalization, and stratigraphic trapping capabilities, as well as enhanced understanding of process sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy.

Participants in the course will be exposed to seismic geomorphologic/stratigraphic workflows, which involve 1) initial reconnaissance through 3D volumes using various slicing techniques using a variety of different seismic attribute volumes including full stack reflection amplitudes, near and far stacked amplitude volumes, and coherence volumes, as well as opacity rendering, 2) focus on features of geologic interest and further investigate through a combination of detailed slicing, interval attributes, horizon picking and amplitude extraction, horizon illumination, etc., and 3) comprehensive integration of seismic geomorphologic analyses with seismic stratigraphic analyses, whereby the plan view is integrated with the section view to ensure a consistent interpretation.

Course lectures will involve both PowerPoint presentations as well as interactive interpretation of 3D seismic data. A wide variety of depositional settings will be shown, ranging from non-marine to marginal marine, shelf and deep water, and will include both clastic as well as carbonate depositional environments. Concepts as well as applications pertaining to seismic-based analyses of depositional systems will be covered in detail.

Course Peculiarities

This course is geologically oriented.

Presenter / Instructor Biography:

Henry W. Posamentier holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Geology from Syracuse University. He started his industry career nearly 30 years ago with Exxon Production Research Co., where he was involved in the early development of Sequence Stratigraphy. He subsequently joined ARCO as a senior exploration advisor and later Anadarko Petroleum Corporation first as Chief Geologist and then as Distinguished Advisor. Most recently he joined Chevron Energy Technology as a Senior Consultant Geologist.

His principal expertise is in siliciclastic sequence stratigraphy and depositional systems with an emphasis on deep-water environments. Most recently, he has employed an interdisciplinary approach to geologic prediction using 3D seismic visualization in conjunction with seismic stratigraphy and seismic geomorphology and then integrated with borehole data to interpret depositional systems and develop basin fill histories. In 1971-1972, Dr. Posamentier was a Fulbright Fellow to Austria. He has served as an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer to the United States (1991-1992), to the former Soviet Union (1996-1997), and to the Middle East (1998-1999). Most recently (2006) he has served as a Distinguished Lecturer to Europe.

Contact Information

For further information, potential participants can contact me at henry.posamentier@chevron.com.