ConceptsandTechniquesin

Oil andGasExploration

Editors

Kamal . Jain
VenexCorporation
Houston, TX

and

RuiJ. P. deFigueiredo
RiceUniversity
Houston, TX

SOCIETY OF EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICISTS

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ISBN 0-931830-22-2

Library of CongressCatalog Number: 82-50079

Society of Exploration Geophysicists
P.O. Box 3098
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74101
1982 by the Societyof Exploration Geophysicists
All rights reserved
Published 1982
Printed in the United States of America

iv

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 CONTENTS
Contributors .............................. vii

Preface ................................ ix

Theme

1. Synergism
in exploration
............... 3
M. R. Thomasson

2. Exploration
strategy
................... 13
S. D. Kerr

The Seismic Method

3. Imagingthesubsurface
................ 45
L. C. Wood

4. Modeling Thefonardmethod......... 9]
K. R. Kelly,R. M. Airoral,and N. D. W'hitmore
5. Migration Theinversemethod......... ]15
J. D. Johnson and W. S. French

WellLogs
6. Physical
basisofwell logging............ 161
O. Gomez-Rivero

7. Well logsinexploration
................ 199
K. C. Jain

Computers
andTechnology
8. Graphicdata bases.................. 229
R. C. Dillahuntyand D. W. Townsend
9. Technological
impactof exploration
...... 253
Norman S. Neidell

10. Patternrecognition approach

to exploration
...................... 267
R. J.P. deFigueiredo

Index
........................................... 287

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 CONTRIBUTORS

Chapter1 Synergism
in Exploration
M. RayThomasson
SpectrumOil and Gas Company
Houston, Texas

Chapter2 Exploration
Strategy
S. Duff Kerr, Jr.
Kerr, Jain & Associates
Denver, Colorado

Chapter3 Imagingthe Subsurface

LarryC. Wood
America ResourceConsultants,Inc.
Houston, Texas

Chapter4. Modeling--The ForwardMethod

Ken R. Kelly,RichardM. Alford,and
N. D. Whitmore
AmocoProduction
Research
Company
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Chapter5 Migration--The InverseMethod

JeffreyD. Johnson
AmocoProduction Company
New Orleans, Louisiana

William S. French
TensorGeophysicalServiceCorp.
Metairie, Louisiana

vii

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Chapter6 Physical
Basisof Well Logging
O. Gomez-Rivero
Petroleos Mexicanos
MexicoCity, Mexico

Chapter7 Well Logsin Exploration

Kamal C. Jain
VertexCorporation
Houston, Texas

Chapter8 GraphicData Bases

RayC. Dillahunty
DigiconGeophysical
Corp.
Houston, Texas
Donald W. Townsend
Geosou'rce, Inc.
Houston, Texas

Chapter9 Technological
Impactof Exploration
Norman S. Neidell
ZenithExploration
Corp.
Houston, Texas

Chapter10 Pattern Recognition

Approachto Exploration
RuiJ. P.deFigueiredo
RiceUniversity
Houston, Texas

viii

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 PREFACE

The questfor petroleumis like lookingfor a needlein five haystacks.To find a

prospect,one needsto cull throughand synthesize a massiveamountof data using
developmentsfrom such diversedisciplinesas geology,geophysics,petrophysics,
micropaleontology,geochemistry,and signalestimationand detection.Obtaining
the mineralrightsfor drilling the prospectaddsto the difficulty. To top it all, one
hasonlya twentypercentor so probabilityof discovering a new field in spiteof tre-
mendoustechnicaladvancementsin recentyears. The drilling costsare high, ranging
from several hundred thousand to millions of dollars per well depending upon its
depthand location.If the well is dry, the lossis total. However,whena newfield is
discoveredthe rewardsare tremendous.Suchhigh stakeshave motivatedthe petroleum
industryto pursueinnovativeideasvigorouslyto improve the odds for finding oil
and gas.
This book presentsan overviewof the modern exploration practices.Becauseof
the many disciplinesinvolved, we have not attemptedto cover the subjectmatter
comprehensively. Instead, with the help of selectedtopics,the book providesinsight
into suchmajor exploration tools as seismicand well log prospecting.Emphasisis
generallyon the concepts,although severaltechniquesare presentedto make the
reader familiar with the degree of sophisticationand/or ignorance in exploration
practices.The book alsolooksinto areasof new developmentand the importanceof
unsolvedproblems in the context of the exploration effort as a whole.
This publication is an outgrowth of a one-day colloquium on "Large Data
Systemsin Oil and Gas Exploration," which was cosponsoredby the IEEE, SEG,
and AAPG societiesas a part of the 1980IEEE International Symposiumon Circuits
and Systems.Several participants in the colloquium, which was a popular inter-
disciplinaryevent attended by over 300 people, indicated a need for a general book
providing an overview of some of the modern practices in exploration without
becominghighly specializedin any one area of exploration. Severalspeakersat the
colloquiumacceptedthe challengeand have made written contributionsto this book
where emphasisis changed from the "large data systems" in the colloquium to
"concepts and techniques" in the book.
The book has been organized for an overall continuity.
The first two chapterscover the geologicbasis for the habitats of hydrocarbons
and the key parameterscharacterizingthem. The parametersalso provide a logical
rationale for the use of seismic data and well logs. These have become major
exploration tools in recent years following the developmentsin computer and elec-
tronic technologies.
Chapters 3-5 describe the seismicapproach. The chapter "imaging the Subsur-
face" providesa generalbackgroundon the reflection seismicmethodsemphasizing
data acquisitionand processingtechniques.The next two chaptersenlarge on two
basicelementsof interpretation: modeling and migration. The image of the subsur-
face is seismicallyconstructedby a combination of the forward approach, which is
modeling, and the inverse approach where the actual seismicdata, generally after
migration, are processedto generate a detailed subsurfaceprofile.

ix

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 Chapters6 and 7 presentthe physicalbasisfor well logsand someof their applica-
tions in exploration. Well logs can provide a detailed descriptionof the sedimentsin
and around the borehole. The explorationists try to understand the ancient geologic
processesincluding the depositional model by combining and interpolating descrip-
tions from many wells in the general proximity. Such geologicmodels, when com-
bined with a detailed subsurfaceprofile derived from seismicdata, lead to prospects.
The actual procedure for locating a prospect is very tedious and complex. An
understanding of the information available from well logs and proper use of such
information can make prospecting less risky. These chapters provide a conceptual
senseof the usefulness of well log data.
The last section in the book, consisting of three chapters, is concerned with the
computer and technology issuespertaining to exploration. Chapter 8 discussescom-
puterized data management systems for decision making where data bases from
many disciplines are integrated. The next chapter dwells on the impact that the
technological innovations in geophysicshave had on the scienceand technology in
general. Finally, the last chapter presentssome of the basic conceptsin the field of
pattern recognition and their likely impact on exploration practices.
In preparing this book, we received help from numerous sources which we
gratefully acknowledge. Ken Larner (Western Geophysical)orchestrated the
publication of the book by SEG as a member of the SEG Executive Committee.
Manus Foster (Mobil) and Norman Domenico (Amoco) provided technical liaison
with the SEG Publication Staff as chairmen of the SEG Publication Committee.
Peter Rose (Telegraph Exploration), Ken Larner (Western Geophysical), and Nor-
man Neidell (Zenith Exploration) provided valuable guidance in initial planning.
The major chore of reviewing the written manuscripts was shared by the con-
tributors to the book. Harry Stephanou(Exxon), Charles Rabe (Raven Banner), and
Norman Domenico (Amoco) also reviewed portions of the book in their areas of
specialty.
Marie Bone (Venex Corporation) managed the preparation of the book from the
idea stagethrough the final printing by undertaking a variety of organizational tasks
over the two-year period. Belynda Bland and Jerry Henry of the SEG Publication
Staff did the editing and preparation of the book for final printing.
The Editors

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