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Seismic Prediction for Carbonate Reef or Oolitic Reservoirs

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Deng Ying*, Zeng Tao, Jiang Wei

CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company Limited Sichuan
Geophysical Company, Sichuan Province,610213,China
1.Summary
With the drilling success of well LG1 in
Longgang area, 40 exploratory wells have
been deployed by using 3D seismic volume,
presently, 22 wells has been completed,
among them, 20 wells has drilled reef or
oolitic reservoirthe successful rate reaches 90
. In recent years, under the guide of
geological research achievements and through
seismic data analysis, we summarized and
developed a set of reservoir prediction
technology series which first predict the
distribution of sedimentary facies zone based
on seismic facies, then predict favorable facies
belt of reef or oolitic reservoir. Now, these
seismic prediction techniques have been
widely applied, and have promoted and widen
the hydrocarbon exploration fields in Sichuan
Basin.

gas-water relationships, so it is very difficult

for seismic prediction. The reef or oolitic
compound gas reservoirs were discovered in
the carbonate reservoir in Upper Permian -and
Lower Triassic by well Lg1 in the LG area of
central Sichuan in 2006, which lifted the
curtain on exploration and development of the
reef or oolitic reservoirs in this area.
The development of reef or oolitic
reservoirs in LG area was predicted by using
seismic data and guided by the geological
achievements. The seismic prediction results
are well consistent with the drilling results,
showing that these technologies play a
supporting role on exploration and
development in LG area.

2. Introduction

3.1 Sedimentary facies analysis

The previous studies show that the

sedimentary
evolution
process
and
palaeogeomorphology settings of open sea
platform-ocean trough sedimentary facies belt
formed in the Late Permian in Sichuan basin
are very complicated, the platform
continuously increased and ocean trough
gradually disappeared in Feixianguan Period,
the development of the reef or oolitic reservoir
are related with sedimentary facies with
high-energy in the trough edge. Owing to the
influence of depositional environment, the
physical properties of the reef or oolitic
reservoirs have features of lithologic traps,
such as strong heterogeneity and complex

3. Seismic prediction for reef reservoir

The results of comprehensive research show

that the sedimentary facies of Upper Permian
in Sichuan Basin include mainly open sea
platform, uplift reef, foreslope and ocean
trough (Figure 1 . The paleotectonic
background of platform~ocean trough which
was formed in early of Upper Permian and
extended in late of Upper Permian controls the
variations of sedimentary thickness and
lithofacies of the formations in Upper
Permian.
In the Late Permian, the sedimentation rate
of open ocean platform with shallow water
depth is faster than that of deep water ocean
trough, so the sedimentation thickness of

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platform is significantly larger than that of

ocean trough; But on the uplift reef facies,
because deposition of progradation role and
large carbonate accumulation by marine
organismsthe formation thickness increase.
Figure 2 is histogram of strata thickness
contrast of Upper Permian revealed by the
drilling data in LG area, it intuitionistically
reflects the zonal progradation sedimentary
Open sea platform
Changxing Formation

Uplift reef

phenomena, that is platform changes thinner

towards ocean trough.
In the respect of lithofacies change,
Changxing formation primarily is a set of
normal carbonate stable sediment of shallow
sea in open sea platform facies, its lithology
mainly is medium thickness to massive
biogenic limestone.

Foreslope

Ocean trough

Sea level

Upper Permian

Longtan

Figure 1. Sedimentary facies diagrammatic map late Permian at Sichuan Bsian

Ocean trough

Uplift reef

Open sea platform

Foreslope

T1f1
SHUISHEN1

LG3

LG2

LG1

LG4

BIAN 1

HEBA1

Figure 2 . Drilling thickness comparison diagram in Upper Permian in LG area

LG11

open sea platform

LG1
uplift reef

LG10

ocean trough- foreslope

TT1f4
TT1f1
TP2l

Figure 3. Seismic facies classify section In LG area

The shale contents in ocean though facies

belt is higher, there, siliceous formation, chert
nodule formation, calcilutite are deposited
which is typical for deep water-semi-deep
water facies. The uplift reef facies is
characterized by uplift, and progradation
towards deep water, its lithology mainly
contains
light-grey
massive
biogenic
limestone, organism is mainly algae,
foraminifera, scutiger, echinoderms, sponge,
the shale content is low and dolomite
reservoirs were widely developed; The drilling
data indicates that the reefs have the relatively
narrow ancient tectonic setting and the
geologic features of obvious physical
differences between the reef front and

backreef
3.2 Seismic facies pattern
Seismic facies reflects the changes of
formation physical properties with such
attributes as frequency, amplitude, phase, and
time differences of reflected wave group and
the configuration of seismic reflections and so
on. The variations of sedimentary thickness
and lithofacies of different sedimentary facies
correspond to seismic facies changes. Figure 3
shows seismic facies classification section in
LG area which cross ocean tough-platform, its
main features are as follows:
3.2.1 Open sea platform facies
In shallow water open sea platform, due to
its stable low energy sedimentary environment,

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the seismic facies characters include

continuous reflection events, large interval
time difference, top of T1f1 being stable and
strong or secondarily strong amplitude, the
parallel or sub-parallel reflection shape.
3.2.2 Ocean trough seismic facies
Ocean trough seismic facies have the
similar characters with open sea platform
facies, including continuous reflection events,
strong amplitude and parallel or sub-parallel
reflection shape. But interval time difference
of the reflective layer in Upper Permian
decreases significantly, which decreases to a
narrow phase of ocean trough from two wide
complex phase of open sea platform facies.
3.2.3 Uplift reef facies and foreslope facies
(1)Uplift reef facies
The reflection layer of the Changxing
formation represents as uplift reflection shape
with chaotic interior reflection. Its boundary is
marked with the amplitude of T1f1 top
weakens obviously from platform to uplift
reef.
(2) Foreslope
Between uplift facies and deep water ocean
trough, the interval time difference in Upper
Permian decreases towards ocean trough, the
interior reflection phases increase close to the
reef facies; but towards deep water ocean
trough, the continuity of reflection events is
better, and downlap to the reflection layer of
deep water ocean trough. Generally, the
reflection layer shape expresses as
progradation reflection configuration.
So seismic facies pattern for difference
sedimentary facies were built: regionally
continuous, sub-parallel, larger interval time
differencemedium-strong or strong amplitude
of T1f1 bottom represents open marine
platform sediment; if there are the uplift,
chaotic interior reflection, amplitude of T1f1
bottom weakens, and abnormal seismic facies
in small extents, it reflects favorable
sedimentary facies belts of reef uplift; if the

entire seismic facies represent as progradation

reflection configuration and downlap facies
towards ocean basin, it shows foreslope facies.
In deep water ocean trough, seismic facies are
characterized by continuous events with
strong amplitude, and the interval time
difference decreasing obviously towards deep
water area.
3.3 Seismic attribute extraction
Seismic attribute is characteristics of
kinematics, kinematics, kinetics and statistics
related to seismic wave derived from
mathematical transform of seismic data.
Seismic attributes contain lots of geologic
information of the reservoirs. Based on
seismic attribute analysis, the information
about lithology and petrophysical of the
reservoir can be extracted, then, the
distribution of primary lithology zone can be
determined, and favorable hydrocarbon zones
can be predicted.

Figure4. The development of reef in Changxing formation

The reef gas reservoirs in LG are multiple

lithologic trap reservoirs developed in a large
monocline background, and have the
characteristics of multiple water-gas contacts
and multiple pressure systems. Multiple gas
reservoirs of lithologic trap are overlap
disorderly
vertically
and
distributed
continuously in the plane. According to the
cycle of reef generation, the reservoirs of
Changxing formation can be divided into four
sets of reservoirs (Figure 4. Figure 5 shows
the different seismic attributes extracted on the
first set of reservoir, we can obviously

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distinguish the uplift reef belt based on these

seismic attributes. Although the various
seismic attribute reflects different formation
characteristics, but various seismic attribute
have similarity, analogy and geological
genesis relations, therefore, by using multiple
attributes and by logging-seismic calibration,
reef reservoirs can be predicted qualitatively
or semi-quantitatively, and distribution of reef
reservoirs can be delineated.
4. Seismic prediction for oolitic reservoir
4.1 Seismic sequence prediction
Sequence is deemed as stratigraphic
sequence which characteristics are relatively
integrative and have genetic connection, their
top and bottom boundaries are unconformity
surface or their correlative conformities
surface (Mitchum etc.1997). According to the
Exxon sequence stratigraphic model, a
complete sedimentary sequence consists of

instantaneous phase
(down TT1f1 0-30)

three parts: the lowstand system tracts (LST)

or shelf marginal system tractsSMST,
transgressive system tracts(TST), highstand
system tracts (HST). The marine carbonate
rocks in Feixianguan Period of LG area
belong to highstand system tract, rapid growth
of early stages of accommodation space, and a
low yield of carbonate rocks, slow
sedimentation which is respectively
dominated
by
shale-rich
low-oolitic
subsequence
sedimentation;
In
Late
Feixianguan period, sea level began to decline,
the rising rate of accommodation space
decreased, water tended to be stable and were
good in circulation carbonate rock yield
increased,
upwards
change
shallow
sedimentary sequence, which is respectively
dominated by low mudstone and oolite-rich
subsequence.
In seismic sequence analysis, the seismic
section are divided into a series of
stratigraphic units (sequence and system tract)

Phase average energy

(down TT1f1 0-30)

phase energy half decay time

waveform correlation

(down TT1f1 0-30)

Figure 5. Dissimilar seismic attribute ichnograph in LG area

which is bounded by discontinuity surface

(unconformity and sedimentary discontinuity),
when build isochronous seismic sequence
stratigraphic framework, it is the key to

recognize stratigraphic interface of seismic

sequence which based on the features of
seismic reflection termination. Seismic
reflection termination includes disappearing or

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pinchout relationships upwardly, downwardly

or laterally revealed by the seismic section,
including onlap, downlap, truncation, uplap
etc., onlap and downlap represents the
relationships between seismic stratigraphic
4.1.1 Sequence division of Feixianguan
Through analysis of seismic data in LG area
(Figure 6)there are abundant information in
Feixianguan strataespecially in the area of
foreslopeocean trough in the Late Permian,
there are obvious phenomenon of reflection
configuration change, including onlap,
divergence, offlap, downlap, uplap and so on.

unit and the bottom boundary while

truncation and uplap represents the
relationships between the seismic stratigraphic
unit and the top boundary.
Under the guidance of sequence stratigraphy
we analyzed the sedimentary evolution
process of Feixianguan with seismic
data(Figure 7), then, divided totally five
fourth-order seismic sequences from bottom to
top, that is sequence A, sequence B, sequence
C, sequence D and sequence E.

TT1f4
uplap

Sequence B
Sequence A
TT1f1

Sequence C
downlap

uplap

Sequence D
downlap

downlap

Figure 6. Section T1f4 and sequence division schematic diagram in LG area

Figure 7. Sedimentary evolution schematic diagram in Feixianguan

(1)Sequence A
Sequence A is overlain on the Changxing
formation, the platform facies has large
moveout, ocean trough facies has small
moveout, and there are progradation reflection
configuration internally, is typical highstand
system tract in the Changxing formation
relative to deep water sediments, although
there are sediment accommodation space, the
lithology is mainly composed of mudstone

and micrite, containing fewer oolite, high

energy reservoir (oolitic limestone beach bar)
are not developed.
Characteristics of progradational sediment
configuration and the different progradation
scales controlled by foreslope gradient in the
Late Permian result in that the early sediment
of platform margin migrated in different
extent towards ocean trough, and further
increased relative height difference between

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shallow-deep water areas. Steep foreslope and

shallow platform margin provided the higher
energy sedimentary environment for later
carbonate rock sediment.
(2) Sequence B, C, D, E
Sequence B, C, D, E are located at upper
part and middle part of the Feixianguan
formation, their reflection structures are quite
different with that of the underlying sequence
A reflection, they have divergence reflection
features (aggradation deposition), that is small
time difference at shallow water area and
bigger time difference at deep water area .It
displays as:
1)Seismic sequence Bsequence C
Relative sea level of late highstand begins
becoming lower, sea water became shallow,
carbonate rock generation rate increased, the
corresponding lithology includes mostly
oolitic limestone, finely crystalline limestone,
shale content is low, the higher energy oolitic
beach reservoirs are relatively developed,
secondary dolomitization are obvious. In the
slope turn location of the top in the underlying
seismic sequence A, the oolitic limestone are
very developed in the high energy
environment; but in slope and deep water area ,
sedimentary thickness increases gradually in
the horizontal direction, the lithology is
mainly original micrite sediment, the higher
energy oolitic beach reservoirs are not
developed.
2)Seismic sequence Dsequence E
Sequence Dsequence E also belong to
late highstand sedimentary, their sedimentary
structures are consistent with that of seismic
sequence B C, the lithology of the
corresponding layers are basically identical,
but sea water with low energy are not
beneficial for the development of the higher
energy oolitic reservoirs, so, these seismic
sequences are carbonate sediments with
relative low energy.
Therefore, the paleogeomorphy of top

boundary of seismic sequence A is the main

factors controlling development of higher
energy oolitic shoal reservoirs; deposition
period of seismic sequence B C is the
critical period of dolomitized reconstruction of
platform margin oolitic shoal and reservoirs.
4.1.2 Variation features of seismic sequences
in the LG area
The sedimentary period of sequence A in
Feixianguan: owing to the influence of the
gradient of underlying reef front slope in Late
Permian its extension scales of the
progradation sedimentary reflection structure
are quite different. In platform margin zone in
the central of the study areaunderlying reef
front slope is steep, the scale of the
progradation sedimentary reflection is weak
the migration distance of platform margin in
the end of sequence A is 0.3~0.5kmthe
largest time difference of sequence A is about
40msin the western and eastern part of the
study area, underlying reef front slope
becomes gentle, the scale of the progradation
sedimentary reflection becomes bigger
platform margin zone extends about 3~4.5km
towards ocean trough the biggest time
difference is about 100ms, therefore, initial
palaeoterrain of ocean trough, from wide and
smooth marine basin changes to paleo-slopes
with significantly steep and slow transition
skirt, all of this provide absolutely necessary
sedimentary palaeogeomorphology conditions
for forming of shoal reservoir or
dolomitization reservoir in the periods of
sequence B and C .
The sedimentary period of sequence B~C in
Feixianguanin the western area, platform
margin extends about 2~8km towards ocean
trough, the deep water region of ocean trough
greatly reduced. Gradually changing shallow
of the sea water is beneficied for development
of high energy oolitic beach.
The sedimentary period of sequence D~E in
Feixianguanit is still high in the west and low

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in the east, the slope significantly becomes

very gentle, marine basin is basically flat,
which isnt beneficial for the development of
high energy oolitic shoal.

Figure8. Ancient landform at the sedimentary

end of sequence A schematic diagram

Figure9. Amplitude slice at the bottom

of oolitic beach reservoir

So ancient physiognomy variations in the

interior of Feixianguan formation show that
the platform margin of lg2~lg1~lg6 regions
and of nearby eastern zone of lg8~lg7 are the
favorable zones for oolitic reservoir
development, Figure 8 indicates sketch map of
ancient physiognomy in the late period of
sequence A, the platform margin belts are
mainly distributed in the southern part of the
study area.
4.2 Seismic attributes
Generally, oolitic shoal reservoirs in LG
area consists of two sets of reservoirs, upper
and lower reservoirsthe logging properties of
reservoir are mainly characterized by three
low, one high and positive difference, that is
low-velocity, low-density, low-gamma, high
porosity, deep and shallow resistivity positive

difference. Based on the calibration between

seismic and logging data, the reservoirs are
primarily developed in the layer of 60~85ms
below the bottom of T1f4 due to the
impedance difference between the oolitic
reservoir with relatively developed porosity
and the underlying compact limestonethe
bottom of the reservoir appears as seismic
response properties of relative strong peak
amplitude in the seismic section. Joint well
forward modeling results show that while
reservoir thickness is more than 15m or
velocity difference between reservoir and
surrounding rocks is more than 100m/s, the
reservoir bottom represents as seismic
response of continuous strong-medium
amplitude, the amplitude strengthens with the
reservoir thickness increase or velocity
decrease. Therefore, by extracting the
amplitude information of the reflection layer
corresponding to the bottom of the reservoir,
the favorable zone of the reservoir
development can be predicted qualitatively
(Fig. 9)
4.3 High precision multi-well constrained
inversion based-on facies controlling
Seismic inversion is a common and
effective
technology
for
quantitative
prediction of reservoir physical property, such
as velocity, porosity and so on. Aiming at the
features of reservoir development being
controlled by sedimentary facies, the paper put
forward facies-controlling inversion prediction
technique for reef or oolitic reservoir, that is
an inversion under guidance of sedimentary
facies. Different sedimentary facies belts
should be inverted with different models, to
ensure logging information interpolation in the
same sedimentary facies zone during inversion
interpolation. The drilling results have proved
that reservoir prediction results provided by
facies controlling inversion match well with
the well data (Figure 10).

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5. Conclusions

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SCGC has made prediction studies of

carbonate reef or oolitic reservoirs for many

years, and has obtained some good effects on

oolitic reservoir prediction, but hasnt got
great breakthrough on reef reservoir prediction.
Under the guide of geological research

Oolitic low-resistant
anomalous

T1f4
T1f1

P2l
Reef low-resistant
anomalous

Reef low-resistant
anomalous

Figure 10. Wave impedance inversion section

achievements and through analysis of seismic

data, we summarized and developed the
technology series for reef or oolitic reservoir
prediction, which first predict the distribution
of sedimentary facies belts favorable for reef
or oolitic development on the basis of seismic
facies, and then predict reef or oolitic
reservoirs within the favorable facies belts.
This method has many advantages in avoiding
blind reservoir prediction in some favorable or
unfavorable sedimentary facies zones.
By using the technology series of lithology
oil/gas reservoir prediction in carbonate reef
or oolitic shoal with seismic data has gained a

great deal of geological achievements in

reservoir prediction of marine carbonate in
Sichuan basin, and has obtained remarkable
oil and gas exploration effects. This method
has not only made up the deficiency that
lateral variations of sedimentary facies zone of
carbonate rock in Permian-Triassic are
unknown due to lacking of geological and
drilling data but also provided reliable
technical supports for searching the key
exploration blocks and objectives.

REFERENCES
[1]Chinese Petroleum Society Geophysical
Speciality Committee.Seismography of
Carbonate Rocks, 1998

[2]Sichuan Geophysical Company.Reservoir

prediction technique and exploration target
evaluation of Feixianguan formation in
east Sichuan basin, 2000

[3]Sichuan Geophysical Company.Research

on seismic facies and sedimentary facies of
Kaijiang-Liangping ocean though with
seismic data in Sichuan basin, 2005
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