Publications

De-risking Appraisal Phase in the Recent Gas Discovery in Banggai-Sula Basin, Central Sulawesi: Application of AVO Analysis and Pre-stack Inversion in the Sub-ophiolite Reef Carbonate Play

Proceedings Title : PROCEEDINGS, INDONESIAN PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, Forty-Fifth Annual Convention & Exhibition, 1 - 3 September 2021

Following the success in the exploration drilling campaign in the last few years, Pertamina EP puts the recently discovered Wol Structure into the appraisal stage. The exploration wells Wol-001 and Wol-002 were spudded in 2017 and 2019 respectively, and both flowed a significant gas rate from an excellent reservoir of Miocene Reef of Minahaki Formation. A good understanding of the reservoir distribution was essential in such a stage. Therefore, a proper reservoir characterization was then carried out for further appraisal purposes. Using the improved quality data from the latest 5D interpolation-PSDM as input, integration of amplitude versus offset (AVO) techniques and rock physics analysis was conducted to investigate the hydrocarbon extent. The AVO class IIp was observed at the boundary between overlying Kintom Shale and gas saturated Minahaki limestone. It is indicated by a positive intercept (Ro), decreased amplitudes with offsets, and negative amplitudes in the far offsets. This polarity reversal characteristic is clearly seen from both AVO modeling and actual CDP in the well locations. Several CDPs inside and outside the closure were also examined to check the consistency. The slice of partial stack volumes has also exhibited a similar trend within the closure where class IIp is suggestive. Since the AVO attributes such as intercept and gradient solely were not able to visualize the reservoir extent properly, the pre-stack seismic inversion was performed to obtain a more accurate reservoir distribution through quantitative interpretation. A cross plot of P-impedance (Ip) over S-impedance (Is) differentiates the gas zone clearly from the wet linear trend. A depth slice at GWC (gas water contact) level describes that most of the Wol Structure is gas-saturated including the newly identified closure in the northwest. It is a three-way dip closure formed by limestone that was dragged upward by a thrust fault. Interestingly, it has a similar AVO response to the main Wol Structure which suggests a gas-bearing reservoir. This work brings an added value to the use of AVO analysis and pre-stack inversion for hydrocarbon mapping for appraisal purposes. Not only it has largely reduced the subsurface uncertainty, but also revealed an upside potential that is worth considering in future exploration.

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