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HAGI-IAGI Joint Convention Medan 2013

28 31 October

Thin Basal Sand Reservoir Distribution Using Elastic Properties Approach, Case Study:
Aryani Field, Asri Basin, Southeast Sumatra
Pranowo Nugroho1, Gustriyansyah Mishar1, Heri Gunawan1, Julius Sunarta1, Wahyu Seno Aji1
CNOOC SES Ltd., ES Department, BEI Tower1 21st floor, Jln. Jend. Sudirman Kav 52 Jakarta 12190
Abstract
Aryani basal sand is typical porous conglomeratic reservoir
sand that interpreted draping above the basement as a part
of Lower Zelda member, Talang Akar formation. The
discovery of Basal sand reservoir was identified from
Aryani-X exploration well, drilled on 1989 encountered
around from 10 16 feet of net reservoir with permeability
34.4 mD.
Represented by peak horizon (positive value means
increase impedance) interfering with basement reflector on
single horizon, it was used to define and map reservoir
presence, since there is an impedance contrast between the
porous conglomeratic reservoir sand with top sealing
argillaceous conglomerate and also with granitic basement
rock.
Previous interpretation technique that being implemented
are interpreting isochrones from Lower Zelda horizon to
Basement horizon, geologically interpreted as a product of
early rift deposit, with alluvial fan braided channel
depositional environment. Another approach is being
implemented with geophysical techniques for this cases,
emphasizing on elastic properties, using Lambda-Rho
relations, with the cut off value is 15-24 GPa*g/cc.
This project is just a beginning for Aryani basal sand
characterization that really interesting and challenging for
being developed, complexity comes from thin layer
distribution, low resistivity reading and also low
permeability.
Introduction
The basal sand reservoir in the Aryani field has produced
about 215 MBO from the A-05 well since it was first
drilled in 2007. This reservoir is located above the
basement fault and has a distinctive character, with a
thickness of about 10 ft. Resistivity log patterns are
relatively flat and do not show any contrast with the layer
above. However, the density log indicated a strong contrast
with the layer above. The difference in trend between both
logs is assumed to be attributed to the content of certain
minerals that affect the resistivity log readings. Because
only one well in the reservoir is producing and the average
permeability is relatively low to medium, some infill wells

are needed to optimize the production. The addition of

well/infill
drilling
requires
integrated
reservoir
characterization.
Data and Method
Amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis
for nonbright-spot reservoirs is, in certain
instances, facilitated by crossplotting extracted
seismic parameters (Smith and Gidlow, 1987;
Hilterman, 1987). As pointed out by Smith and
Gidlow (1987) and others, the seismically
extracted AVO intercept and gradient terms, in
the absence of hydrocarbon-bearing strata,
often form a well-defined background trend
when cross plotted. The deviation from this
background trend can be a hydrocarbon
indicator (Castagna, 1998). A and B can be
derived by using Aki-Richard (1980) equation,

R ( ) A B sin 2 C sin 2 tan 2

V
V p
1 V p 1
4 s
A
B
2 V p
2
V p
V p

(1)

1VV
p
Vs
C2 s
Vs
2V pV p

It is easier to understand the connection of reservoir

properties to fundamental rock properties such as
compressibility and rigidity, than it is to understand their
connection to traditional seismic attributes, like amplitude
and velocity (Gray and Andersen, 2000). Goodway et al
(1997) proposed a method to extract rock properties and
; where , and are Lams parameters: Lams
constant (closely related to incompressibility), shear
modulus and density, respectively. Lams parameters are
often considered to be fundamental elastic constants.
Goodways method calculates from the
squares of the P-impedance (Ip) and the Simpedance (Is) using subtraction.

Vp

2
Vs

2
Z S VS
(2)
Z 2 V 2 2
P
P
2

Z P2 Z S2

In this study, post stack and pre stack seismic gather data,
well data that contain 5 P-wave (Vp) log and 2 S-wave (Vs)

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HAGI-IAGI Joint Convention Medan 2013
28 31 October

log, are being used. The method being used in this study is
seismic attributes (minimum and sweetness), Acoustic
Impedance (AI), Intercept (P) and Gradient (G) analysis,
and pre stack inversion using Lambda-Mu-Rho.
Result and Discussion
Basal sand is represented by peak amplitude positive value
means increased impedance interfering with the basement
reflector.
Amplitude attribute analysis at Fig. 1a and Fig 1b
(minimum amplitude and sweetness) was performed to
determine the amplitude response of the basal sand.
Unfortunately, the result was not good enough to determine
the lateral distribution of the basal sand.
After
crosschecking with the presence of basal sand, many
inconsistencies cannot be interpreted from the amplitude
attributes. The common interpretation for predicting this
basal sand is using isochrones from the Top Lower Zelda to
the Top Basement (Fig. 2). This is interpreted as the paleostructure, especially on the basal sand distribution that
drapes above the basement, controlling the depositional
periods for the Lower Zelda member.
From this interpretation, the boundary of the lower Zelda
member geometry has a NWSE trend but for the basal
sand distribution, there is still an inconsistency between the
well data and the isochrones maps. An integrated
geophysical analysis is needed for basal sand reservoir
characterization.

result from LR and MR from the A-05 well successfully

separated the basal sand (Fig.7), with a LR cut-off from
1524 GPa*g/cc and a MR from 7.512.5 GPa*g/cc.
The LR section and the LR map (Fig. 8) show a good
match with the well data, while the MR result is not
sensitive and visibly does not match with well data. The LR
map (Fig. 9) shows the lateral distribution of the basal sand
reservoir similar with alluvial fan deposition patterns in the
NWSE trend. This attribute is used as an input for the
geological model.

Figure 1a. Minimum amplitude attribute

Model-based inversion is one way to see the distribution of

the reservoir. A feasibility study was undertaken on well A05, showing that the crossover of AI and SI successfully
separates the basal sand in log resolution (Fig 3). From the
generated AI map, the basal sand distribution does not give
a more detailed trend compared with the previous
interpretation and has poor correlation with the sand
presence already known from the well data (Fig. 4). Further
analysis using the elastic properties, such as an AVO
analysis and the Lame parameter, LambdaRho (LR), and
MuRho (MR), is necessary.
Intercept (P) and Gradient (G) volume can be derived from
gather data. Near the basement indicates that positive P
value / red and the negative value of G / blue. P*G results
indicate a negative value / blue (Fig. 5). Results of cross
plot P vs G volume indicated by the yellow color which
indicates the distribution of basal sand (Fig. 6).
The P-reflectivity (Rp) and S-reflectivity (Rs) data can also
be derived from seismic data. LR and MR can be derived
by doing an AVO inversion on Rp and Rs. The cross plot

Figure 1b. Sweetness amplitude attribute

A-03p

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HAGI-IAGI Joint Convention Medan 2013
28 31 October

N
0

Figure 4. AI map on basal sand reservoir

250
0m

Figure 2. Isochrones from the Top Lower Zelda to the Top

Basement

Figure 3. Feasibility test on AI vs SI crossplot

N
0

2500
m

Figure 5. Intercept volume (top) shows (+) at near

basement, Gradient volume (mid) shows (-), and P*G
(bottom) shows (-)

Figure 6. P vs G volume indicated by yellow color

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HAGI-IAGI Joint Convention Medan 2013
28 31 October

Figure 9. Lambda-Rho map shows the lateral distribution

similar with alluvial fan pattern
Conclusions
A thin layer of basal sand has distinctive characteristics,
need necessary integration analysis to identify the
distribution of alluvial fan sediments. By using analysis of
elastic properties such as Lambda Mu Rho, lateral
distribution of thin basal sand reservoir can be resolved as
alluvial fan deposition pattern.
Acknowledgements

Figure 7. Feasibility test on Lambda-Rho and Mu-Rho

The authors would like to thank the management of China

National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) SES Ltd.,
SKK MIGAS, and DIRJEN MIGAS for their permission to
publish this paper. Thank you to all the employees of the
Exploitation Support (ES) Department, CNOOC SES Ltd.
References

Figure 8. Lambda-Rho section that cross on A-05 well with

cut off 15-24 GPa*g/cc

N
0

2500
m

Aki, K., Richards, P.G., 1980, Quantitative Seismology:

Theory and Methods, Vol 1, W.H. Freeman and Co.
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