TGS has claimed a breakthrough in Full Wave Inversion technology while also announcing a big expansion of its integrated seismic and well mapping of the UK and Norwegian Continental Shelves along with the Barents Sea.
TGS has claimed a breakthrough in Full Wave Inversion technology while also announcing a big expansion of its integrated seismic and well mapping of the UK and Norwegian Continental Shelves along with the Barents Sea.
The company has announced the launch of its Dynamic Matching Full Wave Inversion (DM FWI) technology, an imaging approach that uses seismic reflection and refraction information to automatically update the velocity model and enable high-quality images in geologically complicated areas.
DM FWI delivers a step-change in velocity model quality, facilitating clearer and geologically consistent depth images. The TGS inversion-based algorithm can significantly reduce imaging cycle time and interpretation ambiguity. It works in tandem with new ocean bottom node (OBN) survey designs and is also applicable to modern towed-streamer survey designs. The DM FWI approach can be applied in a wide range of geologic settings, with particular relevance in geologically complex areas such as salt basins and where there are shallow gas anomalies – enabling faster and more evident geological interpretations.
Jan Schoolmeesters, executive vice-president of operations at TGS, said: ‘Over the last few months, our R&D and Imaging teams have been tasked with developing and implementing new seismic imaging technologies to provide our customers with step-changes in quality, value, efficiency and accuracy. DM FWI is a first realization of that focused effort, and we can now provide our clients with data-driven models that enhance interpretations like never before.’
‘We appreciate the significant pressure that E&Ps are under to maximize efficiency, reduce cycle times and cut costs and therefore have a need for reduced subsurface uncertainty to help them de-risk prospects faster. With DM FWI, we are delighted to help them overcome their challenges with timely and efficient imaging technologies and processing workflows.’
Amendment Phase I, a joint venture programme with WesternGeco, is the first project to utilize TGS’ DM FWI technology. The application to this sparse node dataset with ultralong offsets in the US Gulf of Mexico demonstrates the capability to resolve large velocity errors and provide significant uplift on the sub-salt image.
Meanwhile, TGS has significantly expanded and enhanced its Facies Map Browser (FMB) covering North West Europe and the Barents Sea. Version 4.5.0 enables clients to instantly expand their subsurface knowledge using the largest cross-border well database in North West Europe.
The latest version is the result of a year-long process of geological analysis to update clients with the most up-to-date and comprehensive interpretation available for the region. Updates include all newly released E&A wells from the UK and Norway Continental Shelf, in addition to new data types, such as mud gas logs. Upgrades to the Jurassic, Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary stratigraphic interpretations provide a robust framework on which to develop play concepts and delineate prospects. The FMB 4.5.0 release provides more high-quality data than ever before to support technical evaluations and anticipated future licensing rounds.
Carl Neuhaus, vice president, well data products at TGS, said: ‘We are excited to offer access to both high-quality seismic data and all the available well data in this region – a unique combination offered by TGS. The Facies Map Browser is an invaluable resource that provides the most current subsurface data and expert geologic knowledge to help guide the user’s interpretations and allows our customers to make better and more informed decisions.’
