Deepwater and ultra deepwater present opportunities for innovative and progressive geophysical technologies that can be used in conjunction with geological information for reservoir characterization and modeling.

Chair: Niven Shumaker, Noble Energy

Direct seismic indicators of gas hydrates in the Walker Ridge and Green Canyon area, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico

William Wei-Huu Kou - Minerals Management Service (MMS)

In this presentation I will present seismic evidence for the presence of free gas, gas hydrates, and bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) of the mini-basins of the Walker Ridge(WR) and the Green Canyon(GC) protraction areas in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico and update it by the works published in Fire In The Ice(FITI) by "Joint Industry Project" and MMS in GOM.

(Original Authors: William Wei-Huu Kou , Michael A. Smith, Adnan Ahmed, and Robert Kuzela, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region)

Virtual Shear Checkshots

Albena Mateeva - Shell

A new way to measure interval velocities of shear waves from marine VSP-s - quick, accurate, and works great under salt.

(Original Authors: Albena Mateeva, Shell; Andrey Bakulin, Schlumberger)

Dirty vs. Clean Salt: Their Impact on the Sub-Salt Wilcox Deep Water Exploration Plays

Selim Shaker - Geopressure Analysis Services (G.A.S.)

This eye-opening study focuses on evaluating the geopressure and salt’s emplacement and displacement history as it influences exploration and drilling risk assessment in the newly emerging GoM frontier areas.

Quantifying Seismic Imaging Uncertainty for Subsalt Objectives

Christof Stork - Tierra Geophysical

Determine a) the likelihood that the structural or stratigraphic features of our interpretation is correct, and b) what is accuracy of the depth/lateral position in our interpretation?

Depth-Calibrating Seismic Data in the Presence of Allochthonous Salt

Niven Shumaker - Noble Energy

A practical technique for depth calibrating isotropic PSDM in the vicinity of salt overhangs

New Marine Technology for Deep Water Exploration

Jason Gardner - WesternGeco

In this presentation we will present multivessel coil shooting towed-streamer acquisition technology, which could provide full-azimuth and long offset illumination of the subsalt reservoirs.

(Original Authors: Nick Moldoveanu and Jason Gardner, WesternGeco)

Presenters take a look at the “big picture” and discuss how to maximize what we know and to use the information, techniques, and approaches to be more successful in exploration and production, appraisal, evaluation, and development.

Co-Chair: Dianna Shelander, Schlumberger
Co-Chair: Warren Winters, Anadarko

A Seismic Based 3D Pre-drill Mudlog Can Maximize a Project’s Life Cycle Production

Rick Cody, eSeis

Present a process that minimizes a Project’s Learning Curve by integrating 3D Predrill Mudlog’s 15 different seismic based rock property predictions into the well/project’s Life Cycle Basis Of Design, ops planning, and real-time operations (drilling, completion, fracing, reservoir, facilities, production).

Risk Reduction by Non-Seismic Integration: How Salt and Subsalt Imaging Can Be Improved

Oliver Geisler - TERRASYS Geophysics

In this talk we discuss how non-seismic data can be integrated in the cycle of iterative depth migration and model updating leading to better seismic imaging results and a more reliable prospect evaluation.

Primary Basin Boundaries in GOM & Its Application to Deepwater GOM Exploration

Robin Pilcher - Hess

A review of salt-related hydrocarbon traps in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, and implications for relative petroleum systems risk

Value of Cross-Disciplinary Integration: Case Studies

David DesAutels – Noble Energy

What might work and what might not with the integration of people, process and technology.

Waterflood Surveillance in the Mars Field, Deepwater GOM: Mississippi Canyon 807

Jeff Weiland - Shell

The paper illustrates how waterflood surveillance is used to monitor the overall performance of Shell's giant Mars field.