Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Earth Sci.
Sec. Solid Earth Geophysics
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2024.1487487
This article is part of the Research Topic Advances and New Methods in Reservoirs Quantitative Characterization Using Seismic Data View all 11 articles

Seismic Prediction Technology for the Thin Reservoir of the Tight Gas in Coal Measure Strata – A Case Study of Block L in the Eastern Margin of Ordos Basin

Provisionally accepted
Yu Qi Yu Qi *Kui Wu Kui Wu *Qixin Li Qixin Li *Xiaowen Zheng Xiaowen Zheng *Bo Wang Bo Wang *Dan Li Dan Li Wei Tang Wei Tang
  • CNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The development of high-accuracy seismic prediction technology, capable of mitigating the influence of coal events and accurately inverting key reservoir parameters, is critical for enhancing the exploration and development of tight gas reservoirs in coal-bearing strata. Block L, located on the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin, serves as a case study. This area, where tight sandstone gas deposits are widespread in the Upper Paleozoic, is characterized by coal seams that complicate seismic interpretation. The available drilling data shows that the tight gas layers in the Taiyuan and Benxi Formations are well-developed and serve as the primary hydrocarbon source rocks. However, the low-density, low-velocity coal seams create strong wave impedance contrasts, which significantly affect the neighboring tight sandstone gas layers and present substantial challenges for seismic prediction. To address this issue, we employ wavelet decomposition and reconstruction techniques to eliminate coal seam interference and high-resolution waveform simulation technology for predicting thin reservoirs. This approach circumvents the limitations of using a single impedance parameter to differentiate between sand-mudstone and limestone-coal interfaces. Step-by-step inversion and gradual stripping techniques are applied to remove the coal seam and limestone influences, thereby facilitating accurate identification of sandstone distribution. Drilling data confirm the reliability and effectiveness of this reservoir prediction method for coal-bearing strata. Based on successful applications in the eastern Ordos Basin, this workflow demonstrates broad applicability and offers significant guidance for exploring similar reservoirs, given the parallel reservoir characteristics and the foundational technological approach.

    Keywords: Seismic prediction, Tight gas reservoir, Coal seam, Wavelet decomposition and reconstruction, Waveform simulation technology

    Received: 28 Aug 2024; Accepted: 12 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Qi, Wu, Li, Zheng, Wang, Li and Tang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Yu Qi, CNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing, China
    Kui Wu, CNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing, China
    Qixin Li, CNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing, China
    Xiaowen Zheng, CNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing, China
    Bo Wang, CNOOC Research Institute Ltd., Beijing, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.