This work presents a novel technology for azimuth-dependent facies analysis (Facies Analysis versus Azimuth – FACIVAZ) to improve the prediction of hydrocarbon-saturated permeable fractures in terrigenous carbonate reservoirs. The analysis is performed in the depth domain along high-resolution, full-azimuth, angle domain common image gathers created by the Aspen EarthStudy 360™ imaging system.

Elastic inversion from common reflection angle migration (CRAM) gathers can accurately capture lithology-driven lateral variations in reservoir properties, particularly in a strongly deformed and faulted geologic environment.

Predicting the permeability of fractured reservoirs is valuable for both reservoir assessment and drilling planning. Characterization of such systems requires advanced amplitude analysis, mainly based on seismic imaging results of the recorded wavefield.

A seismic survey was conducted in a production oil field in Serbia. It was assumed that significant reserves still exist in the field, as well as additional undiscovered reservoirs. An advanced seismic imaging technology was required to further characterize the existing reservoirs and identify and characterize new ones.

Seismic processing, imaging, characterization and interpretation are preferably executed as a continuous workflow to maintain seismic data integrity and consistencies. Geophysicists must construct a workflow from hundreds of applications and algorithms, and thousands of parameters, to achieve desired project outcomes. Almost all these applications and algorithms are based on assumptions about the underlying geological model complexity and subsurface conditions.