Use of volume-based 3-D seismic attribute analysis to characterize physical property distribution : a case study to delineate reservoir heterogeneity at the Appleton Field, SW Alabama

The use of seismic attribute studies in the petroleum industry is fast spreading. Seismic attribute studies entail the integration of derived attributes from 3-D seismic data with well log, core and/or outcrop data (through multivariate linear regression, neural networks, etc.) to estimate and project physical properties in areas of sparse data control. Because of the accuracy of this technique in predicting the subsurface distribution of physical properties in 3-D space, and delineating depositionally and non-depositionally controlled trends not readily apparent from other methods commonly used in sedimentary geology (e.g., facies modeling, geostatistics, and sequence stratigraphy), it becomes an important tool for sedimentary geologists.We illustrate the techniques and advantages of the approach to predict 3-D distribution of porosity in stratigraphically complex carbonate buildups of the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation at Appleton Field, southwest Alabama. We predict that porosity is thicker on the forereef flanks than on the crest of paleostructure