Author(s)

James Mwendwa Munyithya^1,2, Chukwuemeka Ngozi Ehirim³, Tamunonengiyeofori Dagogo³

¹The World Bank, ACE-CEFOR, Uniport Post Office, Delta Park, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
²Physics Department, JKUAT, Nairobi, Kenya.
³Physics Department, UNIPORT, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Rock Physics Modelling and Seismic Inversion were carried out in an Onshore Niger Delta Field for the purpose of characterizing a hydrocarbon reservoir. The aim of the study was to integrate rock physics models and seismic inversion to improve the characterization of a selected reservoir using well-log and 3D seismic data sets. Seven reservoir sands were delineated using suite of logs from three wells. In this study, the sand 4 reservoir was selected for analysis. The result of petrophysical evaluation shows that the sand 4 reservoir is relatively thick (62 ft) with low water saturation (0.33), shale volume (0.11) and high porosity (0.32). These results indicate reservoir of good quality and producibility. Cross-plot of property pairs (acoustic impedance (Ip) vs. lambda-rho (λρ) and mu-rho (μρ) vs. lambda-rho (λρ) color-coded with reservoir properties reveals three distinct probable zones: hydrocarbon sand, brine sand and shale. Results show that low Ip, λρ and μρ associated with hydrocarbon charged sands correspond to low S_w and V_sh and high Ø. The integration of rock physics models and inverted rock attributes effectively delineated and improved understanding of already producing reservoirs, as well as other hydrocarbon charged sands of low S_w, V_sh, and high Ø to the east of existing well locations, which indicate possible by-passed hydrocarbon pays. The results of this work can assist in forecasting hydrocarbon prospectivity and lessen chances of drilling dry holes in MUN onshore Niger delta field.

Seismic Inversion, Rock Physics Models, Reservoir Properties, Rock Attrib-utes, Hydrocarbon Sands

Munyithya, J. , Ehirim, C. and Dagogo, T. (2019) Rock Physics Models and Seismic Inversion in Reservoir Characterization, “MUN” Onshore Niger Delta Field. International Journal of Geosciences, 10, 981-994. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2019.1011056.