Abstract This paper discusses recent developments in the domain of Geoscience, which contribute to better 3D modelling of hydrocarbon fields. These techniques integrate geophysical, geological and reservoir engineering knowledge in the construction of a 3D earth model. The 3D-earth model brings consistency between views of the reservoir held by different subsurface disciplines. A common quantitative description of the reservoir is used for all calculations and interpretation studies. Starting with picked horizons and well data, a number of aspects of 3D earth modelling are discussed:
–Anisotropic seismic ray tracing is used for constraining the structural model and estimating uncertainties.
–The geological model is constrained by 3D seismic data through geostatistical inversion.
–3D sedimentary modelling generates a 3D facies model incorporating sequence stratigraphic interpretation and geostatistical modelling rules.
–Computer-aided history matching quantifies sensitivities through gradient calculation and uses this information to reduce uncertainties in the geological model.
North Sea and West Africa examples will be used to illustrate integrated applications of these various techniques. In conclusion, future integration challenges for 3D earth modelling will be mentioned such as time-lapse seismic (4D), four components seismic (4C), fault modelling, improved links between dynamic data and the initial geological model.
P. 13