Petroleum Geology Conference and Exhibition 2010

30-31st March, 2010 V Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
POSTER 8

PASSIVE SEISMIC TOMOGRAPHY: A NEW ERA FOR HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION

Mohammad G. Al-Ibiary
Professor of Geophysics and Chairman of Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Helwan, Egypt.
Key Words: Seismology; Seismic source; Earthquakes; Micro-earthquakes; Ray Tracing; 3D Seismic Imaging;
Tomography; Passive Seismic Tomography; Reservoir Management.

Passive seismic plays an important role in the investigation of the interior structure of the Earth.
Passive seismic is a 3-D seismic imaging of the target geology without using artificial surface sources. It uses
multi-component seismic receivers to take advantage of shear wave energy generated by the microearthquakes thereby delivering a shear wave (Vs) velocity distribution estimate of the subsurface in addition
to the conventional compressional (Vp) image. Recently, the passive seismic tomography surveys became an
essential tool for the oil industry and modern reservoir management.
The passive seismic technology is applied to investigate the relatively shallow depths that lie in
hydrocarbon exploration window. In addition, some of the problems that are encountered in the conventional
seismic explorations, for example salt domes effects, are solved using this technique.
Passive Seismic Method constitutes the passive seismic transmission tomography in which 3-D
images are created using the observed travel time of seismic signals originating from micro-earthquakes
occurring below the target; and passive seismic emission tomography where the micro-seismic activity itself
becomes the imaging target. The most straight-forward approach is to observe and record the direct arrivals
of the seismic waves from these events and to map the distribution of hypocenter locations.
Passive seismic technology, as an imaging and processing technique, challenges the following issues:
1. Identification of anisotropic flow and well targeting.
2. Determination of the three-dimensional VP and VP/VS velocity structure.
3. Analyzing the seismicity.
4. Getting under salt formations.
5. Description of the deformation processes of the reservoir.
6. Delineation of leaky fault structures, mapping active and conductive fractures of faults, at an
intermediate scale between borehole imaging and 3-D seismic imaging.
7. Predictive reservoir models thus Reducing uncertainty.
The Gulf of Suez, Egypt, is characterized by its high hydrocarbon potentialities where most of Egypt
oil production comes from. The basic problems in exploration at the Gulf of Suez come from its complex
geologic structural setting as well as the presence of anhydrites that mask the structures below. Therefore,
Passive seismic transmission tomography (PSTT) creates 3-D images using the observed travel time of
seismic signals originating from micro-earthquakes occurring below the so masked structures.
The cost/benefit justification of 3D seismic applies to Passive Seismic. Deeper pool tests drilled with
this coverage will have a much higher success rate. Coverage will provide risk-reducing information content.
For example: new interpretation could prevent drilling of unsuccessful step-out wells ($1 MM savings per
well). Additionally, PSTT may be the only viable seismic option for certain areas.
One of the most important parts of the passive tomography investigation is the quality control of the
results. This can be done using many different procedures and their correlation can lead to safe conclusions
about the resolution power of the dataset and therefore the quality of the tomographic inversion results. The
method used does not only verify the estimation of their accuracy, but also points out the areas of higher and
lower analysis precision, thus making it easier to control the interpretation of the results.
This paper represents the passive seismic technology as an alternative to the conventional seismic
exploration for delineating the structures that are masked by salt domes and Anhydrites in the Gulf of Suez
and other regions, as well.

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Geological Society of Malaysia