Plotting of hydrocarbon indication using seismic and heat flow data

摘要

A computer-aided method for rapid delineation of the hydrocarbon generation window on a seismic section, and to make organic maturation maps for a given area. The method uses surface-acquired seismic data and heat flow data to define the vitrinite reflectance equivalent of the hydrocarbon window in relation to a seismic section or assembly of 3-D seismic data. Velocity processing of seismic section data is utilized (14) to determine selected interval velocities which, in turn, are converted (18) to a thermal conductivity value. The thermal conductivity data is then processed with heat flow data to calculate (38) geothermal gradient. The geothermal gradient and burial history are then used (42) to compute vitrinite reflectance value that is indicative of the stage of organic maturation. IMAGE