Attribute supported seismic geomorphology and reservoir characterization of the Granite Wash, Anadarko Basin, Texas

Seismic attributes and seismic inversion have become increasingly useful for characterizing hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs. These tools allow the seismic interpreter to delineate specific depositional patterns and their corresponding geomorphology. This study implements and evaluates these techniques on a geologic unit that has historically been difficult to characterize seismically, the Pennsylvanian Granite Wash of the Texas Panhandle. In addition, this study compares how various seismic processing sequences impact postack seismic inversion.;Seismic similarity, computed from postack migrated data, and energy-weighted coherent- amplitude gradient, computed from prestack migrated data, delineated the geomorphology of the Granite Wash reservoir in the study area. Inverted acoustic impedance (AI) computed from the seismic amplitude volumes combined with density and sonic logs provided an excellent means for mapping reservoir heterogeneity.;Previous wells drilled in the area targeted channel facies that correspond to the upper and middle sections of the submarine fans (Washes). This study demonstrates that the combination of seismic attributes and inversion for AI greatly facilitates the location and interpretation of hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir rock within the upper and middle fan depositional environments.