Seismic Attribute Analysis of the Mississippian Chert at the Wellington Field, south-central Kansas

Mississippian chert reservoirs, important hydrocarbon resources in North America, are highly heterogeneous, typically below seismic resolution and, therefore, present a challenging task for predicting reservoir properties from seismic data. In this study, I conducted a seismic attribute analysis of the Mississippian chert reservoir at the Wellington Field, south-central Kansas using well and 3D PSTM seismic data. The microporous cherty dolomite reservoir exhibits a characteristic vertical gradational porosity reduction and associated increase in acoustic velocity, known as a ramp-transition velocity function. I investigated possible relationships of the Mississippian reservoir thickness and porosity with post-stack seismic attributes, including inverted acoustic impedance.;The analysis of well-log and seismic data revealed that fault ;The seismic response of a ramp-transition velocity function, well established in theory, but poorly studied using field seismic data, could benefit the characterization of similar chert as well as clastic and carbonate reservoirs characterized by downward porosity reduction as shown in this study. In addition, it might improve an understanding of depositional and diagenetic histories of such reservoirs.