9 - A Road Map for Subsurface De-risking

Summary

This book demonstrates that there are other approaches that when used alone, or in conjunction with seismic, can considerably reduce the uncertainty and risk of a given opportunity.Non-seismic technologies have a risk reduction role throughout the exploration value chain, from frontier basin entry exploration through to development and production and on into carbon capture and storage.

Integration is a theme running through our commentary alongside designing the survey with an understanding of the geological model you plan to validate.This is particularly the case with gravity/magnetics and Full Tensor Gradiometry (FTG) techniques for which there are non-unique outcomes for a given gravity response.Hence their best application is when using in combination with either refraction seismic or conventional reflection seismic.

As well as providing direct imaging in their own right, gravity and refraction seismic add significant value in helping to greatly improve the migration of seismic data.This is particularly the case when seismic data quality is compromised due to the presence of difficult lithologies in the overburden (e.g. salt, basalt and chalk) or to increase the resolution at depth.We review of marine electromagnetic methods, in which we explain that if correctly applied, in the right geological conditions, marine electromagnetic has an important role to plan in prospect de-risking and reservoir management.