Drs. Michel Kemper, Andrey Kozhenkov  

Ikon Science Ltd., UK

This talk provides an overview of modern inversion techniques and their applications to hydrocarbon exploration and development. The authors categorize different inversion types, and describe six reservoir characterization methods utilizing inversion results.

At the current stage of seismic exploration technology, 2D and 3D seismic surveys have demonstrated their efficiency and reliability. In recent years, a number of seismic inversion techniques have been developed, finally making it possible to pass from the analysis of reflection coefficients at acoustic interfaces to the analysis of elastic properties of formations. This makes it possible to estimate reservoir properties based on the relation between petrophysical and elastic rock properties obtained from the interpretation of measured well log data.  Such a rapid development of various inversion techniques was mainly driven by introduction of a new reserves class PUD (proved undeveloped) where reservoir continuity can be shown by making the case using “reliable techniques”.  This allowed oil companies  to book more reserves without involving additional costly and risky drilling.

These days most seismic data is of a quality that allows us to gain an accurate understanding of the rock properties as well as measure and reduce uncertainty in determining the volumes of hydrocarbons in place. However the inversions are not universal and choice of suitable technology depends on many factors, such as geological setting, quality and amount of acquired data and stage of oilfield development. This paper categorises inverted data by inversion methods and their reliability and introduces different reservoir characterization methods based on these data.