Accurate identification of traps and pinch-outs on a stratigraphic reservoir-A case from Hala’alate Mountain in the Junggar Basin, China

Abstract

In the investigation of stratigraphic reservoirs, a significant discrepancy frequently exists between the delineation of the formation pinch-out line as traced using the characteristics of seismic wave reflections and the actual location of the formation pinch-out line. This has been the main problem restricting further hydrocarbon exploration and development. In this study, Hala’alate Mountain on the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin is taken as an example for carrying out the study of stratigraphic reservoirs by integrating logging, drilling, and 3D seismic data. On the one hand, in studies based on the identification of formation pinch-out points using seismic data, the identification error of reservoir pinch-out lines is reduced by the improved included angle extrapolation method by utilizing the half energy attribute. On the other hand, the Poisson’s ratio curve is reconstructed using acoustic curves and oil-gas sensitive logging, then the reservoir oil-bearing facies zone is predicted using Poisson’s ratio post-stack genetic inversion to comprehensively analyze the controlling factors of stratigraphic reservoirs. The study area mainly features structural lithologic reservoirs, structural stratigraphic reservoirs and stratigraphic overlaps that pinch out reservoirs. The boundary of a stratigraphic reservoir is affected by the dip angle of the unconformity surface, the formation dip angle, and other factors. The improved included angle extrapolation method improves the identification accuracy of stratigraphic overlap pinch-out reservoirs. The reservoir distribution then is calculated according to Poisson’s ratio inversion, improving the prediction accuracy for the reservoir. This method improves the predictive effect for stratigraphic reservoirs and provides a new idea for the exploration and development of similar reservoirs.