Results of 3D seismic surveying for hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Guinea

Abstract

Seismic methods are among the most important tools in prospecting, exploration, evaluation and operation of oil and gas fields. The work includes three main stages: seismic data collection, their processing and interpretation. Seismic exploration can be carried out in 2D, 3D or 4D modifications. This study focuses on a 3D offshore seismic survey conducted in the deep shelf of the northern Gulf of Guinea in the Côte d’Ivoire Tano sedimentary basin. The purpose of the work is to assess the commercial prospects for discovering hydrocarbon deposits in the RUS-CIV block, identify the capabilities of seismic exploration, demonstrate effectiveness and sustainability of seismic analysis, which has been developed and improved over the years, achieving improved subsurface visualization results. The data providing reliable information on the seismogeological structure of the area under investigation have been obtained as a result of successive marine seismic operations in 2003–2009. A detailed study allowed to form objective ideas about the internal structure of the block, in particular about the layers of Cretaceous deposits. Also, data were obtained on the presence of a fault network in sedimentary rocks, possible hydrocarbon traps, the nature of pore pressures and the type of fluids. However, the conclusions made remain preliminary, have a qualitative nature and should be confirmed by additional analyses due to the fact that there are no drilled wells in the studied block. Based on the study results, the most promising areas have been identified for detailed interpretation based on the analysis of the dynamic characteristics of seismic waves, seismic exploration data and the choice of the exploration well location.