Interpreting VSP, streamer, and ocean-bottom seismometer data from the White Rose oilfield, offshore Newfoundland

Jessica Maria Jaramillo Sarasty, Robert R. Stewart

During the summer of 2000, a multi-offset-VSP dataset was acquired in Husky Energy's H-20 well in the White Rose field, offshore Newfoundland. This survey generated several outputs including corridor stacks, CDP mapping of PP data, and CCP mapping of PS data. The interpretation of these results shows that the best correlations are between the PS synthetic seismograms and the PS offset VSP data. PS images from these synthetic seismograms at the top of the Avalon Formation, show higher amplitude than the adjacent signals. Synthetic and field data indicated that converted-wave (PS) data might be useful in mapping the Avalon reservoir at White Rose (Jaramillo et al., 2002).

During the summer of 2002, an ocean bottom seismometer test line was conducted over Husky Energy Inc.'s L-08 well in White Rose area. The Avalon reservoir at the White Rose field is difficult to image using a conventional marine seismic. Thus, a test was conducted using twenty-one ocean bottom seismometer/hydrophone stations and an airgun source. The correlation between the PP and PS synthetic seismograms from well L-08 and the OBS data (vertical and radial components) gave confidence to the interpretation of the resultant PP and PS seismic sections. The Vp/Vs values obtained from the seismic are similar to the values from the well L-08. There are some vertical and lateral Vp/Vs anomalies on the seismic sections. In general, the Vp/Vs values decrease with depth.