This visualization showcases 3D Fledermaus scenes of combined marine seismic and electromagnetic models from recent experiments conducted by the Marine EM Laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. We have recently conducted several large electromagnetic experiments at areas of interest to the petroleum exploration community. Using both controlled and natural source EM methods, these surveys yield data sensitive to electrical conductivity at depths from the seafloor to about 10 km. Electrical conductivity models obtained from these experiments can be combined with depth migrated seismic reflection profiles to produce merged images of both data sets. This is accomplished in Adobe Photoshop by superimposing the reflection model on top of pseudo-color conductivity plots, and setting white reflections to 100% transparency. The combined images are assembled along with seafloor bathymetry and other available data into 3D scenes, which allow for easy identification of structural correlations and relationships, and ultimately an improved geological interpretation. Figure 1 shows an example of this technique applied to marine magnetotelluric (MT) and seismic data collected at Gemini Prospect in the deepwater northern Gulf of Mexico. Resistive features in the MT model correlate with bright seismic reflections of the Gemini salt structure. A thin resistive layer extends out from the salt structure and follows the layering in the seismic data. Marine EM exploration is becoming increasingly more important for deepwater exploration; development of visualization techniques that incorporate both EM and seismic models will aid interpretation and promote EM methods.
Figure 1 Combined marine magnetotelluric and seismic reflection models at Gemini Prospect, Gulf of Mexico. (Available in full paper)
