Depth Prediction From a Prestack Depth Image: a Dutch North Sea Case Study

In any exploration or field development interpretation project the starting requirements are a good image, good well ties and reliable depth conversion. In this paper we present the results of matching a prestack depth image to the well depths. Blocks K10 and K13 lie at the northwestern margin of the Broad Fourteens Basin of the Dutch offshore. Since exploration of these blocks started in 1968, over 30 exploration wells have been drilled resulting in 7 producing fields. As the fields enter their final years of production it was realized that new technology was required to identify additional reserves and extend the life of this mature area. Prestack depth migration is essential, in order to achieve accurate imaging in this complex geological environment. Tying the depths from the prestack data to the wells is crucial to obtain accurate maps.