To Oil and Gas E&P Professionals
Founded in January of 2002, Apex Spectral has invested over thirty man-years of R&D in seismic frequency domain analysis and processing technology. Following a scientific break through on August 2, 2007, over the next several years a frequency domain based independent of amplitude DHI was invented called "ADF®". Along the way, Apex Spectral has filed numerous patents of which several have been awarded giving the company large intellectual property space in the United States and abroad.
Whereas hydrocarbons have non-unique character in the amplitude domain (soft rocks sometimes excepted), in the frequency domain in consolidated rocks hydrocarbon reservoirs often have relatively unique spectral characteristics.
The "ADF®" method is independent of amplitude thereby enabling the direct imaging of hydrocarbon reservoirs in Class I and II AVO settings where amplitude is often relatively weak. Since its discovery the ADF® method has passed countless blind tests and correctly predicted numerous successful and dry wells before drilling. The ADF® method has been applied in numerous basins worldwide covering a broad range of geologic settings, rock types and geologic ages.
Because ADF® DHIs are independent of amplitude, bypassed hydrocarbon reservoirs in Class I and II AVO settings can often be readily identified. Since its discovery the ADF® method has passed countless blind tests and correctly predicted numerous successful and dry wells before drilling. The ADF® method has been applied in numerous basins worldwide covering a broad range of geologic settings, rock types and geologic ages.
The minimum thickness required is roughly 10 meters, and there is in practice no depth limit, because desired reservoir thickness increases as target depth increases. Porosity can be low (e.g. 10%) if the reservoirs are thick. Frequency preserved as opposed to amplitude preserved processing is required for good results. Common crude oil types such as Brent and West Texas Intermediate can often be imaged as well as gas. The ADF® measureable effect is caused by fluid mobility induced dispersion within the seismic bandwidth. Seismic dispersion theory is now largely understood and can be used to forward model ADF®.
ADF® DHI cubes are in SEGY format so they can be loaded into common interpretation workstations and used as normal to materially reduce risk and aid in prospect generation. In addition to clastic type reservoirs, recent project work indicates ADF® is effective in fractured reservoirs as well as carbonates.
ADF® is disruptive seismic based E&P technology that is proving itself one predictive success at a time. Please contact us if you have interest in our technology and services.
