The quality of a regional velocity cube mainly depends on two factors. Firstly the quality of the input data and secondly the processing software, procedures and operator skill.
On the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) a large quantity of velocity data is publicly available. In general the newest data is better quality due to improvements in seismic acquisition and processing. Older data may also be used for making high quality regional velocity cubes if the velocities are quality controlled and balanced with new, high quality velocity data.
Aker Solutions has developed its own software for processing velocity data from individual seismic surveys into regional velocity cubes. The individual surveys are balanced in between each other and data gaps are interpolated so that the resulting cubes become coherent. We believe we have the best software for processing velocities in the industry.
The Aker Solutions velocity database includes the publicly available velocities for the NCS. These velocities have been quality checked and processed through our software into three regional cubes which we offer to all oil companies operating on the NCS:
hiQbe® Velocity Cubes for depth conversion:
Multi Client hiQbe® North Sea, UTM 31
Multi Client hiQbe® Mid Norway, UTM 32
Multi Client hiQbe® Barents Sea, UTM 34
In addition our database also includes those publicly available well check shots in electronic format from exploration wells. After processing the stacking velocity cube we process another cube where the velocities are being calibrated with the check shots. This calibrated average velocity cube can be used directly for depth conversions. Depth maps created by converting the time maps with this cube will be correct at all well positions provided that the seismic reflector interpreted is in agreement with the well tops.
We provide hiQbe® in a format that can be read in all major software packages meaning that the user can use his favorite software for the depth conversion.
In addition Aker Solutions has the ability to incorporate the customer’s own data into the cubes or may also create velocity cubes with the customer’s data for other regions worldwide. Our own proprietary software gives us the capability to do this in a very time efficient manner and at a very competitive price.
Benefits
Using velocity cubes for depth conversion has traditionally been a method only for the major oil companies. This was, and to some part still is due to the high cost of acquiring a database with quality checked velocity data and the high cost of making the velocity cubes (due to the time and skills required). The Petrobank system, where data from the NCS is made publicly available after a time period, has significantly reduced the prize for making a database with velocity data. Making a velocity cube from this data is however, still a very time consuming and expensive operation. We believe that offering these cubes as multi client reports makes them affordable to every oil company operating on the NCS, big or small. The customer will most likely save time and money compared with making the cubes themselves. Using hiQbe® also means that more effort can be put into seismic interpretation producing higher quality time maps. Thus our clients can produce rapid depth conversion using our velocity cubes and the resulting depth map will have as high a quality as the input time map.
What will you get by buying Aker Solutions hiQbe TM:
When purchasing hiQbe® the customer will receive a DVD containing:
- Database containing the input data for making the velocity cube
- Stacking velocity cube, without well calibration
- Average velocity cube, with well calibration
- Depth cube, with well calibration
- Geocap project
- Report in PDF format listing all surveys and wells being used
In addition the customer will have one year of user support.
Leasing Aker Solutions hiQbe® :
As a second option, Aker Solutions offers the option of leasing the cubes. The lease gives access to depth conversion services with the cubes, but not to the cubes themselves (no cube(s) is delivered to the customer). The customer will in this case transfer his time maps to Aker Solutions through the secure FTP site. All depth conversion will be performed by Aker Solutions personnel. Quality checked, converted depth maps will then be transferred back to the customer via the secure FTP site.