Carbonate build-up growth model combining seismic attributes and stratigraphic-sedimentological forward modelling: Presalt of the Campos Basin

The oil and gas industry faces challenges in estimating reservoir properties in regions without well data. To overcome this, a combination of seismic attributes and drilled well information is used to predict the unknown drilled portion of the reservoir. Integrating these datasets enhances geological and flow models, leading to better reservoir predictability and improved strategies for reservoir development and production. This study focuses on a lacustrine carbonate environment and employs a stratigraphic-sedimentological modelling approach. The aim is to understand sedimentation times and propose a growth model for carbonate build-up based on prior integrated studies using seismic attributes. The modelling methodology was applied to the BM-C-33 Exploratory Hydrocarbon Block in the Campos Basin, offshore Brazil. The Macabu Formation was chosen as the target unit. Seismic attribute-driven carbonate mound features were identified and categorized into different sedimentation periods. Geological processes were then modelled, incorporating parameters such as topographical and bathymetric surfaces, lake-level variations, subsidence mapping, and rates of carbonate deposition. Four depositional domains for lacustrine carbonates were considered: a high-energy sediment domain, a build-up domain, a low-energy sediment domain and a clayey sediment domain. By integrating seismic attributes and well data, more reliable growth models of the carbonate mounds were developed. The results demonstrate the efficiency of the methodology in improving the understanding and representation of carbonate reservoirs, facilitating the characterization of the studied region, and mitigating associated project risks such as identifying new drilling locations.