Three-dimensional sequence stratigraphy is a potent exploration and
development tool for the discovery of subtle stratigraphic traps.
Reservoir morphology, heterogeneity and subtle stratigraphic trapping
mechanisms can be better understood through systematic horizontal
identification of sedimentary facies of systems tracts provided by
three-dimensional attribute maps used as an important complement to the
sequential analysis on the two-dimensional seismic lines and the well
log data. On new prospects as well as on already-producing fields, the
additional input of sequential analysis on three-dimensional data
enables the identification, location and precise delimitation of new
potentially productive zones. The first part of this paper presents four
typical horizontal seismic facies assigned to the successive systems
tracts of a third- or fourth-order sequence deposited in inner to outer
neritic conditions on a elastic shelf. The construction of this
synthetic representative sequence is based on the observed
reproducibility of the horizontal seismic facies response to cyclic
eustatic events on more than 35 sequences registered in the Gulf coast
Plio-Pleistocene and Late Miocene, offshore Louisiana in the West
Cameron region of the Gulf of Mexico. The second part shows how
three-dimensional sequence stratigraphy can contribute in localizing and
understanding sedimentary facies associated with productive zones. A
case study in the early Middle Miocene Cibicides opima sands shows
multiple stacked gas accumulations in the top slope fan, prograding
wedge and basal transgressive systems tract of the third-order sequence
between SB15.5 and SB 13.8 Ma.