Improving Prospect Volume Assessments with 3D CSEM

We present a workflow for embedding marine 3D controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) data in a prospect evaluation process, focusing on the volume assessment. Volume estimation is critical to the evaluation of exploration ventures, but also one of the primary sources of uncertainty and failure in the exploration business. This is true in particular for those offshore basins where significant minimum economic field sizes are required to make the venture economically successful. We explain how marine 3D CSEM can be used to update an existing volume distribution and reduce the volume uncertainty. The successful application of the workflow is demonstrated using a real data example and the evaluation results are analyzed in the light of subsequent well results.