f Understanding Pore Pressure Uncertainty in Wildcat Exploration through Integration of Multiple Data Sources and Models

The results from a deepwater exploration well (in the Western Black Sea, Turkey) highlight the importance of integrating information from several sources to understand uncertainty in wildcat pre-drill pore pressure predictions. Key learnings include: (a) Velocity reversals may be related to changes in seal properties and under-compaction, but unloading mechanisms such as temperature driven diagenesis or lateral flow should always be considered when a seismic velocity reversal is observed. (b) Early investigation of time migration gathers for evidence of reversals and velocity patterns may give an early warning. Tomographic updates of the imaging velocity provide final velocity data that is useful for pore pressure prediction work and matches the well data post-drill. (c) Temperature-time effects on clay diagenesis can lead to sharp pore pressure increases related to changes in seal properties and possibly water generation. (d) Basin modeling helps to validate pore pressure mechanisms and to explore uncertainties around temperature and plumbing.