Geological complexity has been a common theme for those...

Geological complexity has been a common theme for those exploring the Orange Basin. Saturn would not be immune to this and as Rhino's Smithard points out, significant differences can exist over what might be deemed to be small distances.

We currently await the seismic inversion quantitative interpretation study which should be ann at any stage now. Understanding what this is for, especially given information from neighbouring licences, is quite important imo. It was prudent for mgt to undertake this and will certainly assist with the farm-in negotiations imo. For those unaware, a summary of what the study is from ChatGPT:

A seismic inversion quantitative interpretation study is a geophysical process used to convert seismic reflection data into more detailed subsurface properties like rock type, porosity, and fluid content. The idea is to use the seismic data (usually gathered from surveys) to infer not just the geometry of the geological structures, but also their physical properties.

Key Steps and Concepts:

1. Seismic Data Acquisition:

   • Seismic waves are generated at the surface and travel through the Earth. When they hit different layers of rock, they reflect back to the surface where sensors (geophones or hydrophones) record the data.

   • This gives an image of the subsurface, showing variations in acoustic impedance (a property that combines density and seismic velocity of the rocks).

2. Seismic Inversion:

   • Seismic inversion takes the seismic reflection data (primarily time or depth) and "inverts" it to calculate the impedance (density and seismic velocity) of the subsurface materials.

   • There are different types of seismic inversion methods:

     • Post-stack inversion: After seismic data is processed into stacked traces.

     • Pre-stack inversion: Uses the data before it is stacked, allowing for more detailed results but requiring more sophisticated processing.

3. Quantitative Interpretation:

   • Once the seismic inversion process is complete, you have numerical data describing the subsurface properties, like impedance, which can be linked to lithology (rock types) and fluid content (oil, gas, water).

   • Quantitative interpretation means analyzing these inversion results in a quantitative (mathematical) manner, often with software tools, to make inferences about things like:

     • Rock type (sandstone, shale, etc.)

     • Porosity (how much void space is in the rock for fluids)

     • Fluid content (water, oil, gas)

     • Reservoir properties (like thickness and extent)

4. Applications:

   • Hydrocarbon Exploration: Seismic inversion helps in identifying potential areas where oil and gas might be trapped.

   • Reservoir Characterization: It allows geophysicists to estimate reservoir properties like porosity and fluid saturation, which are crucial for production planning.

   • Geotechnical Studies: Can be used in civil engineering for understanding soil and rock properties.

Why It’s Important:

Seismic inversion provides a much clearer understanding of the subsurface than traditional seismic interpretation, which is mostly qualitative (visual and interpretive). By using inversion and quantitative methods, geophysicists and engineers can make more accurate predictions about reservoir characteristics, reducing risks in exploration and production.