Integrated Interpretation and Simultaneous Joint Inversion of 3D Marine CSEM and Seismic Datasets

One of the most complex seismic challenges is the imaging of thick salt bodies, the detection of their base and flanks, and imaging underlying units. To achieve good seismic imaging, the complementary use of non-seismic methods is one of the recommended solutions. Electromagnetic (EM) methods, such as magnetotellurics (MT) and controlled source electromagnetics (CSEM) are sensitive to the presence of salt bodies thanks to the high resistivity contrast with respect to sedimentary units. We present an integrated workflow applied to re-image wide azimuth (WAZ) seismic data acquired by Schlumberger using EM data acquired by EMGS over 35 blocks in the Keathley Canyon, in the Gulf of Mexico to reduce risk in exploration decisions and improve seismic deliverables. Seismic and EM data are utilized first in a cooperative workflow through localized seismic imaging reverse time migration (LSI RTM) to validate new salt structures highlighted by the single domain 3D anisotropic CSEM and MT inversions. They are then fed into a simultaneous joint inversion (SJI) to update a multi-property earth model (velocity and resistivity) by jointly minimizing the CSEM data misfit, the seismic residual move-outs and a relationship between the two properties.