Application of a weighted VMD–derived Hilbert marginal differential cepstrum–based hydrocarbon detection method to a Deep Carbonate Thin Reservoir in China

• Published in: Journal of applied geophysics Vol. 241; p. 105837
• Main Authors: Xue, Ya-Juan, Zhang, Hong, Zhang, Jin-Qiang, Wang, Xing-Jian, Cao, Jun-Xing, Liu, Zhe-Ge, Wen, Wu, Zhong, Jian-Dan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2025
• Subjects: Deep carbonate reservoir; Gas detection; Thin reservoir; VMD–derived Hilbert marginal differential cepstrum; VMD–derived Hilbert marginal differential cepstrum; Deep carbonate reservoir; Thin reservoir; Gas detection
• ISSN: 0926-9851
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2025.105837

The deep burial depth, extensive evolutionary history, and intricate geological conditions of deep thin carbonate reservoirs pose considerable challenges to traditional hydrocarbon detection methods, limiting their effectiveness for effective gas detection. In this study, we propose a new hydrocarbon detection method based on a weighted VMD–derived Hilbert marginal differential cepstrum (HMDC) for identifying gas in these reservoirs. A weighted optimization scheme for seismic data filtering is incorporated into the VMD–HMDC–based hydrocarbon detection method. The seismic data are decomposed into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and the useful sub–components are enhanced using the weighted scheme. This optimal filtering significantly improves the hydrocarbon detection capability of the VMD–HMDC–based hydrocarbon detection method in deep thin reservoirs. Model tests and field data applications in a deep thin carbonate reservoir of the Penglai gas field in China demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method and suggest potential indications of buried gas hydrates. Comparisons with the hydrocarbon detection methods using the conventional Fourier–based cepstrum and original VMD–HMDC further confirm that the proposed method is more effective for reservoirs with weak amplitude reflections. •A weighted cepstrum–based hydrocarbon detection method is proposed.•A weighted scheme is adopted for highlighting the weak useful information.•The VMD–derived Hilbert marginal differential cepstrum is studied for hydrocarbon detection.•Model tests and field data applications illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.•The proposed method is more effective for gas detection in thin reservoir by comparatively study.