When quantitatively evaluating petroleum potential, the sedimentary stratigraphic setting is a key feature controlling hydrocarbon occurrence and behavior. The so called “stratigraphic model” includes lithological facies, potential source rock, reservoir and seal distributions and thicknesses. It also incorporates paleo-environment ensuring consistency between paleo-topography, sediment architecture and facies.

Dionisos is the first industrial solution for quantitatively assessing the complex interaction between accommodation space, sediment supply and transport through a coupled simulation of sedimentary processes (continental to marine siliciclastic, carbonates). It delivers a physically sound geo-history of sedimentary basin development featuring sedimentary architecture, lithological facies and paleo-bathymetry distribution through space and time.

Following more than ten years of research and developments, Dionisos’ added value for assessment of petroleum system has been demonstrated on numerous real case applications in, amongst others, the Middle-East Cretaceous carbonate platform, Gulf of Mexico salt driven tectonics province, Niger delta turbiditic system and intra-cratonic depression in North Africa. 

The conventional analysis of geological data (i.e.: seismic sequences boundaries and facies, well logs) allows generating present day depth maps of key horizons as well as corresponding thickness maps. These are loaded in Dionisos in which the stratigraphic ages can be specified. Paleo-topography and subsidence maps, sea level variations (eustatic curve), salt deformation, sediment supply (source location, charge and mineral content on model boundaries) and transport parameters can be defined in appropriate editors.

Accounting for subsidence rate, eustasy and sediment supply, Dionisos then simulates sediment erosion, transport and deposition as well as local carbonate production. The carbonate production can be modeled using the following controlling factors: 

• Bathymetry 
• Waves and drift energies 
• Ecology (water turbidity and sea floor content) 

Sediment transport is controlled by combining river discharge and slope parameters to simulate normal sedimentary processes as well as flooding and slope instability for catastrophic sedimentary processes.

The forward stratigraphic simulation results can be calibrated with observed data by iterating on sediment supply, transport and production settings to ensure a satisfying fit between simulation results and observations. Dionisos finally delivers a 4D quantitative sedimentary stratigraphic model featuring sequence thicknesses, paleo-topography and facies maps. Such a workflow applies for single or multiple sedimentary sequences eventually encompassing the entire basin stratigraphy.

In the frame of quantitative modeling of petroleum systems in which depositional environment controls some of the key elements, Dionisos is the missing link between interpretation of conventional seismic/well log data and quantitative modeling techniques such as source rock characterization and basin modeling.

Dionisos helps constraining:

• geometry and facies of reservoirs bodies (extension, thicknesses, connections);
• extension and thicknesses of seals;
• distribution and nature of source rocks;
• paleo-geometries of sedimentary basins.