The importance of geology-driven seismic processing and interpretation: a case study of the Proterozoic Sao Francisco Basin

GETA-UFBA carried out a P&D project in the northern region of the Proterozoic Sao Francisco Basin (in Bahia state) between 2012 and 2014. The available data set (well log data and 2D seismic lines) has led to a sequence stratigraphic framework with three first-order Proterozoic sequences, based on strata termination and seismic facies analysis. That interpretation has changed dramatically when ANP (the Brazilian Hydrocarbon Agency) made new well data available and took the group to reprocess seismic lines with a geology-driven workflow. This led to the conclusion that there are no Proterozoic sequences in that portion of the basin, and that the depocenter is much shallower than previous researches had appointed. This case study shows conclusively that interpretation and seismic processing must have constant and positive feedback from geologic knowledge.