Synthetic data provided by geoelectric earth models are a powerful tool to evaluate a priori a controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) workflow effectiveness. Marlim R3D (MR3D) is an open-source complex and realistic geoelectric model for CSEM simulations of the postsalt turbiditic reservoirs at the Brazilian offshore margin. We have developed a 3D CSEM finite-difference time-domain forward study to generate the full-azimuth CSEM data set for the MR3D earth model. To that end, we fabricated a full-azimuth survey with 45 towlines striking the north–south and east–west directions over a total of 500 receivers evenly spaced at 1 km intervals along the rugged seafloor of the MR3D model. To correctly represent the thin, disconnected, and complex geometries of the studied reservoirs, we have built a finely discretized mesh of 100×100×20 m cells leading to a large mesh with a total of approximately 90 million cells. We computed the six electromagnetic field components (Ex, Ey, Ez, Hx, Hy, and Hz) at six frequencies in the range of 0.125–1.25 Hz. In our efforts to mimic noise in real CSEM data, we summed to the data a multiplicative noise with a 1% standard deviation. Both CSEM data sets (noise free and noise added), with inline and broadside geometries, are distributed for research or commercial use, under the Creative Common License, at the Zenodo platform.

The controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) method is frequently used as a risk reduction tool in hydrocarbon exploration. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive historical review of the CSEM method’s twenty-year history in the Brazilian continental margin. Since 2003, we have significantly improved our understanding of CSEM resistivity data across various geological scenarios. This review presents a roadmap of the technical advancements in acquisition design and interpretation techniques. As a result, our understanding of the methodology has broadened from traditional to more general use, such as salt imaging, gas hydrates, geohazard mapping, and reservoir characterization. Finally, we indicate the potential upcoming CSEM applications in new energy resources and carbon capture and storage.

The CSEM method, which is frequently used as a risk-reduction tool in hydrocarbon exploration, is finally moving to a new frontier: reservoir monitoring and surveillance. In the present work, we present a CSEM time-lapse interpretation workflow. One essential aspect of our workflow is the demonstration of the linear relationship between the anomalous transverse resistance, an attribute extracted from CSEM data inversion, and the SoPhiH attribute, which is estimated from fluid-flow simulators. Consequently, it is possible to reliably estimate SoPhiH maps from CSEM time-lapse surveys using such a relationship. We demonstrate our workflow’s effectiveness in the mature Marlim oilfield by simulating the CSEM time-lapse response after 30 and 40 years of seawater injection and detecting the remaining sweet spots in the reservoir. The Marlim reservoirs are analogous to several turbidite reservoirs worldwide, which can also be appraised with the proposed workflow. The prediction of SoPhiH maps by using CSEM data inversion can significantly improve reservoir time-lapse characterization.

When collecting and processing geophysical data for exploration, the same geologic feature can generate a different response for each rock property being targeted. Typically, the units of these responses may differ by several orders of magnitude; therefore, the combination of geophysical data in integrated interpretation is not a straightforward process and cannot be performed by visual inspection only. The multiphysics anomaly map (MAM) that we have developed is a data fusion solution that consists of a spatial representation of the correlation between anomalies detected with different geophysical methods. In the MAM, we mathematically process geophysical data such as seismic attributes, gravity, magnetic, and resistivity before combining them in a single map. In each data set, anomalous regions of interest, which are problem-dependent, are selected by the interpreter. Selected anomalies are highlighted through the use of a logistic function, which is specially designed to clip large magnitudes and rescale the range of values, increasing the discrimination of anomalies. The resulting anomalies, named logistic anomalies, represent regions of large probabilities of target occurrence. This new solution highlights areas where individual interpretations of different geophysical methods correlate, increasing the confidence in the interpretation. We determine the effectiveness of our MAM with application to real data from onshore and offshore Brazil. In the onshore Recôncavo Basin, the MAM allows the interpreter to identify a channel where a drilled well found the largest sandstone thickness on the area. In a second example, from offshore Sergipe-Alagoas Basin, the MAM helps differentiate between a dry and an oil-bearing channel previously outlined in seismic data. Therefore, these outcomes indicate that the MAM is a valid interpretation tool that we believe can be applied to a wide range of geologic problems.

Synthetic data provided by earth models are essential to investigate several geologic problems. Marlim R3D (MR3D) is an open-source realistic earth modeling project for electromagnetic simulations of the postsalt reservoirs of the Brazilian offshore margin. In phase 3, we have conducted a 3D marine magnetotelluric (MMT) study with the finite-difference method to generate the synthetic magnetotelluric (MT) data set for the MR3D earth model. To that end, we upscaled the original controlled-source electromagnetic model to preserve all local-scale features, such as the thin-layer turbidite reservoirs, and to include several geologic regional features, such as the coastline, land topography, basement rocks representing the continental crust, and mantle rocks. Then, we simulated an MMT survey with 500 receivers evenly spaced at 1 km intervals along the rugged seafloor of the MR3D model. To accurately represent the MMT model with a 329 × 329 × 200 km volume, we have produced a mesh with 161 × 136 × 242 cells (approximately 5.3 million cells). We computed the full MT and tipper tensor at 25 periods in the time range of 1–10,000 s. The data set, the model, and companion material are freely distributed for research or commercial use under the Creative Commons License at the Zenodo platform.

Marine-controlled source electromagnetics (CSEM) have been extensively applied to various exploration scenarios worldwide. However, its perceived value and cost relative to seismic and the scarcity of realistic case studies have limited the industry’s interest in time-lapse reservoir-monitoring (4D) applications. A feasible way to make demand for CSEM for 4D-monitoring programs would be to increase the value of information and reduce survey costs by performing joint operations where seismic and CSEM data are acquired during the same survey and at equivalent spatial densities. To this end, we propose a new multiphysics ocean-bottom nodes (OBN) concept and show the industry that CSEM can be a cost efficient and effective integrators to 4D seismic projects. To this end, we conducted a feasibility study demonstrating that horizontal magnetic field components have the required sensitivities and can be used instead of horizontal electric field components in mapping the 3D resistivity distribution and 4D fluid change responses in a given reservoir. This makes engineering a new OBN class simpler and cheaper, as various miniaturized magnetic field sensors are available off-the-shelf or readily working along with packaging and coupling solutions.