Primarily, LFS technology is very effective as a Direct Hydrocarbon Indicator. However, it also has a unique ability to deal with unconventional exploration tasks, reduce the risk of drilling complications and prevent accidents. For example, it can identify different types of irregularities in the overburden, such as:
- decompactification zones
- formations with abnormally high formation pressure
- natural or man-made hydrocarbon deposits
LFS technology is capable of locating such abnormalities because it can distinguish between intervals of a section with abnormally high pore pressure, characterised by increased porosity, temperature, Poisson’s ratio, lower bulk densities, effective pressure and interval velocities, and intervals with normal pressure in the same rocks and at the same depth. Anomalies of velocities and density at the contacts of formations with abnormal formation pressure are manifested in reflection coefficient anomalies. Consequently, LFS detects these features of abnormal formation pressure, namely lowered velocities in the formation and amplitude anomalies.
Unlike the conventional seismic method, LFS technology can also be used in the presence of salt or coal structures and is the only reliable method of identifying irregularities in such formations.