Abstract

The present study aims to analyze whether the hydrocarbon bearing zones within a sedimentary strata can be delineated through magnetotelluric (MT) approach or not. For that a synthetic model is created taking inputs from well log data (resistivity log) of a hydrocarbon producing zone. Synthetic data is generated from this model and then inverted to test the ability of MT for identification of hydrocarbon bearing zones. The resolution enhancement criteria proposed by recent study is also applied to increase the resolution of the inversion output. But in the inversion output of this model, hydrocarbon bearing zones are not identified. The reasons for this inability of detection are then studied in terms of thickness of the hydrocarbon bearing zone and the conductivity of the overburden taking different situations. Finally, the study finds that the detectability of hydrocarbon bearing zone is controlled by the thickness of the zone and conductivity of overburden.