Introducing the physical basis, mathematical implementation, and geologic expression of modern volumetric attributes including coherence, dip/azimuth, curvature, amplitude gradients, seismic textures, and spectral decomposition, the authors demonstrate the importance of effective colour display and sensitivity to seismic acquisition and processing.
We are poised to embark on a new era of discovery in the study of geomorphology. The discipline has a long and illustrious history, but in recent years an entirely new way of studying landscapes and seascapes has been developed. It involves the use of 3D seismic data. Just as CAT scans allow medical staff to view our anatomy in 3D, seismic data now allows Earth scientists to do what the early geomorphologists could only dream of - view tens and hundreds of square kilometres of the Earth's subsurface in 3D and therefore see for the first time how landscapes have evolved through time. This volume demonstrates how Earth scientists are starting to use this relatively new tool to study the dynamic evolution of a range of sedimentary environments.
Seismic reservoir characterization and prospect evaluation based 3D seismic attributes analysis in Kansas has been successful in contributing to the tasks of building static and dynamic reservoir models and in identifying commercial hydrocarbon prospects. In some areas, reservoir heterogeneities introduce challenges, resulting in some wells with poor economics. Analysis of seismic attributes gives insight into hydrocarbon presence, fluid movement (in time lapse mode), porosity, and other factors used in evaluating reservoir potential. This study evaluates a producing lease using seismic attributes analysis of an area covered by a 2010 3D seismic survey in the Morrison Northeast field and Morrison field of Clark County, KS. The target horizon is the Viola Limestone, which continues to produce from seven of twelve wells completed within the survey area. In order to understand reservoir heterogeneities, hydrocarbon entrapment settings and the implications for future development plans, a seismic attributes extraction and analysis, guided with geophysical well-logs, was conducted with emphasis on instantaneous attributes and amplitude anomalies. Investigations into tuning effects were conducted in light of amplitude anomalies to gain insight into what seismic results led to the completion of the twelve wells in the area drilled based on the seismic survey results. Further analysis was conducted to determine if the unsuccessful wells completed could have been avoided. Finally the study attempts to present a set of 3D seismic attributes associated with the successful wells, which will assist in placing new wells in other locations within the two fields, as well as promote a consistent understanding of entrapment controls in this field.
The uncertainties associated with reservoir identification during the exploration process are reduced through the use of methods including seismic attributes and inversion. These techniques provide interpreters with a powerful tool to enhance subsurface information, resulting in more accurate geologic models for play and prospect definition. Gas was discovered in a well drilled in 2014, confirming the hydrocarbon potential in the Guajira offshore basin. Given the high amplitude of target horizons and correlations with onshore rock exposures, it was initially interpreted as a carbonate hosted reservoir. Instead, the gas was hosted in an Eocene/Oligocene siliciclastic reservoir. After this discovery and the integration of the results into the regional framework, a search was made for an effective approach to avoid seismic misinterpretations related to lithological identification. This study used the reservoir petrophysical properties, to characterize the turbidite deposits using seismic attribute analysis and inversion, calibrating the well data with the seismic expression of 1,500 km2 of reflection data (pre-stack time migration). A chronostratigraphic marker horizon, used to define the limits of extensional sedimentation undeformed by Late Miocene0́3Pliocene subduction (Mantilla et al., 2013), was the basis of this assessment. This included geometry and distribution, as well as seismic response and relations between seismic facies, seismic attributes, and petrophysical properties. The seismic methods applied in this study allowed the extension of borehole reservoir properties, specifically acoustic impedance, beyond the well into the seismic cube, even in the presence of a highly laminated siliciclastic reservoir. The resulting workflow is a tool that can be used to reduce the time taken for reservoir mapping and modeling, providing an easier routine to update subsurface models for future drilling and development plans, and to reduce interpretation uncertainty.
The Handbook of Poststack Seismic Attributes is a general reference for poststack seismic attributes. It discusses their theory, meaning, computation, and application, with the goal of improving understanding so that seismic attributes can be applied more effectively. The chapters of the book build upon each other and progress from basic attributes to more involved methods. The book introduces the ideas that underlie seismic attributes and reviews their history from their origins to current developments. It examines attribute maps and interval statistics; complex trace attributes; 3D attributes that quantify aspects of geologic structure and stratigraphy, primarily dip, azimuth, curvature, reflection spacing, and parallelism; seismic discontinuity attributes derived through variances or differences; spectral decomposition, thin-bed analysis, and waveform classification; the two poststack methods that purportedly record rock properties — relative acoustic impedance through recursive inversion, and Q estimation through spectral ratioing; and multiattribute analysis through volume blending, cross-plotting, principal component analysis, and unsupervised classification. The book ends with an overview of how seismic attributes aid data interpretation and discusses bright spots, frequency shadows, faults, channels, diapirs, and data reconnaissance. A glossary provides definitions of seismic attributes and methods, and appendices provide background mathematics. The book is intended for reflection seismologists engaged in petroleum exploration, including seismic data interpreters, data processors, researchers, and students.
3-D seismic data have become the key tool used in the petroleum industry to understand the subsurface. In addition to providing excellent structural images, the dense sampling of a 3-D survey makes it possible to map reservoir quality and the distribution of oil and gas. Topics covered in this book include basic structural interpretation and map-making; the use of 3-D visualisation methods; interpretation of seismic amplitudes, including their relation to rock and fluid properties; and the generation and use of AVO and acoustic impedance datasets. This new paperback edition includes an extra appendix presenting new material on novel acquisition design, pore pressure prediction from seismic velocity, elastic impedance inversion, and time lapse seismics. Written by professional geophysicists with many years' experience in the oil industry, the book is indispensable for geoscientists using 3-D seismic data, including graduate students and new entrants into the petroleum industry.
This book introduces practical seismic analysis techniques and evaluation of interpretation confidence, for graduate students and industry professionals - independent of commercial software products.
An overview of the geophysical techniques and analysis methods for monitoring subsurface carbon dioxide storage for researchers and industry practitioners.
