Fault filter for seismic discontinuity data
AssigneeLandmark Graphics Corporation
InventorArthur Barnes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various methods are disclosed for identifying faults in a seismic data volume. In some method embodiments, the fault identification method comprises determining a planarity value for each of multiple positions of an analysis window in the data volume. The planarity value may be indicative of the planarity of discontinuities in the analysis window, and may be further filtered by limits on the verticality and centrality of the discontinuities. Thus a filter may be determined for suppressing relatively non-planar, relatively non-vertical, and relatively un-centered discontinuities from a discontinuity display, thereby enhancing a display of faults present in the seismic data volume.
Claims34
A fault identification method that comprises:
- obtaining seismic data;
- and
- for each of multiple positions of an analysis window in the seismic data, determining a planarity value for discontinuities in the analysis window.
A method of seismic exploration that comprises:
- detecting seismic energy with an array of detectors;
- converting detection signals from the array of detectors into seismic data representing one or more attributes as a function of position for subsurface formations;
- applying a discontinuity measurement procedure to the seismic data to create discontinuity data;
- and
- calculating fault data from the discontinuity data by:
- systematically obtaining subsets of the discontinuity data as filter analysis windows;
- and
- for each filter analysis window:
- determining a planarity value for the data in the filter analysis window;
- and
- suppressing relatively non-planar features in the fault data.
A seismic survey system comprising:
- a data storage device that stores data derived from seismic measurements;
- a processor that retrieves the data as subsets corresponding to multiple analysis window positions, wherein the processor calculates fault data for each analysis window by determining planarity of data features in the analysis window and passes only relatively planar features.
A fault identification method that comprises:
- determining discontinuity values from seismic data;
- and
- applying principal component analysis to the discontinuity values to identify faults.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.