US 6,018,498 A · Automated seismic fault detection and picking

Abstract

A computer implemented method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically picking faults in a recorded 3D seismic trace data volume. The method employs test planes, which are mathematically inserted into the seismic data volume to approximate dip and azimuth of a potential fault plane surface. A large number of data points, which are selected points on the seismic traces, are defined within the seismic volume, such that each test plane positioned in the seismic volume contains data points corresponding to at least a significant portion of a trace. The method then determines a factor for each data point which is representative of the probability that the data point resides on a fault plane. This probability is based on planar discontinuity and average amplitude difference between corresponding traces in adjacent parallel test planes, and the method selects locations, in an x, y grid, of a strip of locations having high probability of residing on a fault surface. The strip of the selected locations is smoothed to a line and used to construct fault lineaments displays in seismic sections or time slices. The fault lineaments are stored in a computer data file, and conventional, stratigraphically enhanced, or other seismic data enhanced for seismic attributes is merged with the fault lineament files to create consolidated displays to aid interpretation of the data volume.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A computer implemented method for automatically determining a fault lineament detectable in a three-dimensional (3D) seismic data volume containing a plurality of seismic traces arranged as a plurality of data points having x, y and z coordinates defining a physical location in said seismic data volume, wherein said data points are selected individual points on said seismic traces, said method comprising:

a) converting said 3D seismic data volume to a fault plane (FP) data volume containing a plurality of probability factors, referred to herein as FP values, wherein an FP value and coordinates for said physical location for said FP values are associated with each of said plurality of data points in said 3D seismic data volume;
b) determining at least one strip of said physical locations in said FP data volume having a high probability of residing on a subterranean fault plane detectable in said seismic data volume;
c) converting said at least one strip of physical locations having a high probability to a line;
and
d) displaying said line as a fault lineament.

2 more elements

Apparatus for automatically determining a fault lineament detectable in a three dimensional (3D) seismic data volume containing a plurality of seismic traces arranged as a plurality of data points having x, y and z coordinates defining a physical location in said seismic data volume, wherein said data points are selected individual points on said seismic traces, said apparatus comprising:

a computer programmed to carry out the following method steps:
a) converting said 3D seismic data volume to a fault plane (FP) data volume containing a plurality of probability factors, referred to herein as FP values, wherein an FP value and coordinates for said physical location of said FP values are associated with each of said plurality of data points in said seismic data volume;
b) determining at least one strip of said physical locations in said FP data volume having a high probability of residing on a subterranean fault plane detectable in said seismic data volume;
c) converting said at least one strip of physical locations having a high probability to a line;
and
d) displaying said line as a fault lineament.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated seismic fault detection and picking

Life of this patent

Automated seismic fault detection and picking

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16