Integration of Seismic Stratigraphy and Seismic Geomorphology for Prediction of Lithology - Applications and Workflows

The application of seismic stratigraphy and geomorphology hinges on the identification of reflection patterns, and consequently the interpreter’s ability to leverage those patterns to predict suburface lithology. Predicting lithology prior to drilling centers on seismic pattern recognition, a process that involves the iterative interpretation of seismic section and plan view images (i.e., stratigraphic and geomorphologic, respectively). However, workflows and attribute extractions require the careful understanding of reflection patterns, which will ultimately lead to the three dimensional interpretation of subsurface lithology. The stratigraphic interpretation of high-quality 3D seismic data has significantly improved our ability to predict the subsurface. The investment of billions of dollars to acquire and process 3D seismic data drives the need to extract the maximum value of information. These seismically-derived geologic interpretations hinge on effective workflows, which facilitate the seismic identification of geologic patterns. Notable workflows include: volume slicing, creative datuming, optical stacking, channel chasing, and attribute analyses. In addition to workflows, seismic data types and attribute volumes also can play a critical role. Near vs. far vs. full offset stack volumes can provide useful and unique insights, which highlight both geologic and geophysical phenomenon