Seismic interpretation course

Sept 2014

Ms. Neema Maganza , Msc .Petroleum Geoscience

 Content.
Describe the basic geologic concepts and
interpretation procedures.
Describe the evidences of geologic features.
Describe stratigraphic interpretation.
Conduct structural and Geological
interpretation on paper sections.
Apply software and other techniques to
interpret seismic reflection data at the work
station.
Reference
 Seismic interpretation - Background
Seismic data acquisation start around 1920
when seismic data was acquired using
dynamite as source and electrodynamic
geophones as receivers.
Data acquired in 1921 near Oklahoma city
USA.
Obtained reflected P wave from interface btn
the sylvan shale and the Viola limestone.
Output medium :photographic film.
The art of Seismic interpretation is then
to make a geological understanding of
the result from the seismic data
acquisation.
 The quality of the seismic data improved significantly after the introduction of
magnetic tape recording (around 1950).

It was now possiple to do simple data processing to the data filtering, static
corrections and normal moveout corrections.

Around this time a new way to display seismic data was inverted: veriable area
display.
Now it is easier to follow reflector on adjacent wiggle trace since the positive
amplitude (peak) were coloured black to enhance the continuity of the reflectors.
The next big change in seismic data quality came when digital recording was first
done in the 1960s.The digital revolution was propably the most far reaching
development in seismic exploration since the pioneering days.
It was now possiple to do sophistacated data processing such as deconvolution and
migration.

Even though the seismic data quality improved significantly from 1920 t0 1080, the
work performed by seimsic interpreter did not change very much.After
replacement of photographic film as a plotting medium to paper prints,most of the
work was focuses on the interpretating seismic reflectors on printed paper rolls
using colour pencels to mark reflectors, and pencels to mark falts.
The seismic data involved were 2D seismic lines, and around 1980 3D seismic data
started to become commonplace.
 The large amount of data
involved in the 3D data
acquisation combined with
the progress in comptuter
technology and computer
graphics led to the way to
a new medium for seismic
interpretation_ seismic
work station.

The new development give

the possipility to go
beyond the possipilities of
the trace plotting, by using
colours to show the
strength of the amplitude.
 Explain the meaning and purpose of
interpretation of reflection data.

Seismic data : reflection data

Refelceted wave PP or Ps or SS

Purpose of interpretation: information ,geology,

structures,fluid type, volume etc
Definition

Seismic interpretation refers to identification and

tracking of seismic reflectors for the purpose of
mapping geological structures, stratigraphy and basin
geometry.
Seismic quality improves the interpretation, but
interpretation skills is vital for any interpretation
work, as the noise is always associated with seismic
data, so interpreter should be able to deal with the
associated pit-falls (Sheriff, 1995).
 The interpretation can involve features which have
no any geological meaning, so geological knowledge
is of great importance to give meaningful
interpretation.

In recent years seismic interpreters uses different

techniques to improve the interpretations and
identifying structure, Hydrocarbons presence and
characteristics of reservoirs.
These techniques include AVO analysis, bright spot
and dim spot, and other seismic attributes
technique.
 Reflection data
Acoustic impedance

Reflection coefficient.
 Review some basic geologic concepts that are fundamental in
petroleum exploration (generation and migration of
hydrocarbons and types of traps).
 Explain the fundamental geophysical assumption during seismic
interpretation
 Explain the collection, examinations of data and interpretation
approaches.
 Describe the picking of reflections and mapping of reflecting
horizons.
 Explain how to deduce geological history and integrate well data
into an interpretation.
Describe the evidences of geologic
features.
 Describe structural style and plate tectonic setting.
 Describe faulting with reference to seismic section (characteristics of faulting, fault
examples and evidences for faulting.
 Describe folded and flow structures, reefs, unconformities, channels and
stratigraphic traps.
 Describe how to utilize borehole and other geologic data to perform interpretation
Describe stratigraphic interpretation.
 Explain the meaning of seismic faces analysis.
 Explain factors which control sediment deposition (sequence
stratigraphy)
 Explain the time significance of reflections.
 Explain the time significance of reflections.
 Describe depositional models.
 Describe system tracts (low stand system tract, shell-margin
system tract, transgressive system tract, high stand system
tract).
 Describe seismic-faces analysis