Method and apparatus for seismic feature extraction
First Claim
1. A method for seismic exploration, comprising actions of:
- (a) obtaining a set of seismic data traces representing a three-dimensional volume of seismic data samples;
(b) dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of smaller subvolumes;
(c) selecting a discrete set of dip values and azimuth values;
(d) dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of parallelepipeds, each of the parallelpipeds being tilted by one of the selected dip values and rotated by one of the selected azimuth values;
(e) halving each parallilepiped to obtain two half-parallelpipeds, wherein the two half-parallelpipeds have contain an equal number of samples and there exists a one-to-one relationship between corresponding samples in the two half-parallelpipeds;
(f) enumerating the samples in each of the two half-parallelpipeds so as to obtain two vectors, such that corresponding samples in the two half-parallelpipeds have corresponding indices in the two vectors;
(g) calculating a three-dimensional edge detection measure from the two vectors;
(h) associating the computed edge detection measure to the parallilepiped center point to obtain a first subresult;
(i) applying a constrast enhancement measure to the first subresult to obtain a second subresult;
(j) filtering the second subresult to obtain a set of third subresults by convolving the second subresult with a directional filter kernel that is tilted and rotated in accordance with a set of dip and azimuth values that correspond to the selected dip values and azimuth values of the computational analysis parallilepiped associated with the second subresult;
(k) selecting a maximum filtered value from the set of third subresults;
(l) applying a three-dimensional skeletonization algorithm to the maximum filtered value to generate a skeleton representing a fault surface;
(m) executing action (l) with respect to the maximum filtered value for each of the plurality of parallelpipeds to obtain a plurality of distinct skeletons; and
(n) labeling each of the plurality of distinct skeletons as a separate geologic feature.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for seismic image processing is disclosed. A preferred embodiment aids in the identification of subterranean faults, which are significant in hydrocarbon exploration. The method includes steps of: a) reading a three dimensional seismic data volume; b) computing the three-dimensional orientation of the subsurface; c) subdividing the original volume into small data volumes that are rotated at a predetermined set of dips and azimuths related to those of the subsurface orientation; volumes formed in step c; e) performing a 3-D contrast enhancement operation in each of the small volumes; f) filtering the result of the contrast enhancement with selected 3-D filters at the predetermined set of dips and azimuths; g) skeletonizing the results of the filtering operation; h) separating the individual fault surfaces, and i) labelling the individual fault surfaces for further interpretation and exploration.
68 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for seismic exploration, comprising actions of:
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(a) obtaining a set of seismic data traces representing a three-dimensional volume of seismic data samples;
(b) dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of smaller subvolumes;
(c) selecting a discrete set of dip values and azimuth values;
(d) dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of parallelepipeds, each of the parallelpipeds being tilted by one of the selected dip values and rotated by one of the selected azimuth values;
(e) halving each parallilepiped to obtain two half-parallelpipeds, wherein the two half-parallelpipeds have contain an equal number of samples and there exists a one-to-one relationship between corresponding samples in the two half-parallelpipeds;
(f) enumerating the samples in each of the two half-parallelpipeds so as to obtain two vectors, such that corresponding samples in the two half-parallelpipeds have corresponding indices in the two vectors;
(g) calculating a three-dimensional edge detection measure from the two vectors;
(h) associating the computed edge detection measure to the parallilepiped center point to obtain a first subresult;
(i) applying a constrast enhancement measure to the first subresult to obtain a second subresult;
(j) filtering the second subresult to obtain a set of third subresults by convolving the second subresult with a directional filter kernel that is tilted and rotated in accordance with a set of dip and azimuth values that correspond to the selected dip values and azimuth values of the computational analysis parallilepiped associated with the second subresult;
(k) selecting a maximum filtered value from the set of third subresults;
(l) applying a three-dimensional skeletonization algorithm to the maximum filtered value to generate a skeleton representing a fault surface;
(m) executing action (l) with respect to the maximum filtered value for each of the plurality of parallelpipeds to obtain a plurality of distinct skeletons; and
(n) labeling each of the plurality of distinct skeletons as a separate geologic feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. The method of claim 29, wherein descriptions of individual fault surfaces are stored in magnetic media for subsequent use.
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30. An apparatus for processing and analyzing seismic trace data, comprising means for:
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(a) obtaining a set of seismic data traces representing a three-dimensional volume of seismic data samples;
(b) dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of smaller subvolumes;
(c) selecting a discrete set of dip values and azimuth values;
(d) dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of parallelipipeds, each of the parallelpipeds being tilted by one of the selected dip values and rotated by one of the selected azimuth values;
(e) halving each parallilepiped to obtain two half-parallelpipeds, wherein the two half-parallelpipeds have contain an equal number of samples and there exists a one-to-one relationship between corresponding samples in the two half-parallelpipeds;
(f) enumerating the samples in each of the two half-parallelpipeds so as to obtain two vectors, such that corresponding samples in the two half-parallelpipeds have corresponding indices in the two vectors;
(g) calculating a three-dimensional edge detection measure from the two vectors;
(h) associating the computed edge detection measure to the parallilepiped center point to obtain a first subresult;
(i) applying a constrast enhancement measure to the first subresult to obtain a second subresult;
(j) filtering the second subresult to obtain a set of third subresults by convolving the second subresult with a directional filter kernel that is tilted and rotated in accordance with a set of dip and azimuth values that correspond to the selected dip values and azimuth values of the computational analysis parallilepiped associated with the second subresult;
(k) selecting a maximum filtered value from the set of third subresults;
(l) applying a three-dimensional skeletonization algorithm to the maximum filtered value to generate a skeleton representing a fault surface;
(m) executing action (I) with respect to the maximum filtered value for each of the plurality of parallelpipeds to obtain a plurality of distinct skeletons; and
(n) labeling each of the plurality of distinct skeletons as a separate geologic feature.
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Specification