Method for finding horizons in 3D seismic data
First Claim
1. A method of automatically selecting horizons of formations from a three-dimensional volume of seismic data traces comprising the steps of, first(a) converting each of said seismic data traces to a bit trace defined by a sequence of 0 and 1 bits as a function of depth, where a "1" at a depth of a trace indicates that a horizon exists at that depth and a "0" indicates that a horizon does not exist at that depth, and(b) storing each of said bit traces in the memory of a computer as a three-dimensional bit volume of bits traces, and later(c) selecting a seed bit on a bit trace in said bit volume which falls on a particular horizon, and(d) automatically scanning said particular horizon through said bit volume by starting with said seed bit, and picking 1 bits on adjacent bit traces of said bit volume which lie on said particular horizon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of rapidly generating horizon maps from a three dimensional volume of seismic traces is disclosed. During batch processing of the digital data representing trace wavelets, "1"'"'"'s or "0"'"'"'s are determined for each seismic trace of the volume. A "1" at a depth of a trace indicates that a horizon exists at that depth and at other depths of "1"'"'"'s of adjacent traces which are within a predetermined depth. In a real time mode, an explorationist selects a seed point thereby identifying a "1" on a particular trace at a particular depth. An automatic scanning procedure finds all other "1"'"'"'s at depths of adjacent traces. Each found "1" of adjacent traces is redesignated a seed point and the process is continued until no more "1"'"'"'s can be found. A horizon map is created from the depths of each found "1". A record is maintained of parent and child bits whereby seed bits are designated as parent bits and each found bit is designated a child bit. Such parent-child information is useful in editing of horizon maps created by the method. Numerical attributes of the wavelets at the depths of the 1 bits are stored as a function of the depths of the bits, thereby reducing required storage space.
50 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of automatically selecting horizons of formations from a three-dimensional volume of seismic data traces comprising the steps of, first
(a) converting each of said seismic data traces to a bit trace defined by a sequence of 0 and 1 bits as a function of depth, where a "1" at a depth of a trace indicates that a horizon exists at that depth and a "0" indicates that a horizon does not exist at that depth, and (b) storing each of said bit traces in the memory of a computer as a three-dimensional bit volume of bits traces, and later (c) selecting a seed bit on a bit trace in said bit volume which falls on a particular horizon, and (d) automatically scanning said particular horizon through said bit volume by starting with said seed bit, and picking 1 bits on adjacent bit traces of said bit volume which lie on said particular horizon.
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12. In a method of automatically picking horizons from a three dimensional volume of seismic data traces, a method of creating a bit volume comprising the steps of
converting said seismic data traces to a bit trace defined by a sequence of 0 and 1 bits as a function of depth, where a "1" at a depth of a trace indicates that a horizon exists at that depth and a "0" indicates that a horizon does not exist at that depth, and storing each of said bit traces in the memory of a computer as a three dimensional bit volume of bit traces.
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14. In a method of automatically picking horizons from a three dimensional volume of seismic data traces, where a horizon is a bedding interface in the earth'"'"'s crust and is represented in said seismic data traces through said bedding interface by a common attribute of a seismic wavelet, and where said common attribute may vary in depth as a function of x-y coordinates of said seismic data traces, a method of creating an indicia volume comprising the steps of
converting each of said seismic data traces to an indicia trace defined by a sequence of a first indicium and a second indicium as a function of depth, where a first indicium at any depth of such indicia trace indicates that a horizon exists at such depth of said seismic data trace and a second indicium at any depth of such indicia trace indicates that a horizon does not exist at such depth of said seismic data trace, and storing each of said indicia traces in the memory of a computer as a three-dimensional indicia volume of indicia traces.
Specification