ABSTRACT: Balanced Interpretation of Seismic Sections

I. Moretti, J. J. Raoult, P. Guihot, M. Larrere

Simple deformation methods used to flatten seismic images have proven to be effective for solving correlation problems. However, such methods are ineffective in compressive terranes and when the deformation cannot be modeled by a simple translation.

The BALISS program can be used to compute restored seismic images for various models of deformation (flexural slip, simple shear, compaction). The interpreter uses the LOCACE section-balancing program to define the initial interpreted geological section and to compute the restored geometry and the corresponding deformation operators. The laws used in deformation models are applied to a seismic section at depth to compute an image at a given stage of its geological history.

Examples of actual data processed by BALISS are shown as well as a test with synthetic data. A synthetic seismic cross section at depth is computed for a geological model in a compressive domain. This seismic image is then deformed with BALISS, and the result is compared with the synthetic image generated from the restored geological cross section.

This research is a joint project of Agip, IFP, SNEA(P), and TOTAL-CFP.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91003©1990 AAPG Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, June 3-6, 1990