Print this pageAbstract: Let the 
Data
Speak to You,
or How to Improve Your 3-D Seismic Interpretation
BROWN, ALISTAIR R.
Consulting
Reservoir Geophysicist, Dallas
seismic technology, but we can still do better. Much 3-D data remains
underutilized, and some is strained beyond its limit by interpreters with
unreasonable expectations. Three-D interpretation has become too popular
for its own good--geoscientists and engineers are working on the data without
adequate understanding of geophysical principles. In 2-D interpretation
the seismic data added information to an existing geological model. In
3-D interpretation, we must let the data speak to us and try to believe
it, modifying geological concepts if necessary.
It takes time to interpret 3-D seismic data, but
we must use this time to maximum advantage. We must use all of the data
without necessarily looking at it all. We must appreciate the precision
of machine autotrackers, and investigate what part of that precision is
geology and what part is noise. We must become familiar with unconventional
displays. Faults don't have to be recognized on a vertical section to be
valid! How long will it take for everyone to embrace color and discard
those old wiggles?
There is a great need for the appreciation of
geophysical principles. Seismic resolution is fundamental; we must know
the magnitude of the seismic wavelength in order to appreciate the resolving
power of our data. This determines the minimum thickness of flow units
about which our engineers can discern information. We must correlate seismic
to geology on character, not simply time, and be alert to phase distortion
as we do so. Seismic attributes are wonderful, but they lack independence
and should not be subject to too much statistics.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90927@1999-2000 AAPG Distinguished Lectures