Display Formats for AVO Analysis

Vard Nelson

A group consisting of ARMA Geophysical and seven oil companies recorded an AVO field study during 1988. The purposes of the study were to compare the P-wave and AVO responses of different seismic sources over a known stratigraphic trap.

The objective of this session is to present some of the ideas that were developed on how to more efficiently display the vast quantity of plots generated over the course of the project.

One challenge associated with an AVO project is handling the variety of different analysis products and displays that are created. When a project expands to multiple source comparisons, the volume of displays can become very difficult to manage (this study created nearly 200 different potential final display products).

During the course of this project, several compact displays evolved allowing the presentation of the results in a manageable, easy-to-use and interpret form. Some of these displays are: (1) DeltaSigma sections, (2) DeltaSigma (horizontal mute), (3) DeltaSigma (enveloped), (4) DeltaSigma (color contoured, stack trace overlay), (5) Cascaded Offset Stacks, and (6) Cascaded Gathers.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91024©1989 AAPG Pacific Section, May 10-12, 1989, Palm Springs, California.