ABSTRACT: The combined use of visualization and multiple seismic attributes for cycle time reduction and risk minimization

Green, W. Verney¹, Bill S. Kowalik¹, and Kenneth D. Kelsch²
(1) Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, San Ramon, CA 
(2) PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, Pekanbaru, Indonesia

The size of a large seismic survey has increased from several hundred megabytes a few years ago to tens of gigabytes today. Many interpreters now are expected to make better interpretations on these huge data volumes in less time. Although seismic attributes have been available for many years, it is now common for an interpreter to have many different volumes for a single survey area. These can include near, mid, and far offset stacks, AVO products, inversion products, phase, dip, azimuth, velocity, coherency, 4D, and multiple component cubes.

Visualization technology is the best way to actually look at all these data. The flexibility of interactive color and opacity editing allows the interpreter to quickly evaluate depositional patterns, structural framework, and connectivity relationships.

However visualization alone is not enough. Semi-automated methods of highlighting regions based on criteria from multiple attributes will become increasingly important. Additionally, interactive attribute calculation and volume mathematics will help reduce cycle time and help reduce risks. Examples from Caltex-operated regions in Sumatra will be given.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90913©2000 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Bali, Indonesia