--> Abstract: Fault Detection Using Azimuthal Coherence Attribute: Case Study, Central Saudi Arabia, by Faisal M. Al-Qahtani, Abdullatif A. Al-Shuhail, and Saleh Al-Dossary; #90105 (2010)

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AAPG GEO 2010 Middle East
Geoscience Conference & Exhibition
Innovative Geoscience Solutions – Meeting Hydrocarbon Demand in Changing Times
March 7-10, 2010 – Manama, Bahrain

Fault Detection Using Azimuthal Coherence Attribute: Case Study, Central Saudi Arabia

Faisal M. Al-Qahtani1; Abdullatif A. Al-Shuhail1; Saleh Al-Dossary1

(1) ARAMCO, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Delineating faults is a challenging task, particularly if the faults run parallel to the strike azimuth. Normally, dip azimuth faults can be identified easily by traditional time slice methods. The coherence attribute is widely used for fault interpretation and determining orientation in addition to analysis of stratigraphic features. Chopra introduced a new method (Chopra 2002) taking advantage of the azimuthal variation of seismic signature and coherence. Chopra’s (2002) approach calculates the coherence between azimuthal data subset stack volumes. This study will produce four sub-volumes, sorted according to different azimuths plus the original volume. After that, we will apply the coherence attribute to all volumes and then compare coherency volumes having different azimuths with the original volume. The result of azimuthal coherence technique shows better fault mapping, especially those faults whose trends are perpendicular to the sorting azimuth. This study reports the occurrence of a system of discontinuity, trending northwest to southeast, which appears in the coherence time slice through the NE-SW azimuth-limited volume. In addition, the coherence time slice of the E-W azimuth-limited volume reveals more discontinuities where we expect faults and fractures to exist.