Online Journal for E&P Geoscientists

Liu, Chuangxin ²; Luo, Yi ^*1; Ji, Xu ¹
(1) EXPEC ARC, Saudi Aramco Oil Company, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. (2) School of Earch Science, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China.

We present a method which automatically computes all strata surfaces or horizons in 3D seismic volumes. The calculated horizons form a 3D horizon cube that offers new opportunities in seismic interpretation. This cube can be used to map all the information contained in 3D seismic images from seismic wave two way propagation time to chronostratigraphic time. We will show, with many field data examples, that geological features, such as faults and channels, are better revealed when seismic data is displayed along the same chronostratigraphic surface. In addition, the horizon cube can provide a 3D volume of structural contour maps. The resultant contour volume could provide more detailed structural information compared to those obtained from sparse structural maps of horizons picked manually by interpreters.