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Seismic attributes for reservoir studies

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In most exploration and reservoir seismic surveys, the main objectives are, first, to correctly image the structure in time and depth and, second, to correctly characterize the amplitudes of the reflections. Assuming that the amplitudes are accurately rendered, a host of additional features can be derived and used in interpretation. Collectively, these features are referred to as seismic attributes.[1]

The simplest attribute, and the one most widely used, is seismic amplitude, and it is usually reported as the maximum (positive or negative) amplitude value at each sample along a horizon picked from a 3D volume. It is fortunate that, in many cases, the amplitude of reflection corresponds directly to the porosity or to the saturation of the underlying formation.

Attributes can be obtained from typical post-stack seismic data volumes, and these are the most common types. On the other hand, additional information can be obtained from attributes of the individual seismic traces prior to stacking, in a prestack analysis. The most common of these is the variation of amplitude with offset [or amplitude vs. offset (AVO)], which is often used as an indicator of fluid type. The interpretation of any attribute is nonunique, and calibration to well data is required to minimize the ambiguities present.

Well calibration

Calibration of seismic attributes at wellbores should be undertaken in order to test the correlation of observed attributes with rock properties using all available:

  • Log data
  • Core data
  • Borehole seismic information

It is simple to correlate the attribute of interest with the well-log (or log-derived) data of interest; a strong correlation between seismic amplitude and porosity is often enough to convince many workers that the correlation is meaningful and that seismic amplitude can be used as a proxy for porosity in reservoir characterization. On the other hand, there are many potential pitfalls in this approach,[2] so the following protocols should be followed:

  • Statistical tests should be performed on the correlations
  • Geologic inference should be brought in to evaluate the reasonableness of the results
  • Most importantly, the physical basis for the behavior of an observed attribute should be understood

Spurious correlations can readily be obtained, and, without a geologic or physical basis, simple statistical correlations should be suspect unless their statistical basis is very robust.[3]

Post-stack attributes

The stacked seismic data volume is commonly used for interpretation of geologic structure and seismic attributes. The most common attribute is simply amplitude, although its interpretation in thin-layered beds is not necessarily straightforward.[4] Amplitude is often found to correlate strongly with porosity and/or liquid saturation (oil/water vs. gas) because those reservoir properties have a strong effect on both velocity and density, and seismic reflections are generated at boundaries where the acoustic impedance (the product of velocity and density) changes. The “bright-spot” identification of hydrocarbons, as demonstrated in Fig. 1,[5] is a result of this property, although other nonhydrocarbon changes in lithology can also result in large-amplitude reflections.

The use of seismic attributes extends well beyond simple amplitudes. Most of the “original” seismic attributes were based on the Hilbert transform (see the section on reservoir characterization and evaluation) and consisted of the following (see Fig. 2[6]):

  • The instantaneous amplitude (or amplitude of the wave envelope)
  • The instantaneous phase (most useful for accurate time-picking)
  • The instantaneous frequency (probably most often relating to thin-bed reverberations)[4]

Variations on these attributes have evolved, and other classes of attributes have come into use[7] (see Fig. 3). There are now over two hundred attributes in use in some geophysical interpretation software packages,[8] many of which result from slightly differing approaches to determining a specific property, such as frequency or amplitude. Attributes based on stacked data (post-stack attributes) can be computed:

  • At each point on the seismic trace independently (such as amplitude)
  • Over a time window on each trace independently [such as root mean square (RMS) amplitude over 24 ms]

Or

  • by comparing neighboring traces within a time window (such as coherence, dip, and azimuth)

Coherence is an attribute of similarity among neighboring traces[9][10] and is often used to identify fractures or faults that tend to disrupt reflections locally (see Fig. 4[11]). Dip and azimuth5 describe the direction of trace offset for maximum similarity and can yield finely detailed images of bed surfaces. Additional attributes may be created based on combinations of original attributes, with the intention of identifying specific features known to be of interest (see Fig. 5[6]).

Prestack attributes (AVO)

The volume of seismic data available to the interpreter is usually the stacked-data volume, resulting from the stacking of all of the moveout-corrected traces, each with a different offset between the source and receiver but with reflection points at a common location. In post-stack analysis, it is assumed that the composite (stacked) trace exhibits the seismic reflection character as that which would result from single source-receiver pairs with no separation. Under these conditions, the reflection coefficient, R0, at each interface between two layers is determined by the ratio of the difference in acoustic impedance between these two layers, ΔI, to twice the average acoustic impedance and is written as

RTENOTITLE....................(1)

Vp and ρ are the P-wave velocity and density of the medium; subscript 2 indicates the medium that is causing the reflection and containing the refracted or transmitted rays, and subscript 1 indicates the medium that is containing the incident and reflected seismic rays.

This “zero-offset” approximation is often satisfactory for interpretation of the seismic data, but it neglects a potentially important component: the amplitude variation with offset (or AVO), as shown[1] in Fig. 6. As a result of boundary conditions (such as conservation of energy and continuity of displacement) across a reflecting interface between two layers, any P-wave arriving at non-normal incidence is likely to produce not only a transmitted P-wave and a reflected P-wave but also a transmitted S-wave and a reflected S-wave, with angles determined by Snell’s law (Fig. 7) and amplitudes determined by a set of equations known as Zoeppritz equations.[13]

Snell’s law governs the angles of reflection and transmission for a given angle of incidence (i) and is determined by the velocities on either side of the reflection/transmission boundary. It can be derived by applying the boundary condition that the apparent velocity Vapp along the boundary is required to be identical on either side of the boundary.

RTENOTITLE....................(2)

The ray parameter, p, is also termed the slowness and is constant for any given incident ray and all of the reflected and transmitted rays that result from striking that boundary. This expression is usually implemented for an incident P-wave by recognizing the relationships shown in Eq. 3. The subscripts are identified in Fig. 7.

RTENOTITLE....................(3)

In AVO studies, the dependence of the reflected P-wave amplitude on the contrast between the P and S velocities in both layers is exploited. In particular, a simple approximation[15] can often be applied to predict the amplitude as a function of angle of incidence (determined by Snell’s Law), as shown in the example in Fig. 8. The interpretation is generally made in terms of the slope or gradient (B) of the amplitude as plotted against the square of the sine of the angle of incidence and the intercept or zero-offset reflection amplitude (R0).

B is primarily a function of the change in Poisson’s ratio across the interface. This is only one of many approximations[16] to the complete solution, but it is the one most commonly used. For offsets corresponding to angles of incidence greater than about 30 degrees, a more complete relationship must be substituted.[17]

The advantage to using prestack attributes is that they can provide some distinction between lithologic changes and changes in reflection character because of fluid content along an interface. The ratio of P-wave velocity (Vp) to S-wave velocity (Vs) is often very sensitive to the compressibility of the fluid within the pore spaces of the rock and not very sensitive to the porosity of the rock; that is, within a given formation, the changes in Vp / Vs, because of anticipated changes in saturation, are generally much greater than those anticipated from changes in porosity or lithology. Variation in rock types and pore structures is great, and local calibration is essential, but the empirical results summarized in Fig. 4 can be useful.[18] Poisson’s ratio, ν, and the Vp / Vs ratio can be related through Eqs. 4 and 5 and the graph shown in Fig. 8.

RTENOTITLE....................(4)

and

RTENOTITLE....................(5)

The results of many studies are expressed in terms of Poisson’s ratio, ν, although Vp / Vs may be more physically meaningful.[19] A variety of AVO attributes has been developed using different combinations of the AVO slope and intercept, generally with the intention of maximizing the distinctions between fluid types.[20][21] Some formulations break the AVO trend into three components[22][23] to isolate density contrasts, as shown by example in Fig. 11. As more offset ranges are used (and as each range gets narrower), the results tend to be noisier, and the robustness of the process suffers as additional parameters are sought.[24][25]

Special considerations

Ultra-thin beds

Methods to extract meaningful interpretations from seismic data in the presence of thin beds (less than one seismic wavelength in thickness) are discussed in seismic interpretation page. Additional techniques have recently been developed, which help the interpreter identify properties of extremely thin beds well below what has traditionally been considered the quarter-wavelength resolution of seismic data. These techniques make use of the various frequency components within a band-limited seismic wavelet; one operates in the frequency domain, and the other in the time domain.

The frequency-domain approach,[26] called spectral decomposition, looks for notches in the frequency band representing an interference between the reflections from the top and bottom of the thin bed. The frequency at which constructive and destructive interference occurs is related to the (two-way) time-thickness of the bed. Because the seismic wavelet contains a range of frequencies, spectral notches or peak frequencies can be used to indicate extremely thin beds. Additional attributes can be derived from the spectral character of the reflections, further refining an interpretation.[27] The thinning-out of a channel or shoreline, for example, can be observed by mapping the locations of various frequency components, as shown in Fig. 12.

The time-domain approach involves classifying the character of the reflected wavelet, often using a neural-network technique.[28] The wavelet along a given horizon can be classified into several different characteristic wavelets, perhaps differing from each other only in subtle ways. The resulting map of classified wavelets can resemble a map of the geologic feature being sought[29] (see Fig. 13), and the classification is often referred to a “seismic facies” classification. Because this method tends to compare relative amplitudes of features within a wavelet packet (side lobes vs. main lobes, for example) or slight changes in period, it often responds to interference from very thin features that were previously considered to be below seismic resolution.

Both of these techniques run the risk of leading to incorrect interpretations if seismic petrophysical modeling is not performed to direct the analysis and interpretation or to confirm the results. The processing involved can produce signals that appear realistic but are geologically meaningless, unless care is taken to ensure that the interpretation is physically sound.

Nomenclature

B = gradient of reflection amplitudes with changing angle of incidence
i = angle of incidence
p = ray parameter
P = compressional (wave)
R0 = zero offset reflection amplitude
R(i) = reflection amplitude as a function of angle i
S = shear (wave)
v = Poisson’

s ratio

Vapp = apparent velocity
Vp = P-wave velocity
Vs = S-wave velocity
ΔI = change in impedance
Δz = change in depth
ρ = density
γ = universal constant of gravity


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Taner, M.T., Koehler, F., and Sheriff, R.E. 1979. Complex Seismic Trace Analysis. Geophysics 44 (6): 1041. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1440994
  2. Hirsche, K. et al. 1998. Avoiding Pitfalls in Geostatistical Reservoir Characterization: A Survival Guide. The Leading Edge 17 (4): 493. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1437999
  3. Kalkomey, C.T. 1997. Potential Risks When Using Seismic Attributes as Predictors of Reservoir Properties. The Leading Edge 16 (3): 247. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1437610
  4. 4.0 4.1 Robertson, J.D. and Nogami, H.H. 1984. Complex Seismic Trace Analysis of Thin Beds. Geophysics 49: 344. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1441670
  5. 5.0 5.1 Pennington, W.D. et al. 2001. Seismic Time-Lapse Surprise at Teal South: That Little Neighbor Reservoir Is Leaking! The Leading Edge 20 (10): 1172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1487249
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Radovich, B.J. and Oliveros, R.B. 1998. 3D Sequence Interpretation of Seismic Instantaneous Attributes from the Gorgon Field. The Leading Edge 17 (9): 1286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1438125
  7. 7.0 7.1 Pennington, W.D. 1997. Seismic Petrophysics—An Applied Science for Reservoir Geophysics. The Leading Edge 16 (3): 241. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1487249
  8. Brown, A.R. 1999. Interpretation of Three-Dimensional Seismic Data, 9, 528, fifth edition. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Investigations in Geophysics, Soc. of Exploration Geophysicists.
  9. Chen, Q. and Sidney, S. 1997. Seismic Attribute Technology for Reservoir Forecasting and Monitoring. The Leading Edge 16 (5): 445. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1437657
  10. Bahorich, M. and Farmer, S. 1995. 3D Seismic Discontinuity for Faults and Stratigraphic Features: The Coherence Cube. The Leading Edge 14 (10): 1053. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1437077 [Discussion with reply by author, The Leading Edge (1996) 15 (3): 172.]
  11. Marfurt, K.J. et al. 1998. 3D Seismic Attributes Using a Semblance-Based Coherency Algorithm. Geophysics 63 (4): 1150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1444415
  12. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named r12
  13. Dey-Sarkar, S.K. and Svatek, S.V. 1993. Prestack Analysis—an Integrated Approach for Seismic Interpretation in Clastic Basins. ed. J.P. Castagna and M.M. Backus. Geophysics 8: 57.
  14. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named r13
  15. 15.0 15.1 Shuey, R.T. 1985. A Simplification of the Zoeppritz-Equations. Geophysics 50 (4): 609. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1441936
  16. Mavko, G., Mukerji, T., and Dvorkin, J. 1998. The Rock Physics Handbook: Tools for Seismic Analysis in Porous Media, 329. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  17. Spratt, R.S., Goins, N.R., and Fitch, T.J. 1993. Pseudo-Shear—The Analysis of AVO, Offset-Dependent Reflectivity—Theory and Practice of AVO Analysis. No. 8, Investigations in Geophysics, 37-56, ed. J.P. Castagna and M.M. Backus. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Soc. of Exploration Geophysicists.
  18. Greenberg, M.L. and Castagna, J.P. 1992. Shear-Wave Velocity Estimation in Porous Rocks: Theoretical Formulation, Preliminary Verification and Applications. Geophysical Prospecting 40 (2): 195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2478.1992.tb00371.x
  19. Thomsen, L. 1990. Poisson Was Not a Geophysicist. The Leading Edge 9 (12): 27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1439706 [Discussion and reply, The Leading Edge (1991) 10 (8): 44 [Discussions, The Leading Edge (1991) 10 (4): 4 and The Leading Edge 15 (7): 10.
  20. Castagna, J.P. and Backus, M.M. ed. Offset-Dependent Reflectivity—Theory and Practice of AVO Analysis, No. 8. Investigations in Geophysics, 348. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Soc. of Exploration Geophysicists.
  21. Goodway, B., Chen, T., and Downton, J. 1997. Improved AVO Fluid Detection and Lithology Discrimination Using Lame Petrophysical Parameters; λρ, μρ, λ/μ Fluid Stack. Paper AVO2.7 presented at the 1997 Annual Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Dallas, 2–7 November.
  22. Kelly, M., Skidmore, C., and Ford, D. 2001. AVO Inversion, Part 1: Isolating Rock Property Contrasts. The Leading Edge 20 (3): 320. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1438940
  23. 23.0 23.1 Skidmore, C., Kelly, M, and Cotton, R. 2001. AVO Inversion, Part 2: Isolating Rock Property Contrasts. The Leading Edge 20 (4): 425. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1438966
  24. Cambois, G. 2000. Can P-Wave AVO be Quantitative? The Leading Edge 19 (11): 1246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1438516
  25. Mallick, S. 2001. AVO and Elastic Impedance. The Leading Edge 20 (10): 1094. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1487239
  26. Partyka, G., Gridley, J., and Lopez, J. 1999. Interpretational Applications of Spectral Decomposition in Reservoir Characterization. The Leading Edge 18 (3): 353. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1438295
  27. 27.0 27.1 Marfurt, K.J. and Kirlin, R.L. 2001. Narrow-Band Spectral Analysis and Thin-Bed Tuning. Geophysics 66 (4): 1274. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1487075
  28. Poupon, M., Azbel, K., and Ingram, J.E. 1999. Integrating Seismic Facies and Petro-Acoustic Modeling. World Oil (June): 75.
  29. 29.0 29.1 Johann, P., de Castro, D.D., and Barroso, A.S. 2001. Reservoir Geophysics: Seismic Pattern Recognition Applied to Ultra-Deepwater Oilfield in Campos Basin, Offshore Brazil. Presented at the SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 25–28 March. SPE-69483-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/69483-MS

Noteworthy papers in OnePetro

Barnes, A.E. Attributes For Automating Seismic Facies Analysis. Presented at the 2000/1/1/.

Barnes, A.E. Seismic Attributes Past, Present, And Future. Presented at the 1999/1/1/.

Chopra, S., Misra, S., and Marfurt, K.J. Seismic Attributes On Frequency-enhanced Seismic Data. Presented at the 2010/1/1/.

Grana, D. and Mukerji, T. Sequential Bayesian Gaussian Mixture Linear Inversion of Seismic Data for Elastic and Reservoir Properties Estimation. Presented at the 2012/11/4/.

Huang, X., Bentley, L.R., and Laflamme, C. Seismic History Matching Guided By Attribute Zonation. Presented at the 2001/1/1/.

Lefeuvre, F. and Chanet, A. Reservoir Characterization: A Seismic Attributes Approach. Presented at the 1993/1/1/.

Lewis, C. Seismic Attributes For Reservoir Monitoring: A Feasibility Study Using Forward Modeling. Presented at the 1995/1/1/.

External links

Use this section to provide links to relevant material on websites other than PetroWiki and OnePetro

See also

Seismic attributes

Seismic interpretation

Reservoir geophysics overview

Geostatistics

PEH:Reservoir_Geophysics