Mono-frequency Seismic Horizon Subtraction for Small Feature Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic imaging of geological features often results in low quality due to the masking of small features by large ones, making it difficult to interpret and visualize both large and small geological features effectively.
Innovation Solution
Decomposing seismic data volumes into mono-frequency sub-volumes and performing horizon picking on each, followed by subtracting seismic horizons from higher frequency sub-volumes from those of lower frequencies to enhance the visibility of small geological features by reducing the effect of large features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If seismic data is processed using full-stack volume with range of frequencies, then comprehensive geological information is retained, but small geological features are masked by large features resulting in low imaging quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the full-stack seismic data volume into multiple mono-frequency sub-volumes, each containing a specific frequency range. This segmentation allows separate processing of different frequency components, enabling small geological features to be visualized without being masked by large features, thus resolving the contradiction between retaining comprehensive information and achieving high imaging quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts specific frequency components from the full-stack seismic data by creating mono-frequency sub-volumes. By isolating and processing individual frequency ranges separately, the method extracts small geological features that would otherwise be masked in the full-stack data, improving imaging quality while preserving the underlying geological information.
2Loss of information
If seismic horizons are picked on full-stack volume, then all geological features are captured, but resolution of small features is lost due to masking by large features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the full-stack seismic volume into multiple mono-frequency sub-volumes and performs horizon picking on each sub-volume separately. This segmentation enables precise measurement of small geological features in specific frequency ranges without being obscured by large features in other frequency ranges, thereby maintaining both completeness and resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing and analysis approaches to different frequency sub-volumes, optimizing the extraction of features appropriate to each frequency range. This local quality approach ensures that small features are detected with high precision in their optimal frequency bands while maintaining comprehensive coverage of all geological features across the full frequency spectrum.
3Manufacturing precision
If mono-frequency filtering is applied to separate small features, then imaging resolution is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the seismic data into mono-frequency sub-volumes, which simplifies the processing of each subset by allowing focused analysis on specific frequency ranges. While the overall workflow involves multiple steps, each individual processing step becomes simpler and more targeted, managing complexity through systematic division of the problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional processing framework that can handle different frequency ranges using the same mono-frequency filtering and horizon picking methodology. This universal approach reuses the same processing algorithms across multiple sub-volumes, managing complexity through methodological consistency rather than requiring separate complex procedures for each frequency band.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes methods and systems for interpreting geological features in a seismic volume based on mono-frequency filtering of the seismic volume. One computer-implemented method includes receiving a seismic data volume, decomposing the seismic data volume into multiple sub-volumes, generating one or more seismic horizons on each sub-volume, analyzing the generated seismic horizons for the multiple sub-volumes including determining a first sub-volume and a second sub-volume from the multiple sub-volumes, and subtracting the generated one or more seismic horizons for the first sub-volume from the generated one or more seismic horizons for the second sub-volume.