Seismic Data
Interpretation, from basics
A seismic trace is a graph of amplitude versus time
(Robinson & Treitel, 2008, Geophysical Reference 15)
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What´s Inside…
1 Introduction: Seismic Amplitudes
and Interpretation
2 Factors afectting seismic amplitudes:
Generalities
Factors affecting amplitudes:
3 Acquisition (source) and Earth
Factors afectting amplitudes:
4 Acquisition (receiver)
5 Remarks
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Indroduction
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Indroduction
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Factors afectting seismic amplitudes
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Factors affecting amplitudes: Acquisition
(source) and Earth
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Description
Factors Comments: Magnitude
Seismic Acquisition (Source)
Size of dynamite, number of working vibrators,
F1) Source Strength Moderate
number of sweeps, etc.
Source in dry sand, weathering (poor coupling),
F2) Source Coupling Moderate
bedrock, wet soil (good)
Desiggned to attenuate noise but also attenuates
F3) Source Arrays Minor
dipping primaries
Reflected signature with opposite sign at free
F4) Source Ghost Minor
surface
The Earth
When RC large enough (Volcanics, Salt)
F5) Discontinuous Trans Mod-Major
underlying events not visible
Spherical spreading of energy is the MAJOR
F6) Curved Ray MAJOR
effect, factor of 10 or more
Tuning can be major, up to factor of 2, at
F7) Tuning Mod-Major
pinchouts can be down to zero
F8) AVA AVA gas effects can be up to a factor of 5 Mod-Major
Focusing and defocused - minor, exceptions
F9) Curved Reflectors Minor
include san lens - mod-major
At seismic wavelengths most geotogic surfaces
F10) Rugosity Minor
are "mirror" smooth
lf RC contrasts are high then can be moderate
F11) Interbed Multiples Minor
problem, generally minor
Loss of energy to heat, weighted towards high
F12) Absorption Minor
frequencles
Loss of energy due to specular reflections,
F13) Scattering Minor
weighted towards high frequency
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Factors afectting amplitudes: Acquisition
(receiver)
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Description
Factors Comments: Magnitude
Seismic Acquisition (Receiver)
Coupling Geophones dampened on dry soil,
F14) Receiver Moderate
buried or wet soil couples well
Negative RC at surface, then positive at base
F15) Surface Multlples Minor
weathering
Reflected RC with opposite sign at free surface,
F16) Receiver Ghost Minor
changing surface RC
F17) Receiver Strength Poorly placed geophones, partial loss of array Minor
Designed to attenuate noise but will also
F18) Receiver Arrays Minor
attenuate dipping primaries
F19) Geophone Response is a filter that reduces amplitudes Minor
Range Pre-1990 with limited 12-15 bit
F20) Dynamic Range Minor
recorders / fllters Moderate, now Minor
Missing ground positions / offsets, effects
F21) S&R "Skips" Mod-Major
# traces and frequency content
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Remarks
before seismic processing
Imagine how you would reduce risk and
uncertainty in your reservoir models
having a Geophysicist on your team
Questions?
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