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Seismic Attributes & AVO Processing, Interpretation & Application

Instructor:                   Mangat .R. Thapar, Ph.D.

Course Length:            5 Days

Course CEUs:   4.0                                            View Course Description & a few Illustrations:

 Course Description:

Understanding attributes and their application is rewarding to exploration/development geophysicists and geologists with success in finding oil and gas. Learn from one of the industry's top geophysicists - Dr. Mangat Thapar. This course is a MUST for all geoscientists who use seismic attributes along with their interpretation. Using Microsoft's Excel, Mathcad, and OpenDTect software, Dr. Thapar will demonstrate key principles and pitfalls related to seismic attribute analysis including the suitability of seismic data for attribute analysis, preserving amplitudes, properly modeling attribute response, and matching the predicted response with seismic data, and avoiding pitfalls. These principles control the success or failure of the application of seismic attributes and with it the potential success of an exploration program. The understanding and application of AVO analysis are valuable to any seismically driven exploration or development program. Dr. Thapar will demonstrate key principles and pitfalls related to AVO analysis including the suitability of seismic data for analysis, preserving amplitudes, how to properly model AVO/AVA response, and matching the predicted response with seismic data, and avoiding pitfalls. These principles control the success or failure of AVO and with it the potential success of an exploration program.

  • Definitions and descriptions of most available attributes on workstations
  • Modeling seismic attributes: amplitude, frequency, phase, and interval velocity
  • Modeling reservoir thickness, hydrocarbon saturated vs non-hydrocarbon saturated reservoirs
  • How to select appropriate processing flow to properly record and preserve seismic attribute anomalies.
  • Understanding application of bright spot and dim spot to different lithologies.
  • Effect of thickness on amplitude and frequency attribute, and thickness estimation using amplitude and frequency
  • Prediction of attribute responses using properly generated models and comparison with attributes extracted from seismic data.
  • Effect of processing techniques on seismic attributes
  • Extensive discussion throughout the course of pitfalls seismic attributes and how to avoid them.
  • How to select appropriate acquisition parameters and processing flow to properly record and preserve AVO anomalies.
  • Blocking logs using zonation, mean and variance methods to develop AVO/AVA models.
  • How to extract interval velocities from stacking velocities through ray-tracing in the presence of dip.
  • Discussion on how to select appropriate wavelet for modeling.
  • Prediction of AVO/AVA responses using properly generated models and comparison with AVO/AVA extracted from seismic data.
  • Extensive discussion throughout the course of pitfalls in AVO and how to avoid them.

Exercises:

The course concepts are reinforced with a number of real world exercises conducted throughout the course to enhance understanding of the principles presented. These exercises include:

  • Gas-Sand and water-sand reservoir effect on Amplitude, Frequency, Velocity, Tuning, and Attenuation
  • Attenuation of Amplitude and Frequency with offset with reservoir thickness ranging from 300 ft to 19 ft
  • Effect of source wavelet on amplitude and frequency attributes
  • Exercises on the tuning thickness effect on AVO, extraction of rock properties (λ μ ρ), AVO interpretation and cross plotting techniques, thin bed thickness estimation from amplitudes and related pitfalls, absorption due to thick reservoir, and many other topics.
  • Thin bed thickness estimation from amplitudes and related pitfalls
  • Absorption modeling and calculation due to thick reservoir, and estimation of reservoir Q from seismic data.
  • Instantaneous attributes from seismic data
  • Group exercise and discussion to select appropriate attributes based on reservoir
  • Group exercise on selection of acquisition parameters and processing flow for seismic attributes.
  • How to select appropriate acquisition parameters and processing flow to properly record and preserve AVO anomalies.
  • Blocking logs using zonation, mean and variance methods to develop AVO/AVA models. How to extract interval velocities from stacking velocities through ray-tracing in the presence of dip. Discussion on how to select appropriate wavelet for modeling.
  • Prediction of AVO/AVA responses using properly generated models and comparison with AVO/AVA extracted from seismic data.
  • Extensive discussion throughout the course of pitfalls in AVO and how to avoid them.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Analyze and apply seismic attributes correctly and appropriately

  • Model appropriate attribute, extract attributes from seismic data, and compare

  • Recognize pros and cons of attributes

  • Determine when an attribute is applicable using reservoir properties

  • Select interpretation relevant attributes

  • Resolve the effect of processing on seismic attributes

  • Understand and avoid attribute pitfalls

  • Analyze and apply AVO correctly and appropriately

  • Determine when AVO is applicable using risk analysis

  • Resolve the effect of processing on AVO

  • Modeling and predicting AVO

  • Comparing extracted AVO from seism data with predicted AVO response

  • Recognize pros and cons of AVO

  • Know and avoid AVO pitfalls

Who Should Attend?

Interpreters, geophysicists, geologists, technical support personnel, seismic processors, exploration and data processing managers and data acquisition managers

Prerequisites:

It is recommended that participants take Seismic Survey Design, Acquisition and Processing or equivalent courses.

Course Content

  • Seismic attributes and wave factors
  • Decon and scaling effect on attributes
  • Time and Frequency domain attributes
  • Thickness using amplitude
  • Thin bed thickness from frequency
  • Applications of amplitude, energy and frequency related attributes
  • Pitfalls of attributes
  •  AVO Concept and related factors
  • AVO pitfalls and assumptions
  • Petrophysics and AVO
  • Rock properties and wave propagation
  • Hydrocarbon detection using AVO
  • AVO modeling and processing
  • Impact of processing on AVO analysis
  • Techniques for interpretation of AVO
  • AVO Cross-plotting techniques
  • Case studies of AVO
  • AVO risk analysis spreadsheet

Participants are encouraged to bring data examples related to this course.

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