Overview of Seismic Exploration (DEC 2021)

Overview of Seismic Exploration

Instructor:                    Dr. Mangat R. Thapar

Course Length: 5 Days

Course CEUs: 4.0

Course Description

This course is an overview of seismic techniques compiled from courses (5-day each) Design, Acquisition, and Processing; AVO and Seismic Attributes; and Principles of 3-D Seismic Interpretation

This course covers acquisition and processing parameters, and fundamental principles. Participants will be able to participate in planning, execution, and quality control of seismic data acquisition and processing. Practical demonstrations of some of the processing techniques are given using VISTA processing software.

The understanding and application of AVO and attribute analysis is essential to any seismically driven exploration or development program. Dr. Thapar will demonstrate key principles and pitfalls related to AVO and seismic attributes including: utilization of suitable seismic data, preservation of amplitudes, properly modeling AVO/AVA and attribute response, matching the predicted response with the seismic data, and avoiding pitfalls. These principles control the success or failure of AVO and seismic attribute analysis, and with it the potential success of an exploration program.

A 3-D seismic survey can significantly reduce the risk of drilling exploration and development wells, and also dramatically increase production from existing fields. The success of any exploration or development program utilizing 3-D seismic data is dependent upon proper design, acquisition, and processing; avoidance of pitfalls; and utilization of available 3-D techniques for accurate and three dimensionally valid structural and stratigraphic interpretations. Learn these key principles from Dr. Mangat Thapar, one of the industry’s top geophysicists.

• Effect of aliasing on seismic data.
• Fundamentals of land and marine data acquisition
• How to properly record and preserve AVO and seismic attribute anomalies in processing?
• Principle of velocity analysis.
• How to improve SNR with stacking, the relationship between fold and SNR
• Principles of Migration (pre-stack, post-stack, DMO) of seismic data.
• Prediction of AVO/AVA and attribute responses through seismic modeling.
• How to avoid Pitfalls in AVO and seismic attributes.
• Thin bed thickness estimation using model amplitudes and frequencies, and related pitfalls.
• Procedure for structural and stratigraphic interpretation.
• Risk analysis of 4-D seismic and case histories from around the world.

Exercises:

• Overview of exercises covered in Modules I to VI

Learning Outcomes:

• Design 2-D and 3-D surveys
• Quality control acquisition, processing
• Select acquisition and processing parameters for AVO and seismic attributes,
• Consider limitations and pitfalls in acquisition and processing.
• Recognize AVO and attribute pros and cons, and avoid pitfalls
• Select interpretation-relevant attributes
• Apply fundamental principles and procedures of structural and stratigraphic interpretation
• Conduct risk analysis of 4-D data

Who Should Attend?

This course is offered as an overview for managers, supervisors, exploration managers in seismic exploration or development.

Prerequisites:

Participants should have a basic understanding of seismic data. SCA's course entitled Basic Geophysics is recommended.

Course Content

·         Land and Marine and data acquisition

·         3-D survey design

·         Effect of amplitude scaling and deconvolution for AVO and attributes

·         Statics and dynamic correction Velocity analysis and stacking, and migration

·         VSP data processing

·         AVO pitfalls, modeling, and the impact of processing on AVO analysis

·         Techniques for interpretation of AVO

·         Time and Frequency domain attributes

·         Thin bed thickness estimation using amplitude and frequency

·         Frequency decomposition, Continuous wavelet transforms and short window transform

·         Seismic inversion techniques, examples and pitfalls, Pitfalls of attributes

·         Horizontal and horizon slices

·         Risk analysis and Reduced risk using 4-D

·         Overview of structural & stratigraphic Interpretation

·         Reservoir management using 3-D