Abstract: A method and apparatus for seismic image processing is disclosed. A preferred embodiment aids in the identification of subterranean faults, which are significant in hydrocarbon exploration. The method includes steps of: a) reading a three dimensional seismic data volume; b) computing the three-dimensional orientation of the subsurface; c) subdividing the original volume into small data volumes that are rotated at a predetermined set of dips and azimuths related to those of the subsurface orientation; volumes formed in step c; e) performing a 3-D contrast enhancement operation in each of the small volumes; f) filtering the result of the contrast enhancement with selected 3-D filters at the predetermined set of dips and azimuths; g) skeletonizing the results of the filtering operation; h) separating the individual fault surfaces, and i) labelling the individual fault surfaces for further interpretation and exploration.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing fast compression and decompression of seismic data. An adaptive transform (124) with selectable mathematical basis is applied to an initial data set to obtain a set of transformed coefficients, the transform factorizing an effective symmetric or non-symmetric biorthogonal filter of size (u, v) into a number m of elementary (3, 1) biorthogonal filters which are applied to the data set in selected directions without requiring transposition of the data set. The coefficients are encoded (126) using non-uniform scalar quantization and run-length coding followed by adaptive coding of resulting threshold coefficients. The transform and encoding steps are repeated (128) using a new mathematical basis for each iteration to obtain a compressed data set at a desired compression rate. Exact compression ratios can be obtained (158), allowing evaluation of the data in the compressed domain as well as transparent, on-the-fly decompression at computer network data transfer rates.