Abstract: Surface wrapping is a semi-automatic approach for segmentation of a geobody bounding surface within volumetric data. The approach is metaphorically based upon the concept of collapsing an elastic surface onto a physical object. The desired output of the process is a polygonal mesh that may be stored as data, displayed to the end user, or used in further data processing techniques. This approach has advantages over fully automated segmentation algorithms in that it may be applied to data where the volume to be segmented is not fully imaged, or where a high level of noise is present. This approach is also significantly less time consuming for the human analyst than fully manual segmentation techniques, in that the user need only define an approximate initial bounding surface prior to application of the algorithm which determines a more detailed and accurate bounding surface.

Abstract: A process that assists with the identification of potential hydrocarbon deposits that includes performing a structural interpretation of a three-dimensional seismic volume, transforming the three-dimensional seismic volume into a stratal-slice volume, performing a stratigraphic interpretation of the stratal-slice volume which includes the extracting of bounding surfaces and faults and transforming the stratal-slice volume into the spatial domain. As illustrated in FIGS. 24a, b and c, an exemplary seismic volume before Domain Transformation is presented in FIG. 24a, interpreted horizons and faults used in the transformation are presented in FIG. 24b, and the Domain Transformed stratal-slice volume is presented in FIG. 24c. The input seismic volume in FIG. 24a has deformations associated with syn- and post-depositional faulting. The output Domain Transformed volume (FIG. 24c) is substantially free of deformations.

Abstract: A process that assists with the identification of potential hydrocarbon deposits that includes performing a structural interpretation of a three-dimensional seismic volume, transforming the three-dimensional seismic volume into a stratal-slice volume, performing a stratigraphic interpretation of the stratal-slice volume which includes the extracting of bounding surfaces and faults and transforming the stratal-slice volume into the spatial domain. As illustrated in FIGS. 24a, b and c, an exemplary seismic volume before Domain Transformation is presented in FIG. 24a, interpreted horizons and faults used in the transformation are presented in FIG. 24b, and the Domain Transformed stratal-slice volume is presented in FIG. 24c. The input seismic volume in FIG. 24a has deformations associated with syn- and post-depositional faulting. The output Domain Transformed volume (FIG. 24c) is substantially free of deformations.

Abstract: A process that assists with the identification of potential hydrocarbon deposits that includes performing a structural interpretation of a three-dimensional seismic volume, transforming the three-dimensional seismic volume into a stratal-slice volume, performing a stratigraphic interpretation of the stratal-slice volume which includes the extracting of bounding surfaces and faults and transforming the stratal-slice volume into the spatial domain. As illustrated in FIGS. 24a, b and c, an exemplary seismic volume before Domain Transformation is presented in FIG. 24a, interpreted horizons and faults used in the transformation are presented in FIG. 24b, and the Domain Transformed stratal-slice volume is presented in FIG. 24c. The input seismic volume in FIG. 24a has deformations associated with syn- and post-depositional faulting. The output Domain Transformed volume (FIG. 24c) is substantially free of deformations.

Abstract: A process that assists with the identification of potential hydrocarbon deposits that includes performing a structural interpretation of a three-dimensional seismic volume, transforming the three-dimensional seismic volume into a stratal-slice volume, performing a stratigraphic interpretation of the stratal-slice volume which includes the extracting of bounding surfaces and faults and transforming the stratal-slice volume into the spatial domain. As illustrated in FIGS. 24a, b and c, an exemplary seismic volume before Domain Transformation is presented in FIG. 24a, interpreted horizons and faults used in the transformation are presented in FIG. 24b, and the Domain Transformed stratal-slice volume is presented in FIG. 24c. The input seismic volume in FIG. 24a has deformations associated with syn- and post-depositional faulting. The output Domain Transformed volume (FIG. 24c) is substantially free of deformations.

Abstract: A process that assists with the identification of potential hydrocarbon deposits that includes performing a structural interpretation of a three-dimensional seismic volume, transforming the three-dimensional seismic volume into a stratal-slice volume, performing a stratigraphic interpretation of the stratal-slice volume which includes the extracting of bounding surfaces and faults and transforming the stratal-slice volume into the spatial domain. As illustrated in FIGS. 24a, b and c, an exemplary seismic volume before Domain Transformation is presented in FIG. 24a, interpreted horizons and faults used in the transformation are presented in FIG. 24b, and the Domain Transformed stratal-slice volume is presented in FIG. 24c. The input seismic volume in FIG. 24a has deformations associated with syn- and post-depositional faulting. The output Domain Transformed volume (FIG. 24c) is substantially free of deformations.

Abstract: A process that assists with the identification of potential hydrocarbon deposits that includes performing a structural interpretation of a three-dimensional seismic volume, transforming the three-dimensional seismic volume into a stratal-slice volume, performing a stratigraphic interpretation of the stratal-slice volume which includes the extracting of bounding surfaces and faults and transforming the stratal-slice volume into the spatial domain. As illustrated in FIGS. 24a, b and c, an exemplary seismic volume before Domain Transformation is presented in FIG. 24a, interpreted horizons and faults used in the transformation are presented in FIG. 24b, and the Domain Transformed stratal-slice volume is presented in FIG. 24c. The input seismic volume in FIG. 24a has deformations associated with syn- and post-depositional faulting. The output Domain Transformed volume (FIG. 24c) is substantially free of deformations.

Abstract: A process that assists with the identification of potential hydrocarbon deposits that includes performing a structural interpretation of a three-dimensional seismic volume, transforming the three-dimensional seismic volume into a stratal-slice volume, performing a stratigraphic interpretation of the stratal-slice volume which includes the extracting of bounding surfaces and faults and transforming the stratal-slice volume into the spatial domain. As illustrated in FIGS. 24a, b and c, an exemplary seismic volume before Domain Transformation is presented in FIG. 24a, interpreted horizons and faults used in the transformation are presented in FIG. 24b, and the Domain Transformed stratal-slice volume is presented in FIG. 24c. The input seismic volume in FIG. 24a has deformations associated with syn- and post-depositional faulting. The output Domain Transformed volume (FIG. 24c) is substantially free of deformations.

Abstract: A computer system for interpreting seismic signals to identify reflective horizons is disclosed. The seismic signals are retrieved and conventional corrections are applied. A seismic survey is displayed, and a human analyst places horizon lines or surfaces above or below suspected reflective events in the survey. The disclosed method then operates on a trace by trace basis to identify the location in time at which the attribute, which may be amplitude, envelope amplitude, phase, frequency and the like, meets a draping criterion. The interpreted horizon is set at the identified depth or time location, and the interpreted horizon points are connected into an interpreted horizon surface (in the case of a 3-D survey). Traces having only weak or no reflections may not have an interpreted surface point, or may have an interpolated point set therefor. An automated and efficient horizon interpretation method and system, even for large surveys of complex geology, is thus provided.