Abstract: A method for translating seismic time data via seismic depth data to seismic depth/lithology data, enabling reduced-risk location of hydrocarbons. Reducing dry hole risk is accomplished by introducing a new work domain which provides a several-fold increase in parameters per data point corresponding to geophysical space and associated with seismic sequence data. This work domain provides improved separation and definition and quality control of a panoply of relevant geofactors which in turn provide enhanced material information about a plurality of sedimentary rock properties. The enhanced material information is quality-controlled to be geologically possible, then further quality-controlled to be consistent with probability via quantification of burial history, depositional facies distribution and data resolution.

Abstract: An improved comprehensive system for definition of velocities of acoustic energy of sedimentary rocks is provided. First, geophysical exploration data available in the prior art is collected and organized to be defined as sequences and to define velocity behavior within sequences, and used to obtain consistently reasonable levels of accuracy of velocity distributions known by those skilled in the art. The present invention is particularly attentive to seismic sequence definition and to sequence compaction behavior. Secondly, in accordance with the present invention, means and methods not heretofore known in the art are used to sample well, seismic and other sources of data, on an individual basis, to define to what extent normal compaction behavior and velocities, as previously determined, may have been locally altered by other factors.