Abstract: A method of geophysical exploration is described for transforming qualitative descriptors of seismic data into a quantifiable decision-making tool to estimate the formation properties as well as economic potential of a selected formation in the earth's subsurface. Qualitative descriptors of the waveform of seismic events contained in a first set of seismic signals are obtained and correlated with formation properties to obtain a series of one or more histograms. Qualitative descriptors of seismic events contained in a second set of seismic data can be obtained and transformed into estimates of formation properties as well as estimates of the economic potential of a selected formation for producing hydrocarbons employing such histograms.

Abstract: A method of geophysical exploration is provided for identifying and evaluating stratigraphic prospects associated with step-like changes in elastic impedance from gradational changes in elastic impedance. In particular, the seismic data are bandpass filtered with a plurality of filters each having a different pass band. Measures of the amplitude are obtained for selected reflection events in the seismic data as a function of their associated pass band frequency content. The changes in amplitude as a function of changes in frequency content of the reflection event can thus be employed to identify and evaluate subtle stratigraphic prospects in the seismic data.