Extracting more geology from seismic data: examples with the HorizonCube technology

Friso Brouwer, dGB Earth Sciences - USA, friso.brouwer@dgbes.com Farrukh Qayyum, dGB Earth Sciences - The Netherlands Nanne Hemstra, , dGB Earth Sciences - USA Abstract This presentation gives an overview of the HorizonCube technology, its benefits and the implications for seismic interpretation. A short conceptual treatment of the HorizonCube is provided and an overview of several HorizonCube applications is given. The applications are illustrated by several case studies, covering the most recent applications of the HorizonCube technology and showing its main benefit, extracting more geological detail from seismic data. The HorizonCube Technology The HorizonCube is a representation of all structuring (tectonic and stratigraphic) found in a seismic dataset. User input to calculate a HorizonCube is limited to providing bounding horizons and major faults, and defining several processing parameters. The first step is for the seismic volume to be converted into a dip volume, a two component volume, representing the dip of the seismic reflectors. The advantage of using seismic dip (instead of seismic amplitude) to guide horizon tracking is that it allows to track through difficult places such as patchy amplitudes, and reflector bifurcations. In addition, by using dip, angular unconformities are accurately mapped, which is important for the seismic sequence stratigraphic application of the HorizonCube.

Impression of the HorizonCube, showing the density and accuracy of the 3D mapping of complex stratigraphic structures. HorizonCube Applications & Case Studies The conventional workflow to provide structural control everywhere in a 3D seismic cube is to use Proportional Slicing. Proportional Slicing is guided by a limited set of horizons tracked by an interpreter. However, as the Proportional Slicing algorithm is based on a linear interpolation between horizons, the accuracy is limited. This is especially the case in the presence of structural complexity caused by stratigraphic structures, which often vary more and are less conformable then tectonic structures. The HorizonCube contains an unprecedented representation of the seismic structure, in the sense that accurate data-driven structural information is present at every point in the volume. This is in contrast with conventional methods, which only provide accurate data-driven structural information at the location of sparse interpreter-tracked horizons and approximations in between. With an order of magnitude increase of accurate structural information, existing applications of seismic data are improved, and several new applications are enabled. Examples are: Data driven 3D Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy and Seismic Wheeler Diagrams Geobody identification and extraction Accurate Geoslicing Structurally consistent Geomodel Building Structurally consistent Low Frequency Model Building

Complete knowledge of the detailed (stratigraphic) structures improves many existing geophysical and interpretation workflows, and enables complete new workflows. Mapping the structure of the seismic data in full 3D space will be central point in the next generation seismic interpretation workflows. As the development of the HorizonCube technology has progressed over the last couple of years the application has become more routine and has been applied on several industry case studies. To illustrate the current state of affairs, we will demonstrate the above-mentioned applications and their benefits through several of the most recent case studies, specifically: Building a Low Frequency Model in a stratigraphically complex area. Creating a detailed reservoir model by improving the understanding of internal structuring. Extracting 3D geobodies and applications to 3D Sequence Stratigraphy.

Extraction of geobodies (depositional elements) using the HorizonCube. This example shows the depo-centers (thickest sands) in two phases of transgressive infill within an incised canyon, that was eroded in the host formation during a previous low stand. Conclusions The structural information extracted by the HorizonCube technology improves many existing workflows and enables new workflows in the fields of seismic interpretation, inversion and geomodeling. Recent case studies show that the HorizonCube technology is transforming from a technology in development to a robust technology with predictable results and clear added value in terms of additional geology information extracted from seismic data. From these observations we conclude that full 3D structural mapping methods, such as the HorizonCube, will develop to a central step and cornerstone in seismic interpretation, inversion and geomodeling workflows.