structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Subsurface Mapping
Techniques

Subsurface Structural Mapping

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Seismic interpreters
spend the majority of
their time making maps
The industry maps
capture a variety of data,
including structural and
stratigraphic features
such faults, folds,
unconformities, channel
systems etc
Subsurface structure
maps are rarely like
geological maps, but
rather are topographic
maps for a chosen
seismic event or reflector

Basic Seismic Mapping

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Learning to Pick Wiggles!

to maximize the
geological information
from the seismic data
through careful structural
and stratigraphic
interpretation
techniques, routine use
of attribute and
coherency mapping tools
and attention to detail in
the generation of
structural maps
Use the spatial
arrangement of seismic
and well data to create
accurate and reliable
models of the subsurface

This is no longer done by

hand, but via the use highpowered interpretative or
graphic workstations that
rapidly access huge
volumes of 2D & 3D seismic
data

Seismic Structural Interpretation

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Subsurface Structure Mapping

0
20
0
30

Fault Gap or
Fault Polygon

0
40

11
00

0
50

10
00
90
0

0
70

1
km

C.I. = 50 m

0
70

Structure contour maps

are a common way of
representing structural
geometry in the energy
industry
Are often used in the
past as basis for a
variety of other
important work
reservoir volume
calculations and reservoir
simulation modeling

80
0

0
60

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Starting to be
superseded by true 3D
models, however maps
are still common
communication tools
between geologists,
geophysicists and
reservoir engineers

Fault Polygon Definition

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Fault Cutoff Maps

Not just gaps in horizons
but the termination of
discrete surfaces in space

3D Interpretation

Geometric definition
be as rigorous as possible
they are not easily
predictable, especially in
complex structural
settings
Plunging folds, salt
diapirs

Requires that all

structural surfaces are
mapped in 3D and
integrated with
stratigraphic surfaces

Map Representation

The Mapping Process

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Start with the faults and

think about how they
connect up in 3D
Begin infilling with the
key stratigraphic
surfaces
Extend these to
intersect the mapped
faults
Interpolate the surfaces
over the entire area of
interest
Generate grids and
contour the gridded
surface

Evaluate the integrity of

the resulting model
Does it make sense to
you? If not, why not?

Subsurface Structure Mapping

FW Cut-of
0
20
0
30

Fault Gap or
Fault Polygon

0
40

11
00

0
50

10
00
90
0

0
70

1
km

C.I. = 50 m

Starting to be superseded
by true 3D models,
however maps are still a
common communication
tools between geologists,
geophysicists and
HW Cut-of reservoir engineers

0
70

Structure contour maps

are a common way of
representing structural
geometry in the energy
industry
Are often used in the past
as basis for a variety of
other important work
reservoir volume
calculations and reservoir
simulation modeling

80
0

0
60

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Subsurface Structure Mapping

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Real Normal Fault Network

Resulting 3D
Structural Model

Structure Contour Map

Derived from 3D Model

Using An Interpretive Workstation

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Immerse yourself in all of the data
Rapidly explore the implications of
a variety of different structural or
stratigraphic interpretations
Effectively integrate all other
available subsurface data (wells)

Faster, therefore cheaper

Better and more accurate, therefore,
less risky
However, demands a high degree of
geological and geophysical
understanding to be more effective

Fault Polygon Continuity

-2

-4
acceptable size
distribution

-6
-4

-2

log length (km)

ult Segm
ent s
uous Fa

Discontin

Continu
ou

possible over-linkage
of separate fault
segments
assess the interpreted
length as a function of
the maximum
displacement on the
fault
surface
2

s Fault S
ystem

Zig-Zagging Polygons

log displacement (km)

structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Coherency
structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Quantitative measure of the

lateral continuity of seismic
events
Actively enhances the
imaging of small
discontinuities such as
faults, fractures, or channel
margins at or close to the
limit of seismic resolution
such features would be more or
less impossible to map using
traditional manual picking
techniques

Excellent for defining lateral

extent of and linkage within
fault networks

Coherency
Image

3D Visualization
structural geology network

Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

Slice & Dice the 3D

seismic volume in a
variety of different
orientations
in-line, cross-line and
time slices
horizon and fault slices

Co-visualization of
multiple seismic
attributes
multi-volume
rendering and analysis

Increasing use of
auto-tracking
technologies and
smart applets the
recognize geological
features