3-D seismic continuity attribute for mapping discontinuities in a target zone: Optimum parameters and evaluation

Abstract

In this paper, a real 3-D seismic data set was used in establishing optimum parameters for calculating a cross-correlation-based seismic continuity/similarity attribute, with the objective of obtaining an enhanced imaging of geologic discontinuities (low continuities/dissimilarities) in a target zone. The parameters, which were investigated, are the correlation time window, the number of traces in the correlation pattern and the maximum dip-search limit. The quality of the calculated seismic continuity was assessed based on the sharpness and contrast of the interpreted discontinuities, the comparison of the spatial extension of continuity and discontinuity features with that of the corresponding features on seismic sections, and on the sensitivity of the calculated continuity to the noisy parts of the seismic data. Thus the best possible combination of parameters was established and used for calculating 3-D seismic continuity volume. A continuity horizon slice, extracted along the top time horizon of the target zone, was enhanced by applying a median filter (3x3 traces), evaluated and compared to a result obtained from an enhanced dip-magnitude map for the top time horizon of the target zone.