Amoco Corporation

Bp Corporation North America Inc.

Bp Amoco Corporation

Adam Gersztenkorn

Kurt J Marfurt

R Lynn Kirlin

The instant invention teaches an improved frequency domain based method of generating attributes from 2D or 3D seismic data. The central idea of the instant invention is that if a curve characterized by constant coefficients is fitted to a short-window Fourier transform amplitude or phase spectrum, the coefficient estimates that are obtained thereby can be used as seismic attributes for use in detecting changes in subsurface properties that may be associated with the generation, migration, accumulation, or presence of hydrocarbons. Since it is well known that many subsurface structural and stratigraphic features alter the frequency characteristics of seismic waveforms passing therethrough, the instant invention provides a new way to search through large numbers of seismic traces for frequency changes that may be correlated with subsurface features of exploration interest.

Method of frequency domain seismic attribute generation

The present invention relates generally to the field of seismic exploration and, in more particular, to methods of quantifying and visualizing structural and stratigraphic features in three dimensions through the use of eigenvector and eigenvalue analyses of a similarity matrix. This invention also relates to the field of seismic attribute generation and the use of seismic attributes derived from similarity matrices to detect the conditions favorable for the origination, migration, accumulation, and presence of hydrocarbons in the subsurface. Additionally, the methods disclosed herein provide a new means for analyzing unstacked seismic data to uncover AVO effects. The invention disclosed herein will be most fully appreciated by those in the seismic interpretation and seismic processing arts.

Method of seismic attribute generation and seismic exploration

A method and apparatus for the exploration of hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: obtaining a set of seismic signal traces distributed over a predetermined three-dimensional volume of the earth; dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of analysis cells having portions of at least two seismic traces located therein; computing outer products of the seismic traces within each cell; forming the covariance matrix for each cell from these outer products; computing the dominant eigenvalue and the sum of the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix of each cell and computing a seismic attribute from the ratio of the dominant eigenvalue to the sum of the eigenvalues of the covariance matrix of each cell; and forming map of the seismic attributes of selected groups of cells.

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Tulsa, OK, United States of America

Adam Gersztenkorn