Seismic Attributes

Qualitative and
Quantitative Seismic
Interpretation
Learning Objectives
At the end of this talk, you should
understand:
•What are seismic attributes and why
are they important?
•How do we use seismic attributes?
•How to relate attribute applications to
various business stages?
•What are qualitative and quantitative
attribute analyses?
Outline
• What are seismic attributes?
• What are the types of seismic attributes?
• Seismic attribute studies & Business stages
applications
• Why are seismic attributes important?
• The seismic loop and types of seismic
attributes
• Structural and stratigraphic examples
• Summary
 What are Seismic Attributes?
• Any measurement (i.e., max amplitude, duration) calculated
from:
Seismic traces
An interpretation of the data (surface attributes)

• The measurements can be made on:

Reflection amplitude data
Transforms of the data (e.g., quadrature)
Data along or windowed on a specific horizon
Data within an interval defined by 1 or 2 horizons

• Measurements of the seismic waveform may be related

(qualitatively or quantitatively) to:
Variations in rock properties and/or
Variations in fluid properties

• Characterize the seismic waveform in terms of a seismic

response which can ultimately be related to geologic
variations (i.e., facies, lithology, structure, fluid content, etc.)
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Seismic Attribute Definition
Simple Definition:
Seismic attributes are mathematical descriptions of the characteristics of a
seismic trace over specific intervals that can be one or more samples thick

There are three fundamental seismic

characteristics:

• Arrival Time gives us information on

geometry and thickness
• Amplitude measures impedance
contrasts, and thus indirectly rock
and fluid properties
• Seismic Character, a combination of
loop (cycle) geometry and continuity,
varies with vertical and lateral
changes in geology
 Types of Seismic Attribute Studies
• Interpretation (Qualitative)
➢ Emphasizes map patterns – “Trends”
➢ Can incorporate well data to identify and
differentiate depositional systems
➢ Statistical tools can help to analyze large
volumes of data, understand relative
contribution of multiple attributes
➢ Exploration –> Early Development business
stages Qualitative mapping of EOD

• Analysis (Quantitative / Semi-

Quantitative)
➢ Requires wells and/or pseudo-wells
➢ Predictions of rock properties
➢ Late Development –> Production business stages
➢ Predict volumes or maps of rock properties
Reservoir thickness Prediction of HC pore-feet
Lithology
Fluid distribution
Etc.
 Seismic Attributes and Business Stage
Regional Framework Illuminate
Qualitative
structural and stratigraphic trends to
assist in rapid and accurate
interpretations
Semi-Quantitative
Prospect Evaluation Delineate facies
based on distribution of relevant
attributes
Quantitative
Detailed Reservoir
Characterization Predict
physical properties of rocks in
the subsurface through
Quantitative
calibration of seismic attributes
to available well data and/or
seismic models.
Importance of Seismic Attributes
• We need to extract as much information as possible from the
seismic data and seismic attributes enable us to extract very subtle
detail from seismic data – more detail than is visibly apparent
• Seismic attributes can predict at and away from wells while still
honoring well data - Predictions are more detailed than simply
interpolating well data
• Seismic attributes are commonly used for:
➢ Prospect identification and risking

➢ Hydrocarbon play evaluation

➢ Reservoir characterization

➢ Field development

➢ Well planning

What will the porosity

likely be at our proposed
well location? Well Data Only Seismic Data tied to Wells
The Seismic Loop
• Basic unit over which Map
Based attributes are
calculated Loop N

• A half-cycle (peak or
trough) from one zero- Loop N+1
crossing to the next zero-
crossing
Loop N+2
 Types of Attributes Max Amplitude
• Horizon-local Attributes
– Measurements associated with the ‘loop’ (half-cycle) at
a specific horizon or ‘phantom’ horizon, e.g., maximum
amplitude
• Interval Attributes Sum of ABS Amp
– Measurements associated with an interval defined on
the basis of two specific horizons or ‘phantoms,’ e.g.,
RMS amplitude

• Surface Attributes Horizon Dip

– Measurements associated with a specific horizon, e.g.,

horizon dip

Disco Volume
• Volume-calculated Attributes
– Measurements on one data volume that results in a new
data volume, e.g., Discontinuity
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 Horizon Local Attributes
(Time, Amplitude, Duration, Shape)
Interpreted
Horizon
• Associated with a specific interpreted horizon
➢ Attributes at the horizon or of the loop it passes through
➢ Attributes of the loop immediately below the horizon
➢ Attributes at a specified time distance above or below the
horizon (or of the loop through which that “phantom”
“Phantom”
passes) Horizon

• Parameterization
➢ Specify primary horizon
➢ Specify time up or down to a “phantom” horizon if
needed
➢ Set limits of an extraction window large enough to catch
zero crossings of loops. Can be set very large because
extraction will only be on loop
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 Interval Attributes
(Sums, Averages, Minima, Maxima)
• These attributes are associated with a defined
interval
➢ Between two horizons
Upper
➢ At a specified distance from two horizons
Horizon
➢ Between two specified time values
T1 = 1200 ms
• Common characteristics of intervals we measure
include
➢ Time to min/max amplitudes within intervals; interval thickness
➢ Amplitude within interval (minima, maxima, averages, RMS,
integration)
➢ Loop duration within the interval (minima, maxima, averages) Lower
➢ Amplitude spectra within the interval Horizon

T2 = 1400 ms
• Parameterization
➢ Specify upper and lower horizons or top and bottom of slice in
time
➢ Set limits beyond the interval within which SATK can scan for
zero crossings.
➢ Do not set these limits too large or will get unintended data
included in extraction
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Horizon Local vs. Interval Attributes
Horizon Local Attributes
Statistics calculated for the
loop where a horizon has
been picked or the loop
immediately below the
horizon.

Interval Attributes
Attributes calculated on
the entire trace contained
within the extraction
window.
 Surface Attributes
• Surface attributes are associated with Dip Magnitude
a specific interpreted or phantom
horizon

• Generally they are calculated from the

horizon time map
– Dip magnitude and azimuth
– Second derivative of dip
– Surface Curvature
Surface Curvature Map

Common Attribute Usage:

• Surface attributes are useful for

illuminating both structural and
stratigraphic trends
 Transform Attributes (Volume Attributes)
• Traces can be mathematically
transformed to other domains for Reflectivity
attribute extraction
➢Quadrature (Pseudo-impedance) Quadrature
➢Integrated (Pseudo-impedance)
➢Curvature Curvature
• Apparent increase in frequency
➢Cosine phase Amplitude
• Emphasizes continuity & angular Envelope
relations Instantaneous
Phase
➢Instantaneous amplitude
Instantaneous
• Bright spot analysis Frequency
➢Instantaneous frequency
Cosine of Phase
• ID attenuated zones or thinly
bedded
• Petrel can generate transformed
trace cubes.
 Structural Interpretation Example
• Seismic attributes can be used to help in mapping faults and other
structural features
• Typically we use multi-trace attributes over a correlation window or
along an interpreted horizon to illuminate structural trends.

Faults
Gentle

Faults

Steep
Dip Magnitude Map Discontinuity Time Slice

A map-based calculation of the time A volume-based cross-correlation

difference between adjacent traces between adjacent traces
along an interpreted horizon
 Stratigraphic Interpretation – Examples
• Seismic attributes can be used to assist stratigraphic
interpretation
• Typically we use trace-shape, horizon-local or
interval attributes keyed to specific horizons to
interpret stratigraphic trends.
Central Channel Low

Levee

Central
Channel

Cross Section High

1 km
Levee Map

Horizon Amplitude

A map-based calculation of the seismic

amplitude along an interpreted horizon
Stratigraphic Interpretation - Examples

Discontinuity Time Slice •Seismic attributes

can be used to
help generate
stratigraphic
frameworks or
make
stratigraphic
interpretations

•Typically we use
Discontinuity to
map structural
features, but it
can be very
A volume-based cross-correlation useful for
between adjacent traces mapping
stratigraphy as
well.
Learning Objectives - Summary
•What are seismic attributes?
• Measurements on seismic data that quantify the seismic
response of rocks/fluids

•How do we calculate them?

• Using interpretation software including Petrel

•Why are they important?

• Attributes give us details beyond what the human can observe
• Attributes can be used qualitatively to gain insights into data
quality, structure, stratigraphy and fluid distributions
• If we can quantify the response of changes in rock/fluid
properties to attributes through wells and seismic modeling,
we can make quantitative predicts to aid in E/D/P decisions