Seismic Data

Interpretation, from basics

A seismic trace is a graph of amplitude versus time

(Robinson & Treitel, 2008, Geophysical Reference 15)

Swipe Right
 What´s Inside…

1 Introduction: Seismic Amplitudes

and Interpretation

2 Factors afectting seismic amplitudes:

Generalities

Factors affecting amplitudes:

3 Acquisition (source) and Earth

Factors afectting amplitudes:

4 Acquisition (receiver)

5 Remarks

Swipe Right
Indroduction

Swipe Right
 Indroduction

•
•
•

Swipe Right
 Factors afectting seismic amplitudes

• •
• •
• •
• •
• •
• •
• •
• •

Swipe Right
Factors affecting amplitudes: Acquisition
(source) and Earth

Swipe Right
 Description
Factors Comments: Magnitude

Seismic Acquisition (Source)

Size of dynamite, number of working vibrators,
F1) Source Strength Moderate
number of sweeps, etc.

Source in dry sand, weathering (poor coupling),

F2) Source Coupling Moderate
bedrock, wet soil (good)

Desiggned to attenuate noise but also attenuates

F3) Source Arrays Minor
dipping primaries

Reflected signature with opposite sign at free

F4) Source Ghost Minor
surface

The Earth
When RC large enough (Volcanics, Salt)
F5) Discontinuous Trans Mod-Major
underlying events not visible

Spherical spreading of energy is the MAJOR

F6) Curved Ray MAJOR
effect, factor of 10 or more

Tuning can be major, up to factor of 2, at

F7) Tuning Mod-Major
pinchouts can be down to zero

F8) AVA AVA gas effects can be up to a factor of 5 Mod-Major

Focusing and defocused - minor, exceptions

F9) Curved Reflectors Minor
include san lens - mod-major

At seismic wavelengths most geotogic surfaces

F10) Rugosity Minor
are "mirror" smooth

lf RC contrasts are high then can be moderate

F11) Interbed Multiples Minor
problem, generally minor

Loss of energy to heat, weighted towards high

F12) Absorption Minor
frequencles

Loss of energy due to specular reflections,

F13) Scattering Minor
weighted towards high frequency

Swipe Right
Factors afectting amplitudes: Acquisition
(receiver)

Swipe Right
 Description
Factors Comments: Magnitude
Seismic Acquisition (Receiver)
Coupling Geophones dampened on dry soil,
F14) Receiver Moderate
buried or wet soil couples well

Negative RC at surface, then positive at base

F15) Surface Multlples Minor
weathering

Reflected RC with opposite sign at free surface,

F16) Receiver Ghost Minor
changing surface RC

F17) Receiver Strength Poorly placed geophones, partial loss of array Minor

Designed to attenuate noise but will also

F18) Receiver Arrays Minor
attenuate dipping primaries

F19) Geophone Response is a filter that reduces amplitudes Minor

Range Pre-1990 with limited 12-15 bit

F20) Dynamic Range Minor
recorders / fllters Moderate, now Minor

Missing ground positions / offsets, effects

F21) S&R "Skips" Mod-Major
# traces and frequency content

Swipe Right
 Remarks

before seismic processing

Imagine how you would reduce risk and

uncertainty in your reservoir models
having a Geophysicist on your team

Questions?
2023 Let's talk