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The Use of Seismic Attributes to Identify Viséan Erosion Paleo-Channels, in

the Territory of the Republic of Tatarstan

Article · September 2018

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Boris Platov Alexey Stepanov

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University
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 © Filodiritto Editore – Proceedings

The Use of Seismic Attributes to Identify Viséan Erosion Paleo-

Channels, in the Territory of the Republic of Tatarstan

PLATOV Boris1, STEPANOV Alexey1

1Kazan Federal University (RUSSIA)
Emails: swborispl@mail.ru, stepanov.geo@yandex.ru

Abstract

This article discusses problems of identification of Viséan paleo-channels on the territory of the
Republic of Tatarstan, using 3D seismic data attributive analysis. Significant hydrocarbon resources
are associated with paleo-channel sediments and their identification is a challenging task. According
to well data, the area surveyed includes zones with increased thickness of Bobrikian age sediments,
and these zones are associated with the areas of development of paleo-channels. The authors used a
set of seismic attributes, such as “chaos”, “dominant frequency”, and “iso-frequency component” in
order to interpret a 3D seismic cube and determine the spatial position of paleo-channels in the areas
between drilled wells. The results obtained from seismic attributes are confirmed by well data.
Identification of paleo-channels is a rather complex task. It can be solved by using seismic
attributive analysis, according to the methodology proposed by the authors.
Keywords: Viséan paleo-channel, seismic attributes, complex attributive analysis, 3D seismic interpretation

Introduction

Erosion paleo-channels of the Bobrikian-Radaevkian time are widespread on the territory of the
Republic of Tatarstan. Many known oil reservoirs are associated with paleo-channel sediments, which
has resulted in increased interest in the study of these sediments [1], [2].
Paleo-channels are represented by zones of Tournaisian sediment erosion, filled with terrigenous
material of Bobrikian age. The thickness of the Bobrikian sediments within paleo-channels can be
several times the thickness of the same sediments outside the paleo-channel zones. The most probable
origin of paleo-channels, is through the erosion of Tournaisian sediments in the Bobrikian time, and
their filling in with riverine terrigenous sediments [3], [4].
Paleo-channels can be identified in well logging data by increased thickness of the Bobrik
formation (up to 30 m and more).
In order to identify Viséan paleo-channels in a seismic record, it is required to trace the following
seismic reflecting boundaries: “U” (associated with the top of the Tula horizon) and “T” (associated
with the top of the Tournaisian stage). An area of thick (more than 30 m) paleo-channel is
characterized by an additional reflection, which appears between these boundaries. It is not possible
to identify thin paleo-channels in a seismic record as in that case, there is no additional reflection due
to limited vertical resolution of seismic data [5].
Proper identification and mapping of such structures is important for calculating reserves and
developing oil and gas fields [6].
Seismic data from Tatarstan were studied by different authors [7], [8].

Methodology

Identification of paleo-channels from seismic data is a challenging task. Such paleo-channels are
represented by additional reflection in seismic cross-sections, that complicates the seismic picture.
A paleo-channel looks like a meandering river in a plan view [3].
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In this paper, we consider the application of seismic attributes to facilitate the identification and
tracking of thin paleo-channel formations (up to 30 m) that cannot be distinguished using the standard
approach.
For initial data, we used a 3D seismic cube (5 x 6 km) covering the territory with the development
of Viséan pale-channels, as well as well log data from 41 wells.
At the first stage, according to well logging data, the top of the Bobrik and Elkhov formations were
identified and their thickness was calculated. Paleo-channels can be identified in zones of increased
thickness of terrigenous sediments (more than 25 m) (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Identification of Viséan paleo-channels along the line of wells No. 310-309-26-15-16-18-306-317-307. Yellow
colour indicates wells that cross the paleo-channel; blue color indicates wells that are located outside the paleo-channel.
The depths are flattened along the top of the Tula formation.

Attribute analysis of seismic data was used to trace the boundaries of the paleo-channels. The
following attributes were calculated: “chaos”, “iso-frequency component” and “dominant
frequency”.
Paleo-channels were identified on the well logs at a depth of about 900 m, which corresponds to a
time of about 570 ms in the seismic record. For this reason, to compare the results, we used time
slices of 570 ms.

Results

At the first stage, we considered a slice of the original time cube. As can be seen from (Fig. 2), it
is practically impossible to identify paleo-channel from these data.

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Fig. 2. Time slice at time of 570 ms. Black line shows the position of the wells from Fig.1.

Results of attributive analysis implementation:

1) “Chaos” attribute.
This attribute is calculated as a measure of the record randomness in the analyzed window [9].
The more regular the record, the less the value of the attribute. As can be seen from (Fig. 3), paleo-
channel formation boundaries can be traced from the maximum values of the attribute, since a sharp
change in the seismic record occurs at the edges of the erosion paleo-channel (an additional positive
reflection), which leads to an increase in record randomness.

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Fig. 3. Paleo-channel identification with the use of “chaos” seismic attribute.

Green color indicates the boundaries of the proposed Viséan paleo-channel.

2) “Dominant frequency” attribute.

This attribute is widely used to solve various geological problems [10], [11], [12].
The thickness of the Bobrikian sediments (the distance between the bottom of the Tula and the top
of the Tournaisian formation) is different within and outside the paleo-channel, which in turn affects
the frequency response of the seismic signal [13]. As can be seen from (Fig. 4), the “dominant
frequency” attribute clearly identifies the boundaries of the paleo-channel development.

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Fig. 4. Paleo-channel identification with the use of the “dominant frequency” seismic attribute.
Green color indicates the boundaries of the proposed Viséan paleo-channel.

3) “Iso-frequency component”
This attribute separates the original signal into frequency components by means of the Fourier
transformation [13].
Seismic wave propagation through different facies generates reflections at different frequencies,
so the frequency characteristic within the paleo-channel zone (river facies) differs from the frequency
characteristic obtained outside the paleo-channel zone (flood plain facies). (Fig. 5) shows a slice
obtained by using “iso-frequency component” attribute with a frequency of 50 Hz, which provided a
more reliable picture of paleo-channel sediments.

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Fig. 5. Paleo-channel identification using the “Iso-frequency component” seismic attribute, frequency of 50 Hz.
Blue color indicates the boundaries of the proposed Viséan paleo-channel.

Conclusions

A seismic attributive analysis implemented to identify paleo-channel sediments of the Bobrik

formation showed that:
1) Since the seismic signal changes at the edge of the paleo-channel formation (increased
heterogeneity, changes in frequency characteristics), the use of “chaos”, “dominant
frequency” and “iso-frequency component” seismic attributes make it possible to identify
even thin paleo-channels (less than 30 m in thickness).
2) When interpreting seismic data, it is necessary to use the maximum information contained in
the signal, and the interpretation should include not only geophysical (in the sense of
anomalies) but also geological (in the sense of geological interpretation of anomalies)
comprehension. If anomalies in the form of meandering river channels are identified in the
seismic signal or in the seismic attributes, these can be interpreted as paleo-channels. In the
case of 3D seismic data (i.e. if it is possible to represent the data as a map) it is necessary to
use seismic attributes in order to identify continuous paleo-channels.
It is obvious that the identification of zones of paleo-channel formation development in the seismic
signal remains a challenging task, which can only be solved by an assembly of geophysical methods;
however, the application of seismic attributes facilitates and speeds up the process of seismic
interpretation.

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Acknowledgments
The work is performed according to the Russian Government Program of Competitive Growth of
Kazan Federal University.

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