Petrel* 2013 Attribute Matrix

Short Description and Meaning General Structural Salt Workflow Edge Detection (Structural) General Stratigraphic Fracture Indicator Channels Carbonates Noise Reduction Hydrocarbon Indicator

Selected frequencies, also combined

PATENTED
Identification of thin beds and subtle stratigraphic fea- with other
Spectral decomposition at user-selected frequencies. Can improve the image of
Delineate Salt extents as separable Selected frequencies can tures (e.g. pinch-out, reefs, channels, etc.). Can be used attributes in a ANN, can
Obtained by cosine correlation transform (CCT) analysis that esti- Can enhance subtle structural For channel mapping subtle stratigraphic S/N can improve at selected fre-
Iso-Frequency mates the contribution of each frequency to the input seismic. By features.
from sediment on frequency con- provide sharper image of small faults than the input data along stratal slices for seismic geomorphology analysis. detect possible fractures zones via
and thickness estimation features as well as quencies
tent for input to workflows such as Ant Tracking. Can also be used as input to facies mapping in particular attenuation analysis, or, conversely
exploiting the tuning effects provides indications on stratigraphic sub-seismic faults
for seismic geomorphology analysis can highlight sub-seismic faults
thickness. N.B.: it works in time domain.

Structural attribute that describes how bent a curve is at a Detection of subtle depositional elements for seismic Shows karsts and sinkholes, in
Detects subtle changes in Must be a density
particular point. Enables the detection of subtle structural changes geomorphology such as channel incisions, gullies, in- High curvature zones especially on the addition to fracture corridors)
structural trend and/or tectonic features and linea- Fault lineament detection, in particular in dip saturated change in channel fill Directional curvature can enhance
in dip-saturated data. equivalent to the second-order derivative cised valleys, drainage patterns and gas vents (negative Maximum Curvature are often associ- and stratigraphic (carbonates
3D Curvature when the dip is zero.
ments, convex up (positive curvature) or concave data. Helps indentifying upthrown and downthrown sides
curvature) or channel fills, splays, lobes, lens, isolated ated with high
and surrounds.
build-ups/reefs, channels,
the geology by suppressing foot-
down (negative curvature) structures. Also discerns of a fault Useful for channel prints
bars, mounds and wedges (positive curvature). Also a fracture density zones. etc.) features
flexure and position of anticline / syncline hinges development
good discriminator for seismic facies analysis

Signal coherency analysis: Estimates trace to trace variance Can discriminate between low and high continuity of Karst and sinkhole delinea-
(1-semblance). Amplitude Invariant (but not orientation invariant); Reveals discontinuities in seismic data either relat- seismic reflections. Useful for channel tion. Detection and mapping
Fault detection from continuous variance response. High variance can suggest faults or
Variance (Edge Method) i.e. it will produce the same response for the same seismic signa- ed to stratigraphic Can help outline salt extents
Gas chimney mapping
Interpretation of progradational versus aggradational
fractures swarms
sweep at Z values for of buildups/reefs within layer
ture, whether in a low or high-amplitude region. terminations or structural lineaments stacking patterns on stratal slices. Also a good discrimi- channel development cake depositional
nator for seismic facies analysis environments

Karst and sinkhole delinea-

Structural Attribute that uses the Sobel filter to isolate areas with Reveals discontinuities in seismic data either relat- Can help highlight chan- tion. Detection and mapping
Can help highlight and isolate salt Fault detection from discontinuities or phase change if dip High amplitudes can indicate faults or Vertical smoothing parameter can
Amplitude Contrast amplitude discontinuities. Dip guiding option is available which will ed to stratigraphic terminations or structural linea-
structures guiding is activated fractures swarms
nels in filtered seismic if of buildups/reefs within layer
help remove surrounding noise
help detecting phase change. ments dip guiding is activated cake depositional
environments

Can discriminate between low and high continuity of

Same as variance with an added principle component based Reveals discontinuities in seismic data. As above, Fault detection from continuous variance response. seismic reflections. High variance can suggest faults or
Dip Guided Variance guiding. Improves continuity of non-vertical events. useful for structural and stratigraphic terminations.
Can help outline salt extents
Gas chimney mapping Interpretation of progradational versus aggradational fractures swarms
stacking patterns on stratal slices.

Apply a frequency filter over time gates to seismic data. Various Frequency filtered data is useful input for frequency Filtered seismic can Time gated frequency filter. Mute
Filter methods and tapers are available based attributes. show channels clearer unwanted frequencies

Possible fracture indicator by local high

Edge detection attribute: Estimates difference between sample dip Use in softer lithologies where the downthrown Discriminates rapid changes in local orientation.
Dip deviation and local dip. A threshold can be applied. side of the fault shows dip Input to Ant Tracking
dip deviation
response

Estimates the dip field of the seismic and highlights the structural Can enhance both subtle and major structural fea- Can be used to detect and highlight Possible fracture indicator by local high
Dip Illumination geology with the use of light. tures chaotic/noisy areas
Can be used to detect and highlight discontinuities
dip response
Can highlight channels

PATENTED
WARNING: the interior of a salt Delineate laterally continuous discontinuities based on a Large (seismic scale) fracture swarms Fracture corridors, Karst de- Filter using a stereonet to eliminate
Ant Tracking Fault enhancing attribute. Connects attribute responses by using Fault attribute enhancement and fault extraction
accumulation can be chaotic conditioned input detection lineation azimuthal features
principles of swarm intelligence (“ants”)

Edge enhancing attribute where statistical methods are used. Con-

nects and improves continuity of edge cubes. Used in collaboration Fault enhancement attribute for improving continu- Large (seismic scale) fracture swarms
Edge Evidence with Ant-Tracking where enhanced continuity is needed. (if used, ity
Enhances edge detection by improving continuity
enhancement
should be applied before using the Ant-Tracking attribute).

Edge enhancing attribute which filter along planes in three dimen- Enhances edge detection by emphasizing larger and plan- Smooths away smaller features
3D Edge Enhancement sions, where the plane is rotated in all angles and directions
Edge detection improving attrribute
er features
Possible fracture enhancement
such as noise

Detects amplitude varia-

Measure of reflectivity within a time window: The square root of
tions for channels with Classical attribute for bright spot detec-
RMS Amplitude the sum of the squared amplitudes divided by the number of live
density changes to sur- tion (highly correlated to Envelope)
Samples
rounds

Removes DC bias for the seismic traces.

DC bias occurs when the average of the trace values departs from
Remove Bias zero and may be caused by processing artifacts and/or geological
Removes DC bias from the trace

factors.

Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) is a method that amplifies

Highlights the surrounding stratigra-
geological features such mass transport complexes, channel, and Amplifies mass transport complexes, channels, and This attributes visualizes all seismic stratigraphy and
phy around salt bodies, in addition Can be used to highlight Neglects chaotic features and hence
GLCM dewatering structures by combining four parameters to define the dewatering structures that have lateral patterns
to the stratigraphy located within
neglects chaotic features and discontinuities, where the
channels reduces noise
voxel amplitude values. Three output cubes are created upon ap- that exceed mere edges extent of which is determined by the user
the salt body
plying this attribute.

Physical attributes that reflects physical property contrast and Stratigraphic layering. High contrast
Relative Acoustic provides better tie to well domain for geological analysis: Assumes
Reveals discontinuities and improves structural
indicates possible sequence boundaries, Can differentiate between
zero phase data. Generated by integration of seismic trace and Reveals unconformity surfaces. Also provides better tie tight or shaly and good poros-
delineation
Impedance subsequent low cut filter to remove arbitrary long wavelength to lithology and can be ity limestone
trends related to porosity (non linear)

Derivative based attribute for stratigraphic and structural Provides information about the local orientation
Input for edge detection like variance as it is amplitude
Gradient Magnitude application: The gradient for each voxel is calculated analytically by field of the reflectors and its changes in the three
sensitive
Good stratigraphic and facies analysis discriminator Discriminates weak coherent noise.
the spatial derivatives in t/d, x and y directions directions

Local Structural Azimuth A measure of compass direction of the “normal” to the plane of Captures structural orientation. Also use a wrap-
Captures stratigraphic orientation
the local seismic event ping colour map
Event, Gradient, Principle component

Local Structural Dip A measure of the inclination of the seismic event measured from Captures structural dip. Also shows the dip orienta-
Define dipping direction of events Captures stratigraphic dip
Help identify channel
the horizontal plane tion of events edges
Event, Gradient, Principle component

Performs data smoothing by local averaging with a Gaussian

General smoothing. Increased signal/noise ratio for Estimating local signal magnitude Can illuminate “flat spots” or fluid con-
Structural Smoothing weighted averaging filter.
structural Interpretation
Use to remove noise from the data
(absolute amplitude) tacts
Use as input for variance, dip deviation or chaos

Data conditioning step

Provides increased layer continuity without sacrificing
Structural Smoothing Performs data smoothing by local averaging with a Gaussian
weighted averaging along flow surfaces following the local dip/ Enhance discontinuities vertical resolution Delineate channel edges
before generation of
variance attribute in Ant tracking
Options: dip guide, edge enhance azimuth Increased signal/noise ratio
workflow.

Original Amplitude The original amplitude of the seismic data

PATENTED
Indicator of open fractures if gas is
T* attenuation Frequency attenuation-based algorithm which compares Open Fracture indicator
present
Can indicate open ractures Can show gas presence
frequencies above and below selected points of analysis

Useful for identifying;

Identify stacked reefs and
Maps the “chaoticness” of the local seismic signal from statistical Faults and fractures Channel infill , Gas chimneys,
Chaos analysis of dip/azimuth estimate.
Delineate Salt extents
identification Reef internal texture, Sink holes, Salt diapir, Shale dia-
Channel infill useful for depiction of
karsting and fractures
per. Also a good discriminator for seismic facies analysis

Good stratigraphic indicator: Detection and mapping of

Maps the “flatness” of the local seismic signal, 3D. “Flatness” is the
Reef internal texture, Sink holes, Channel infill in partic- build-ups/reefs within
Local Flatness degree to which local reflectors are flat/planar (not necessarily Determines to which degree local orientation is planar
ular subtle features. Also a good discriminator for seis- Layer-cake depositional envi-
horizontal). mic facies analysis ronments.

Detect lithological changes,

Envelope Mainly represents the acoustic impedance contrast, hence
Sequence boundaries, Thin-bed tuning effects. Also
Detect bright spots. Also, AVO in combi-
reflectivity. Indicates the group, rather than phase component of nation with Reflection Intensity is useful
spatial correlation to
(Reflection Strength) the seismic wave propagation.
porosity and other lithologic variations
for (Near—Far) / Near

Bed thickness indicator and can detect

lateral changes in lithology laterally increasing instanta-
Fracture zone indicator, since fractures Hydrocarbon indicator by low frequency
Instantaneous Frequency Time derivative of the phase neous
may appear as lower frequency zones anomaly
frequency can indicate bed thinning or pinch outs. Can
also be a rock property indicator

Cosine of Instantaneous Continuity boundary of sediment at

Improves reflector continuity as it
Cosine function applied to the instantaneous phase Improves lateral continuity of layers does not contain amplitude infor-
salt face
Phase mation.

Discriminator for geometrical shape

Description of the phase angle at any instant along a trace
Continuity boundary of sediment at Can help when used in Good indicator of continuities, angular unconformities,
Instantaneous Phase independent of amplitude. It reveals weak and strong events with
salt face combination to isolate faults faults, pinch-outs,
equal strength
sequence boundaries, onlap patterns

Sign of the seismic trace where reflection strength has a local Can detect thick beds when May help distinguish different kinds of
Apparent Polarity maximum value seismic data is not too noisy .
Can enhance continuity of events
bright spots (due to gas, limestone..)

High pass filter enhances

High pass filter enhances
terminations and discontinuities for fault mapping. Show onlap and channel
Seismic data bandwidth filtering : Applies a bandwidth filter with terminations and Show onlap, truncations, Reduce frequencies from noisy
Graphic Equalizer frequency indexed weighting as per defined in the equalizer
Low pass filter enhances signal/noise to improve
discontinuities for fault unconformities
edges via frequency
seismic
seismic event continuity. filtering
mapping

Enhances low amplitude sections for

Vertical amplitude balancing using an RMS filter along a given improved horizon interpretation Boosts weak events but also boosts
Trace AGC window Drawback is that relative amplitude noise
information is lost

Useful for Stratigraphic analysis, facies

First derivative Time rate of change of the amplitude
estimation, QC interpretation (zero crossing)

Second derivative can be used to help

Second derivative measures the variation in the tangents of the guiding the pick by providing continuity in areas of
selected seismic amplitude, directly above and below the reflec- where reflections are poorly
Second derivative tion. High values indicate rapid shift from peak to trough (short
May enhance terminations and discontinuities
resolved on the raw amplitude may help resolve subtle
wavelength) stratigraphic patterns such as shingled/low angle pro-
grading fore-sets

Can help isolate chan- AVO in combination with Envelope is

Reflection Intensity Relates the energy of a seismic trace within a moving window Delineation of amplitudes while retaining frequencies
nels features
Karst delineation
useful for (Near—Far) / Near

A quality factor that is assigned based on the instantaneous Can be used for fracture Can be used for fracture Can indicate fluid content and absorp-
Instantaneous Quality envelope Detection detection tion character of a reservoir

Enables the balancing of amplitudes as a

Helps identify time dependant
Time Gain function of time. If the gain is >1 amplitudes will increase with time
weaknesses in seismic amplitudes
and if gain is <1 amplitudes will decrease with time

Can define channel edg- Inversion is effective for noise re- When combined with other inversion
Genetic inversion Neural Network approached inversion process. Better define lithology boundaries
es duction attributes such as Poisson’s ratio /Vp-Vs.

Square root of the sum of the squares of instantaneous frequency

Reveals spectral properties. Can identify features in low Changes in dominant frequency of an
Dominant Frequency and bandwidth.
frequencies event may be indicative of hydrocarbons
Reveals time varying spectral properties of the seismic

Can be used for channel

Classical attribute for hydrocarbon sand
Sweetness is the combination of envelope and instantaneous development especially
Sweetness frequency. Sweetness=Envelope/SQRT (Inst. Freq)
Can enhance subtle features Can help delineate subtle discontinuities Can enhance subtle features
when channels appear
detection (highly correlated with enve-
lope)
as sand bodies in shale

Salt Edge Detection Fracture Noise Hydrocarbon

Short Description and Meaning General Structural General Stratigraphic Channels Carbonates
Workflow (Structural) Indicator Reduction Indicator

Further Reading: Interpreter’s Guide to Seismic Attributes

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