How to interpret seismic data to understand the structure and composition of the Earth's interior.
Seismic waves: Understanding the different types of seismic waves and how they propagate through different media is essential. The two most commonly studied waves are P-waves and S-waves.
Waveform interpretation: Analyzing the shape, amplitude, and frequency of seismic waveforms as they travel through rocks can help identify the type of rock and its composition.
Seismic attributes: Advanced techniques that involve analyzing and interpreting secondary features of seismic data such as frequency, amplitude, and phase. These attributes can help locate hydrocarbons, lithology, porosity, and geological features.
Geologic structures: Understanding how geological structures form, such as folds and faults, can help locate potential hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Stratigraphy: Examining the layers of rock formed over geological time and understanding the relationships between them provides vital information about the subsurface geology.
Rock properties: Core analysis and well log interpretation are used to study the properties of rocks such as their porosity, permeability, and lithology.
Depth conversion: Converting seismic data from time domain to depth is critical to accurately interpret the subsurface geology.
Seismic survey design: The planning and execution of seismic surveys to obtain high-quality data is essential.
Velocity modeling: Building a robust velocity model is essential to achieve accurate depth conversion of seismic data.
Data processing: The application of various processing techniques and workflows to improve the quality and spatial resolution of seismic data.
Risk analysis: Evaluating the potential risks of drilling and exploration in a specific area by analyzing the available geological and geophysical data.
Uncertainty analysis: Assessing the level of uncertainty in interpreting seismic data and identifying potential sources of uncertainty.
Reservoir characterization: Utilizing seismic data to construct models of reservoir properties such as the distribution of hydrocarbons, porosity, and permeability.
Reservoir engineering: The application of engineering principles to optimize oil and gas production from reservoirs.
Well planning: The selection and design of drilling locations and trajectories based on seismic data interpretation and other geophysical measurements.
Reflection seismology: This type of seismic interpretation uses reflected seismic waves that are bounced back to the surface from deep within the Earth to create an image of subsurface structures.
Refraction seismology: This method uses refracted seismic waves to determine the velocity and depth of various geological layers.
Surface wave seismology: It interprets the seismic waves at the Earth's surface that are caused by natural or human-made events, such as earthquakes or explosions.
Seismic tomography: Using multiple sources and receivers, this method creates a three-dimensional image of the subsurface by analyzing seismic wave velocities and travel times.
Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW): It uses surface wave seismology to create a three-dimensional model of the subsurface and determine the shear wave velocity profile.
Seismic inversion: It uses inverse modeling techniques to interpret seismic data and create a subsurface model with physical properties like velocity or density.
Full waveform inversion: It analyzes the full waveform of seismic data to create a more detailed model, which includes subsurface variations in both velocity and elastic properties.
Seismic attribute analysis: It involves analyzing the attributes of seismic data, such as amplitude, frequency, and phase, to discover anomalies in the subsurface and estimate properties.
Seismic stratigraphy: It interprets the subsurface stratigraphy, including the different layers or rock formations, from seismic data.
Seismic imaging: Using geophysical techniques, it creates a visual representation of subsurface structures and geologic features.