Application of Structural Geology in Seismic Interpretation

Course Duration: 5 days, including lecture-based modules and hands-on exercises

Who Should Attend: Geologists and Geophysicists, Reservoir Engineers, and Exploration/Production Managers

Course Summary: Seismic interpretation requires understanding of structural development and its interrelation with the stratigraphic system. Bias and misunderstanding have unfortunately resulted in countless dry holes. So go beyond tracing horizons and understand their context within the structural system by extracting key information from seismic surveys and other datasets.

You will learn a variety of modern structural concepts and techniques and their role in the interpretation of seismic data. Using an applied “hands-on” approach, participants will be exposed to a diversity of worldwide case examples with complementary exercises, both of an individual and group nature.

Course is designed from an applied standpoint, with numerous examples and hands-on exercises from the petroleum industry.

You Will Learn To:

• Go beyond tracing horizons and marking faults and truly understand the structural and stratigraphic system.
• Understand the role of tectonics and deformation in the formation of various types and orientations of geologic structures.
• Understand the interaction of the structural system with the stratigraphic and sedimentologic environment for better prediction of reservoir formation.
• Integrate data from the large seismic scale to subseismic scale, including seismic anisotropy, to understand better the overall petroleum system.
• Be aware of the common pitfalls of interpretation.

General Outline:

• Welcome and Introduction
  • Pre-Training Interpretation Exercises
• Strain Concepts
  • Understanding the deformation environment
  • Force, Stress, and Strain/Deformation
  • Strain ellipse concepts
    • Exploration example
  • Rock mechanics
  • Modes of failure
• General Seismic Interpretation
  • General principles of seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation
  • Seismic versus well resolution
  • 2D interpretation techniques and pitfalls
  • 3D interpretation techniques and pitfalls
  • Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Applications
    • Seismic Attributes for Structural Analysis

• • Amplitude analysis
  • Dominant attributes for structural interpretation
    • Coherency; edge displays; derivative maps; residual analysis; curvature analysis

• Faults

• • Fracturing and Faulting
  • Slip vs. separation and their quantification
  • Normal faults and associated tectonic/nontectonic environments
  • Reverse faults and associated tectonic/nontectonic environments
  • Strike-slip faults and associated tectonic/nontectonic environments
  • Displacement analysis
  • Subseismic fault prediction
  • Fault restoration
  • Seismic pitfalls

• Folds

• • General fold concepts
  • Modes/styles of folding
  • Folds and associated tectonic/nontectonic environments
  • Closure mapping and quantification
  • Fold restoration

• Fracture ID

• • Seismic anisotropy analysis
  • Fracture mapping
  • Well data integration

• Borehole Seismology and Structural Interpretation

• • A review of borehole seismic measurements and techniques
    • Acoustic logs, wellbore seismic (e.g., VSP, cross-well, seismic MWD, bit-noise seismic)

• Growth Analysis

• • Understanding and quantifying syndeformational growth sedimentation
  • Growth in extensional, compressional, and other structural regimes

• Fault Seal Analysis

• • Understanding and quantifying aspects of fault seal

• Balancing and Restoration

• • Balancing techniques, structural modeling, and restoration

During each day there will be Multiple Exercises and Integrative Case Studies.