MONOGRAPH SERIES Paul C. Wuenschel, Editor NUMBER 2 PITFALLS IN SEISMIC INTERPRETATION By Paul M. Tucker, 2sso Production Research Co. (Retired) Howard J. Yorston, #sso Production Research Co. Edited by John C. Hollister SOCIETY OF EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICISTS ISBN 0.951830-11-7©1973 by The Society of Exploration Geophysi Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 73-84680 Society of Exploration Geophysicists P.O. Box 702740 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74170-2740 CONTENTS Foreword Preface Introduction ‘Summary Table Velocity Pi Example 1— Basinward Thinning Example 2— Fault Shadow (Normal) Example $— Fault Shacow (Reversed) Example 4 — Vertical Fault Example 5— Shale Flowage Example 6 — Salt Flowage Example 7, 8— Reefs Example 9— Channels Example 10—Near-Surface Velocity Anomaly Example 12—Syr Example 13 — Intrusion 15 — Sideswipe Examples 19, 20— Normal Mi Example 21 — Inverted Mul Example 22— Multiple or Example 23 — Structure or eloty? Summary_ FOREWORD PREFACE ‘Those fortunate enough to hear the unique and delightful verbal presentation of jon are concealed within seemingly straight- lls are dug by nature and some are of our own ‘may be classified into three groups: those related iy, those related to the geometry of the reflectors, and those related to the processing, and playback of the seismic data, of which was pleasant. This work the profession but by the newcomers as they ‘a well-ordered system and that the seismic wisdom is born of experi appreciated not only by the hin small, deep, intermon- tane basins, or along continental margins, a false indication of basinward thinning es observed. Of greater concern is the abrupt change in velocity due to an abrupt structural change: the fault which creates false reversals, the reef with Professor Emeritus, Colorado Schoo! of Mines its underlying “high,” the surface or seafloor irregularity with its coincidental sub- Honorary Member and Former President depth seetion can be used to avoid these pitfalls, providing it is Society of Exploration Geophysicists it can turn ructure on. ‘The geometry or shape of the reflecting surface is equally trick. synelines into anticlines, reverse the throw of faults, superimpose one another by sideswipe, and create a diffraction-anticline Our ymputer-derived. The recording and playback can distort both the raphy. Here real structures can be j suppressed, false bedding created, faults smeared, and all of the geology lost. Only through constant rapport between the geolog interpreter, and the processing en- these recording and playback errors be avoided, led to these errors, then land their seismic expressions to explain their origin, and finally tests for spotting the pitfalls. PMT. HUY,