Spectral Decomposition

Long Window Analysis

The geology is unpredictable.
Its reflectivity spectrum is therefore white/blue.

Long Window Analysis

Wavelet
w(t)

Noise
n(t)

Amplitude

Amplitude

Seismic Trace
s(t)

Travel Time

Reflectivity
r(t)

TIME
DOMAIN

Amplitude
Frequency

Frequency

FREQUENCY
DOMAIN

Frequency

Amplitude

Frequency

Fourier Transform

Short Window Analysis

The non-random geology locally filters the
reflecting wavelet.
Its non-white reflectivity spectrum represents the
interference pattern within the short analysis
window.

Short Window Analysis

Wavelet
w(t)

Noise
n(t)

Amplitude

Amplitude

Seismic Trace
s(t)

Travel Time

Reflectivity
r(t)

TIME
DOMAIN

Amplitude
Frequency

Frequency

FREQUENCY
DOMAIN

Frequency

Amplitude

Frequency

Fourier Transform

Wavelet
Overprint

Spectral Interference
The spectral interference pattern is imposed by
the distribution of acoustic properties within the
short analysis window.

Spectral Interference

Source Wavelet
Amplitude Spectrum

Source
Wavelet

Reflected Thin Bed

Wavelets Reflection

Thin Bed Reflection

Amplitude Spectrum
Amplitude

Fourier
Transform

Fourier
Transform

Frequency

Frequency

Amplitude

1
Temporal Thickness

Acoustic Reflectivity
Impedance

Thin Bed

Temporal Thickness

The Tuning Cube

y
x
z

3-D Seismic Volume

Interpret
y
x

Interpreted
3-D Seismic Volume

Subset

Zone-of-Interest
Subvolume

y
x
z

Compute
Zone-of-Interest
Tuning Cube
(cross-section view)

y
x
freq

Animate
Frequency Slices
through Tuning Cube
(plan view)

y
x
freq

Prior to Spectral Balancing

The Tuning Cube contains three main
components:
thin bed interference,
the seismic wavelet, and
random noise

Tuning Cube
y
x
freq

y
x
freq

Multiply

Thin Bed Interference

y
x
freq

Seismic Wavelet

Add

y
x
freq

Noise

Short Window Analysis

Wavelet
w(t)

Noise
n(t)

Amplitude

Amplitude

Seismic Trace
s(t)

Travel Time

Reflectivity
r(t)

TIME
DOMAIN

Amplitude
Frequency

Frequency

FREQUENCY
DOMAIN

Frequency

Amplitude

Frequency

Fourier Transform

Wavelet
Overprint

Spectral Balancing
Tuning Cube

y
x
freq

Split Spectral Tuning Cube

into Discrete Frequencies
Frequency Slices
through Tuning Cube
(plan view)

Frequency 1
y
x

Frequency 2

y
x

y
x

Frequency 3
y
x

Frequency 4

Frequency n

y
x

Independently Normalize
Each Frequency Map
Spectrally Balanced
Frequency Slices
through Tuning Cube
(plan view)

Frequency 1
y
x

Frequency 2

y
x

y
x

Frequency 3
y
x

Frequency 4

Frequency n

y
x

Gather Discrete Frequencies

into Tuning Cube
y

Spectrally Balanced x
freq
Tuning Cube

After Spectral Balancing

The Tuning Cube contains two main
components:
thin bed interference, and
random noise

Tuning Cube
y
x
freq

y
x
freq

Thin Bed Interference

Add

y
x
freq

Noise

Real Data Example

Gulf-of-Mexico, Pleistocene-age equivalent of the
modern-day Mississippi River Delta.

Response Amplitude

Channel A
Fault-Controlled Channel
Amplitude
1

Point Bar

Channel B
Gulf of Mexico Example

10,000 ft

analysis window length = 100ms

Tuning Cube, Amplitude at Frequency = 16 hz

Channel A
North-South Extent
of Channel A Delineation

Fault-Controlled Channel
Amplitude
1

Point Bar

Channel B
Gulf of Mexico Example

10,000 ft

analysis window length = 100ms

Tuning Cube, Amplitude at Frequency = 26 hz

Channel A
North-South Extent
of Channel A Delineation

Fault-Controlled Channel
Amplitude
1

Point Bar

Channel B
Gulf of Mexico Example

10,000 ft

analysis window length = 100ms

Heywhat about the phase?

Amplitude spectra delineate thin bed variability
via spectral notching.
Phase spectra delineate lateral discontinuities via
phase instability.

Amplitude Spectrum

Thin Bed Reflection

Phase Spectrum
Phase
Frequency

Fourier
Transform

Frequency

Amplitude

Response Phase

Faults
Phase
180

-180

Gulf of Mexico Example

10,000 ft

Tuning Cube, Phase at Frequency = 16 hz

Faults
Phase
180

-180

Gulf of Mexico Example

10,000 ft

analysis window length = 100ms

Tuning Cube, Phase at Frequency = 26 hz

Faults
Phase
180

-180

Gulf of Mexico Example

10,000 ft

analysis window length = 100ms

Summary
Spectral decomposition uses the discrete Fourier
transform to quantify thin-bed interference and
detect subtle discontinuities.
For reservoir characterization, our most common
approach to viewing and analyzing spectral
decompositions is via the Zone-of-Interest Tuning
Cube.
Spectral balancing removes the wavelet
overprint.
The amplitude component excels at quantifying
thickness variability and detecting lateral
discontinuities.
The phase component detects lateral