Factors Affecting Data

Processing
Module 9

Factors Affecting Seismic Data

Processing

Learning Objectives
Awareness:
• Time/depth relationships
• Objectives of data processing
• Data processing workflows
• Optimum processing result

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Why Important

• Data processing techniques and flows

fundamentally affect interpretability

• Data processing can enhance incorrect

images or create false images

• Over the last ten years seismic processing

has become increasingly interpreter driven

• Seismic processing techniques can be

stretched beyond theoretical limits causing
incorrect interpretations
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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Time / Depth Relationship

• Seismic sections and cubes are displayed and interpreted in time

• Time cubes and sections contain distortions due to velocity
gradients and lateral velocity changes
• Structure maps from seismic are usually converted to depth at a
final stage of interpretation
• Well control (check shot surveys) provide most reliable
time/depth information
• Velocity determined from seismic data, even from the best
stacking velocity, is not very accurate. Accuracy decreases with
depth; and if one uses these velocity values to convert to depth,
there will always be some problems tying to the wells.

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Factors Affecting Data Time - to Depth Conversion
Processing

Input Data:
Time Section

Output Data:
Depth Section

Progressively Stretched

4
Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Data Processing Objectives

• The most important objective of seismic data processing is

to produce accurate, interpretable image of the subsurface.

• The processed seismic data should represent the true earth

response in amplitude, phase, and resolution.

• The processed image should contain accurate travel times

for trap definition, correct phase and amplitude for
reservoir and fluid property prediction, and optimal signal
to noise ratio, temporal resolution, and spatial resolution to
meet project objectives.

• Interpreters need to be knowledgeable and involved in

every phase of data processing.

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Factors Affecting Data Factors Affecting Seismic
Processing
Data Processing
• Seismic data processing objectives are strongly
affected by field data acquisition parameters.

• There is a mistaken impression that field

problems can be solved in the data processing
stages.

• Marine conditions strongly affect the quality of

the acquired data. Rough topography and land
surfaces degrade onshore data.

• Seismic data are usually collected under

conditions that are less than ideal.

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Factors Affecting Data Factors Affecting Seismic
Processing
Data Processing
• As with any other exploration tool, seismic method has its
limitations (i.e., the data resolution).

• We can improve the distribution of frequencies within the

band limit, but we cannot generate genuine frequencies
outside of this band.

• Near-surface properties play a critical role in the integrity of

data.

• Data processing is a part of the interpretation phase.

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Seismic Processing Definitions

• Gain - time variant trace scaling of amplitudes

• Trace Balancing - equalizing amplitude trace-to-trace
• Surface Consistent – separate source & receiver components
• NMO (NormalMoveOut) – difference in time between reflections on
zero and non-zero offset traces
• Stack – sum a number of traces together to improve signal level
relative to noise (after NMO correction)
• Wavelet – pulse shape for each reflection produces on a seismic
trace
• Deconvolution – a process that shapes a wavelet to a shorter,
simpler form
• Migration -- positions traces pre- or post-stack

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Seismic Processing Concepts

• Single trace versus multi-trace processes

• Deterministic versus statistical techniques
• Pre-stack versus post-stack processes
• Statics versus dynamics
• Primary versus residual corrections
• Model based

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Overview Of Data Processing Flows

• Each area must be treated as a unique case.

• Extensive testing is conducted in order to design the
proper parameters to apply to the seismic data.
• Prestack analyses such as filter and decon tests should
be conducted to study the frequency spectra.

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Overview Of Data Processing Flows

• Special problem tests are done, such as velocity filter and

multiple attenuation, before starting the routine flow of
processing.
• Near-surface statics can affect the velocities derived from
surface seismic data. A static solution should be reached,
statics should be applied to the sorted data, and velocities
should be run and repicked.

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Overview Of Data Processing Flows

• Selecting the proper front-end mute can be very important

in revealing shallow events.
• The type of gain applied is important in every stage of the
data-processing flow chart.
• At stack stage, post-stack filter and decon tests must be
done.

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Overview Of Data Processing Flows

There is no universal rule for processing a seismic line. A typical

land data processing sequence may include:

Stage 1.Field tapes

• Data reduction--demultiplex (if required) and cross-correlation(
Vibroseis data)
• Line geometry
• Prepare prestack analysis
• Decon, filter analysis, special problems tests
Stage 2.Common midpoint sort (gather)
• Prestack filter and/or decon applications if needed
• Special enhancement to improve signal-to-noise, if needed
• Application of elevation statics

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing Overview Of Data Processing Flows

Stage 3.Velocity analysis

• Velocity spectra-constant-velocity stack
• Design of front-end mute

Stage 4.Velocity applications

• Normal moveout corrections

Stage 5. Statics
• Refraction statics
• Surface-consistent residual statics
• Application of statics to sort
• Repeat velocity analysis with refined static
• Refined surface-consistent residual statics
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Factors Affecting Data
Processing Overview Of Data Processing Flows

Stage 6.Final stack

• Post-stack filter and decon tests
• Post-stack enhancement programs
• Migration
• Seismic inversion
• Special applications (e.g. attributes)

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Factors Affecting Data Land 3-D Processing Flow Chart
Processing
Refraction statics (optional)
Signal processing
parameter tests
filters, deconvolution, etc,
Initial velocity analysis
Interactive velocity pick,
iso-velocity, iso-time plots
Demultiplex/ Format
Conversion Display all shots
Geometry database
compute surface &
subsurface geometry
Define 3-D grid system <Patch Plots>
Update Trace Headers Source/rcvr location plots
from Database
Color attribute plots
CMP Sort & Datum Displays of LNMO corr.
Statics Computation first breaks - all shots
Preliminary Signal
Processing
Geometric Spreading
Correction, Gain,
Amplitude Comp., etc.
Brute stack Time slices
(regional velocities)
Display all lines,
<inline & crossline>,
and every
20th NMO’d CMP
A
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Factors Affecting Data Land 3-D Processing Flow
Processing
Display all lines, <inline
& crossline>, every 20th
NMO’d CMP rap &
gained
Second Velocity
Analysis
Interactive velocity pick,
iso-velocity, iso-time plots
A
Deconvolution
Surface consistent or trace-
to-trace
Display selected lines,
Deconvolution stack <inline & crossline>
Surface-consistent
amplitude scaling Bad trace
& spike delete
Time-variant spectral
* Warning! Lose Amplitude Fidelity
Whitening (optional)
Phase compensation Display all Lines
Preliminary Stack Time Slices
Near Trace Stacks
Residual Statics Color attribute plots
First Iteration
Displays of LNMO corr.
first breaks - all shots
B
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Factors Affecting Data Land 3-D Processing Flow
Processing
B
Optional Migration Velocity Residual Statics -
Analysis Second Iteration (optional)
Establish velocity field for
migration <Time Slices>
Residual Statics -
Third Iteration (optional) Near Trace Stacks
Interactive velocity pick,
iso-velocity, iso-time plots Color attribute plots
Normal Moveout Correction
final post-residual statics
Display all lines and
velocity field
every 20th NMO’d CMP

Dip Moveout
Common Offset or DMO Stack

Display all lines and every

20th NMO’d CMP Sort to CMP order
Post-DMO Velocity Analysis
Inverse NMO Establish DMO corrected
velocity field for final stack

Interactive velocity pick,

iso-velocity, iso-time plots

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Factors Affecting Data Land 3-D Processing Flow
Processing
C
Post-Stack Processing Display all lines and
Final Stack
TVF, gain, radial predictive filter, every 20th NMO’d CMP
RNA

Display all lines for QC Trace Interpolation Display all lines and Time
dip sensitive (optional) Slices
Film selected profiles

Final stack tape -

SEG Y or Landmark Migration Display all lines and Time
Extended Stolt, Cascaded Finite Slices
Difference

Post-Migration processing Display all lines

TVF, gain, radial predictive filter,
RNA
Film selected profiles Final Migration Tape
and Time Slices SEG Y or Landmark
QC Displays

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Marine 3-D Processing Flow

Demultiplex/ Format
Display all shots
Conversion

Geometry Database
compute surface & subsurface <Patch Plots>
geometry
Define 3-D grid system Source/rcvr location plots

Color attrib. plots

Update Trace Headers from Displays of LNMO
Database corrected first breaks -
Signal processing parameter all shots
tests CMP Sort
filters, deconvolution, etc,

Preliminary Signal Processing

Initial velocity analysis
Geometric Spreading
Correction, Gain, Amplitude
Compensation, etc.

Interactive velocity pick, iso-

velocity, iso-time plots Time slices
Brute stack
(regional velocities)
Display all lines,
<inline & crossline>, &
every 20th NMO’d CMP

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Marine 3-D Processing Flow
A
Display all lines, <inline &
crossline>, every 20th Pre-decon amplitude processing
NMO’d CMP rap & Bad trace & spike delete
gained

Deconvolution
Gapped, Surface consistent
Display selected lines,
inline & crossline,
Deconvolution stack

Time-variant spectral Whitening

* Warning! Lose Amplitude Fidelity
(optional)

Display all Lines

Phase compensation

Preliminary Stack Time Slices

Near Trace Stacks

Second Velocity Analysis Demultiple
(F-K/t-p) (Optional) Color attribute plots

Displays of LNMO corr.

first breaks - all shots
Interactive velocity pick, iso-
velocity, iso-time plots

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Marine 3-D Processing Flow
B

Normal Moveout Correction

final pre-DMO velocity field

Flex-Binning (Optional)

Dip Moveout
Common Offset or DMO Stack

Display all lines and every

20th NMO’d CMP Sort to CMP order Post-DMO Velocity Optional Migration Velocity
Analysis Analysis
Inverse NMO Establish DMO corrected Establish velocity field for
velocity field for stacking migration

Interactive velocity pick, iso- Interactive velocity pick, iso-

velocity, iso-time plots velocity, iso-time plots

Post-Stack Processing
TVF, gain, radial Final Stack Display all lines and
predictive filter, RNA every 20th NMO’d CMP

Display all lines for QC

Film selected profiles

Final stack tape -

SEG Y or Landmark

C 22
Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Marine 3-D Processing Flow
C

Trace Interpolation Display all lines and Time

dip sensitive (optional) Slices

Migration Display all lines and Time

Extended Stolt, Cascaded Finite Slices
Difference

Post-Migration processing Display all lines

TVF, gain, radial predictive filter,
RNA
Film selected profiles Final Migration Tape
and Time Slices SEG Y or Landmark
QC Displays

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing Discussion: Optimum Processing

• What is an optimum result?

• What assumptions drive ideal processing?
• What are some real world deviations from ideal?
• How do deviations and violations of
assumptions affect interpretation results?

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Which is the ideal result?

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Factors Affecting Data
Processing
Summary

• Seismic data provides earth images based on the strength and

arrival time of reflected sound waves
• Accurate velocities are required to determine the depths of
subsurface reflectors
• Velocities derived from seismic data are often unsuitable for
converting to depth
• An optimum earth image is the goal of seismic processing
• Processing flows give the general order of processing steps
• Parameters are sometimes a matter of interpretation and goals
• Vertical and horizontal resolution, S/N, reflection amplitude
fidelity, etc. define the optimum image
• The field acquisition of the raw seismic data may be the factor
that limits the processed results
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