Interactive interpretation—a marriage of science and art

During the years since the introduction of digital recording and signal processing methods, the geophysicist has held the technical centre stage. During this period, the interpreter has received the benefit of better sections, but the methods and tools available to him have not altered significantly. With the decline in the cost of computing, and the advent of graphics processors, the interpreter finally has the benefits of computer technology at his disposal. This paper describes the use of a colour video system for structural and stratigraphic interpretation, and indicates how these capabilities will expand to combine lithologic and borehole data with the seismic information. The system is easy to use and manages the data for the interpreter, thus allowing him to spend a larger proportion of his time on the conjectural process of interpretation itself. Features of the system that aid this process include horizon tracking and structural flattening to simulate the structural configuration during deposition. Fault correlation and loop tying are also significantly simplified when using the system. The result is an interpretation that can be produced confidently and quickly, as compared to existing methods. Extension of these systems to the reconciliation of seismic, borehole and lithologic information will enhance the interpreter’s art significantly.