Statistical Seismic Facies Estimation from Pseudo Impedance Data

Usual methods for facies classification are based on characteristics associated with variations in the shape and amplitude of the seismic pulse for the top or base of the seismic interval of interest. There are three drawbacks to this procedure: effects of overlapping adjacent pulses can interfere in the process, the estimation of the facies is linked to a geological discontinuity (interface) and not to the geological property (layer), and finally there is no explicit connection between the geological property and its seismic expression. The proposed method is based on identification of facies from seismic properties directly associated with the physical aspects of the rocks without interference from seismic pulse and can thus be consistent with the geological characteristics of different facies types.