Detecting Subtle Stratigraphic and Structural Features in Deep Water Reservoirs Using 3D Image Processing Techniques

This paper discusses some important aspects of 3D-seismic reservoir characterization for deep-water facies in southwestern Atlantic margin, using many of the latest industrial algorithms for detection of subtle stratigraphic and structural features, applied to seismic volumes. Features that are direct related to local geologic factors on the controlling of turbidite depositions in a deep-water setting. <br>A basic workflow for a 3D-seismic attributes selection during a seismic reservoir characterization is suggested, in which the choice of the seismic attribute to be used will be intrinsically dependent of the quality of the data; the kind of geological feature to be detected and the knowledge of the attribute itself, to be used for enhancement and detection of the sedimentary targets.<br>3D-image processing techniques applied on the post stack data includes, structural oriented noise cancellation filter, calculations of dip and azimuth cubes, fault detection algorithm and elementary cube mathematics. Different seismic attributes were selected and combined to extract qualitative information on subtle faults. <br>