Visualization techniques for enhancing stratigraphic inferences from 3D seismic data volumes

Tracy J. Stark, Stark Reality, describes some techniques that he has been developing to visualize bed thickness as a function of relative geologic time using spectral decomposition, ColorStacks, Age volumes, and Seismic-Wheeler volumes. Data visualization techniques allow interpreters to integrate more types of data and extract more usable and pertinent information in significantly less time. It often requires, as in this case, the application of special hardware, software, and display solutions, coupled with experience and proper training. It is helping the interpreters meet the ‘I want it all, I want it now, and I want it right!’ roar of their boss or investors. The ultimate goal is to recognize and convey the maximum amount of geologic information in a minimum amount of time. We want to clearly see what had previously been unseen. This paper makes a few assumptions. First, it assumes that you, the interpreter, would like to see how bed thickness varies, not just as a function of inline, crossline, and travel time, but also as a function of relative geologic time. In other words, along a continuous set of seismic horizons. Second, spectral decomposition, to first order, provides information containing relative bed thickness. Third, the Age volume contains adequate information to convert seismic travel time to relative geologic time. And fourth, it assumes you are not colour blind. Spectral decomposition, Color- Stacks, Age volumes and Seismic-Wheeler volumes have all been described independently in the literature (references later). This is the first time they have all been brought together. Briefly: A ColorStack is where you ‘stack’ data using additive colour instead of additive numbers. With a trained eye, you can see both the forest and the trees using a ColorStack. An Age volume is a seismic volume that contains an estimate of geologic age instead of bandlimited reflectivity. A Seismic-Wheeler volume is a three-dimensional Wheeler diagram (or chronostratigraphic chart) showing the spatial seismic response (or lack thereof during hiatuses) as a function of relative geologic time. For those wanting the bottom line now, jump to Figure 12. It contains colour-coded thicknesses for just a few of a continuous set of relative geologic age horizons: reds represent thicker beds, blues represent thinner beds, while solid grey represents a hiatus (either erosional or non-deposition).