Practical Seismic Interpretation by Michael E. Badley

Abstract

vi 4-266 pp. Price $62.00.The art of interpreting seismic reflection data is an interesting mix of physical science and geologic intuition. Successful interpretation of seismic data requires experience, a solid geologic understanding of the area being investigated, and an appreciation of data acquisition and processing issues. In Practical Seismic Interpretation, Michael Badley presents an introduction to the geological aspects of interpretation, writing primarily for the inexperienced interpreter working in hydrocarbon exploration. While this volume contains many interesting seismic data examples, some distinct weaknesses make this an uneven overview of a complex subject.After a brief introduction outlining seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation, the book is organized as follows: Chaps. 2 and 3 cover fundamental seismic reflection theory and the common data problems of noise and velocity distortion; Chap. 4 discusses the reflection response of some basic geologic features; Chap. 5 covers the seismic expression of geologic structures such as faults and folds; Chaps. 6 and 7 give an overview of the many different types of data that support a seismic interpretation and describe one approach to the mechanics of interpreting a survey; Chap. 8 describes the preparation of structural maps from interpreted seismic sections; and finally, Chap. 9 contains a valuable collection of questions and answers.Badley's volume is packed with examples of the diverse types of geology revealed by the seismic reflection method. Many seismic sections are shown with and without interpretation, and several examples concern noise problems that interpreters must confront. The wealth of visual material, along with a step-by-step description of the mechanics of seismic interpretation, are the strongest points of this book for those unfamiliar with seismic interpretation. The final section of questions is thought-provoking and lends further insight into the material in preceding chapters. This volume, however, has a number of serious shortcomings. Although Badley states that the book is not intended as a comprehensive discussion of the seismic reflection method, his discussion of seismic data processing is particularly weak. The quality of data processing is crucial to the image finally presented for intrepretation, but Badley outlines the standard data processing sequence in less than a page (plus subsequent short discussions of individual issues). One is left with the impression that data processing can be neatly treated as a separate subject, and that all the interpreter need do is learn the rules of decyphering the processed traces. In fact, a significant trend of the last decade has been to integrate the once-separate stages of seismic reflection surveys; data acquisition, processing, and interpretation need to be carefully coordinated in order to understand the more subtle targets of exploration. The interpretation of seismic data also requires understanding the geologic framework of the area being explored. While Badle...

Comparison of seismic reflection data to a synthetic seismogram in a volcanic apron at Site 953

“…This raises the question of the vertical resolution of the seismic data. Badley (1985) states that an interbedded layer has to be thicker than half the seismic wavelength to enable resolution of its top and base. Thinner layers appear as one single reflector with a maximum amplitude at one-quarter wavelength-the tuning thickness.…”

Petroleum system of Srikail gas field using sequence stratigraphy

“…Mis-tie correction which includes seismic to seismic tie using bulk time shift and seismic to well tie Mis-ties commonly occur when data of different phases, rather than uniformly zerophase data, are interpreted together, or data that have different data corrections are tied (Badley 1985). Mis-ties are corrected by seismic to seismic tie using bulk time shift and seismic to well tie in this work.…”

High-resolution reservoir characterization by seismic inversion with geological constraints

“…From Figure 4.6 we can observe that layers with thicknesses down to 1/10 th of the source wavelength (≈ 40 m) are well resolved. This is substantially smaller than the classical resolution of one-quarter of the wavelength (Badley, 1985).…”

“…This seriously limits the minimum layer thickness that still can be discerned in the seismic image. According to Widess (1973) and Badley (1985), the theoretical vertical resolution of seismic data is approximately a quarter of the wavelength.…”