Seismic attributes — A historical perspective

Abstract

A seismic attribute is a quantitative measure of a seismic characteristic of interest. Analysis of attributes has been integral to reflection seismic interpretation since the 1930s when geophysicists started to pick traveltimes to coherent reflections on seismic field records. There are now more than 50 distinct seismic attributes calculated from seismic data and applied to the interpretation of geologic structure, stratigraphy, and rock/pore fluid properties. The evolution of seismic attributes is closely linked to advances in computer technology. As examples, the advent of digital recording in the 1960s produced improved measurements of seismic amplitude and pointed out the correlation between hydrocarbon pore fluids and strong amplitudes (“bright spots”). The introduction of color printers in the early 1970s allowed color displays of reflection strength, frequency, phase, and interval velocity to be overlain routinely on black-and-white seismic records. Interpretation workstations in the 1980s provided interpreters with the ability to interact quickly with data to change scales and colors and to easily integrate seismic traces with other information such as well logs. Today, very powerful computer workstations capable of integrating large volumes of diverse data and calculating numerous seismic attributes are a routine tool used by seismic interpreters seeking geologic and reservoir engineering information from seismic data. In this review paper celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, we reconstruct the key historical events that have lead to modern seismic attribute analysis.

Marine substrate response from the analysis of seismic attributes in CHIRP sub-bottom profiles

“…The analysis of Seismic Attributes as part of seismic reflection profile interpretation has been used since the 1920s (CHOPRA; MARFURT, 2005) and their evolution and proliferation are closely related to the development and advance of computer technology, as in the digitization of records and introduction of color scales. The same authors also noted that seismic attributes can be considered a good tool for visualization, classification, identification and interpretation of seismic records.…”

“…Instantaneous attributes were developed around the 80s as a way of calculating the potential energy component by developing a proceeding to calculate the seismic trace envelope (CHOPRA; MARFURT, 2005). Also called complex seismic trace analysis, instantaneous attributes are composed of a real and an imaginary part that constitute the seismic signal.…”

“…The imaginary component is calculated using a special type of Fourier transformation (TANER et al, 1979). Using the Instantaneous Amplitude it is possible to obtain information on the intensity of the reflection, which is sensitive to changes in acoustic impedance, lithology and porosity (CHOPRA; MARFURT, 2005). Instantaneous Frequency provides information on the abnormal attenuation and layer thickness (CHOPRA; MARFURT, 2005).…”

Revealing the Strike-slip Fault Planes in the Persian Gulf

“…Only few of the seismic attributes, such as similarity, curvature, dip and azimuth, are particularly useful in mapping structure and shape of geological features of interest. This geometrical attributes that are of interest for fault characterization, presents a different insight into the faults (Chopra & Marfurt 2007).…”

Noncontact Measurement and Detection of Instantaneous Seismic Attributes Based on Complementary Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition

“…Instantaneous seismic attributes are being widely used in seismic prospecting [25][26][27], mainly including instantaneous amplitude, instantaneous frequency and instantaneous phase. Tanner et al firstly applied the analytic signal to construct the seismic trace to get instantaneous attributes [28].…”