Multi-Channel Seismic Processing and Interpretation
Geosciences 558 (4 credits)
Fall 1999
Instructors: Charles Langston
440 Deike Building
865-0083
cal@geosc.psu.edu
Peter B. Flemings
442 Deike Building
865-2309
flemings@geosc.psu.edu
(to make an appointment with Flemings please email either Nancy Levitsky
(
Office Hours: By appointment
Schedule: Lecture MWF 11:15 12:05 004 Deike
Lab 338 Deike
Website: http://hydro.geosc.psu.edu/Sed_html/seis_class.html
Textbook: Sheriff, R.E. and Geldart, L.P., 1995, Exploration Seismology, 2nd. Ed.,
Cambridge University Press. (8 copies at PSU bookstore)
Optional Texts: Tearpock, D.J. & Bischke, R.E., 1991, Applied Subsurface Geological Mapping,
Prentice Hall, Engelwood Cliffs, NJ. (8 copies at PSU bookstore)
[Anyone who is interested in learning how to make good subsurface maps should purchase this book]
Tearpock, D.J., Bischke, R.E., & Brewton, J.L., 1994, Quick Look Techniques for
Prospect Evaluation, Subsurface Consultants & Associates, Inc., Lafayette, LA.
Yilmaz, O., 1987, Seismic Data Processing, Society of Exploration Geophysicists,
Tulsa, OK. [this is the bible of mcs processing]
EMS Library: One copy of each text & copies of additional references will be placed on reserve in
the EMS library.
Grading Policy:
All assignments must be completed neatly and on time. Late assignments will not be tolerated; they will be entered as a 0 in the grade book. Only under extraordinary circumstances and with acceptable notification will late assignments be accepted.
Grades will be based on:
(1) Homework Assignments 20%
(2) Lab Assignments 30%
(3) Brute Stack 10%
(4) Mid-term Project 20%
(5) Final Project 20%
Overview:
Multi-channel seismic data interpretation is the standard tool for imaging the earths shallow interior. It is used in both applied and fundamental fields such as petroleum exploration, environmental imaging, sedimentary basin research, and the study of crustal tectonics. The course will cover the basics of seismic energy propagation in the earth, modern 2D and 3D multi-channel seismic data acquisition methods, and data processing (including deconvolution, filtering, stacking, and migration). Interpretation will be accomplished on shot-records, stacked sections, and migrated sections. The interpretation component will include an introduction to mapping (stratigraphic and structural) and visualization with 2D and 3D seismic data.
The class will take a problem-based approach by requiring the students to process data as part of the course. Specifically, students will progressively manipulate seismic data from the Bullwinkle Field (donated by Shell Offshore, Inc.) throughout the semester. In the latter part of the course, students will interpret their processed 2D data and then have the opportunity to interpret 3D seismic data over the same field. The sequence of "data acquisition" through "interpretation" will be taught with emphasis on standard exploration-industry techniques. At the close of the course, students will present their final interpretation product in oral and written formats. A key part of the class is the use of the Applied Geophysics Instructional Facility (AGIF) where the data will be processed and interpreted using Landmark software (ProMAX and SeisWorks).
This course is intended for upper lever undergraduate students and graduate students both within and outside the Department of Geosciences. It is intended to be an introductory course aimed at providing a basic understanding of the multi-channel seismic technique. It is directed toward geoscientists who will ultimately work in seismic interpretation, engineers who will work with geoscientists and geophysicists, and as an introductory course for geophysicists with a deeper interest in seismology. We have found that the course often motivates both students to pursue more depth in seismology (for example, seismology, time-series analysis, signal processing, etc.). We do not require a background other than partial differential equations (PDEs).
This course is supported by Shell Offshore Incorporated, Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, and Landmark Graphics Corporation.
Syllabus
Weeks 1-10: Langston, Instructor
Weeks 11-16: Flemings Instructor
Week 1 Introduction
Wednesday 8/25 Introduction, schedule lab, wave theory (HW)
Thursday 8/26 Lab (meet in 444 Deike) - Seismic data acquisition lab
Friday 8/27 Wave propagation theory - Seismic waves, rays
Week 2 Seismic Waves
Monday 8/30 Wave propagation theory - reflection, transmission
Tuesday 8/31 Lab - Understanding seismic waves (Matlab)
Wednesday 9/1 Seismic sources
Thursday 9/2 Lab - work period
Friday 9/3 Acquisition geometry and terminology (HW)
Week 3 Acquisition Geometry
Monday 9/6 Labor Day holiday - No class
Tuesday 9/7 Lab - Understanding acquisition geometry (Matlab)
Wednesday 9/8 Acquisition geometry - Continue (HW)
Thursday 9/9 Lab - work period
Friday 9/10 Lab - Continue (Matlab)
Week 4 Time Series Analysis
Monday 9/13 Introduction to Fourier transforms, Fourier series
Tuesday 9/14 Lab - Fourier transforms, spectral/time domains (Matlab)
Wednesday 9/15 Sampling, convolution, deconvolution (HW)
Thursday 9/16 Lab - Convolution, deconvolution (Matlab)
Field Trip - 3D Land survey in Texas
Friday 9/17 Depart State College early AM, arrive Texas late PM
Saturday 9/18 3D seismic survey in Texas
Sunday 9/19 Depart Texas early AM, arrive State College late PM
Week 5 NMO
Monday 9/20 NMO
Tuesday 9/21 Lab - Brute Stack - First image from the 2-D data (ProMAX) (Langston away)
Wednesday 9/22 Lab - Continue (ProMAX) (Langston away)
Thursday 9/23 Lab - work period (Langston away)
Friday 9/24 Lab - Continue (ProMAX) (Langston away)
Week 6 Time Series Analysis
Monday 9/27 Filtering
Tuesday 9/28 Lab - Filtering, synthetic seismograms (Matlab)
Wednesday 9/29 Filtering - resolution
Thursday 9/30 Lab - work period
Friday 10/1 Lab - Continue filtering (Matlab)
Week 7 Filter the Data
Monday 10/4 Correlation
Tuesday 10/5 Lab - 2D data filtering and stacking (ProMAX)
Wednesday 10/6 Preparation for data processing (Flemings away)
Thursday 10/7 Lab - Continue (ProMAX) (Flemings away)
Friday 10/8 Lab - work period (ProMAX) (Flemings away; Dugan away)
Week 8 Velocity Analysis
Monday 10/11 Fall Break - No class
Tuesday 10/12 Fall Break - No class
Wednesday 10/13 Velocity analysis
Thursday 10/14 Lab - Velocity analysis of the 2D data (ProMAX)
Friday 10/15 Migration theory
Week 9 Migration
Monday 10/18 Lab - Stacked section (ProMAX) (Langston away)
Tuesday 10/19 Lab - Continue (ProMAX) (Langston away)
Wednesday 10/20 Lab - Continue (ProMAX) (Langston away)
Thursday 10/21 Lab - work period
Friday 10/22 Migration theory; Final Stack w/o Migration due (50% of midterm)
Week 10 Produce a Migrated 2D Section
Monday 10/25 Lab - Work on data (ProMAX)
Tuesday 10/26 Lab - Continue (ProMAX)
Wednesday 10/27 Lab Continue (ProMAX)
Thursday 10/28 Lab work period
Friday 10/29 Written mid-term project due (50% of midterm)
Week 11
Monday 11/1 Making a Structure Map/Contouring/Etc.
Tuesday 11/2 Lab - Introduction to making maps - 2D hand drawn structure maps
Wednesday 11/3 What are you Mapping?: Petrophysics: rock and fluid properties 1
Thursday 11/4 Lab - work period
Friday 11/5 Petrophysics: Rock and Fluid Properties 2 (HW)
Week 12
Monday 11/8 Rock Properties: sands, shales
Tuesday 11/9 Lab - 2D computer-generated structure maps (SeisWorks)
Wednesday 11/10 Pore fluids and acoustic properties (HW)
Thursday 11/11 Lab - work period
Friday 11/12 Lab - Continue (SeisWorks)
Week 13
Monday 11/15 The Convolution Model: wireline to seismic tie
Tuesday 11/16 Lab - 3D mapping (SuperSeisWorks)
Wednesday 11/17 Wavelet Phase
Thursday 11/18 Lab - work period
Friday 11/19 Tuning effects in seismic imaging
Week 14
Monday 11/22 Core concepts of 3 D mapping - structure
Tuesday 11/23 Lab - Continue (SuperSeisWorks)
Wednesday 11/24 Core concepts of mapping - structure and stratigraphy
Thursday 11/25 Thanksgiving - No class
Friday 11/26 Thanksgiving - No class
Week 15
Monday 11/29 Amplitude analysis and hydrocarbon trapping
Tuesday 11/30 Lab - Continue (SuperSeisWorks)
Wednesday 12/1 Fault plane mapping and other 3D mapping techniques
Thursday 12/2 Lab - work period
Friday 12/3 Lab - Continue (SuperSeisWorks)
Week 16
Monday 12/6 Mapping (SuperSeisWorks)
Wednesday 12/8 Mapping (SuperSeisWorks)
Thursday 12/9 Mapping (SuperSeisWorks)
Friday 12/10 Written final project due (Last Day of Classes)
Finals Week
Project presentations at time to be decided