Moveout (seismic)

Test Your Knowledge

Quiz: Moveout - Deciphering the Echoes of Oil and Gas

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What does "moveout" refer to in seismic data interpretation?

a) The distance between the source of the seismic wave and the geophone. b) The difference in arrival times of reflected seismic data at different detectors. c) The depth of the reflecting interface. d) The velocity of seismic waves in the subsurface.

2. How does the depth of a reflecting interface affect moveout?

a) Deeper reflections result in smaller moveout. b) Deeper reflections result in larger moveout. c) Depth has no influence on moveout. d) Deeper reflections result in faster arrival times.

3. Which of the following is NOT a reason why understanding moveout is crucial?

a) Depth estimation of potential oil and gas reservoirs. b) Determining the velocity of seismic waves in the subsurface. c) Identifying the type of rock formations. d) Creating a clear and accurate image of the subsurface.

4. What is the most common type of moveout?

a) Dip Moveout (DMO) b) Normal Moveout (NMO) c) Lateral Moveout (LMO) d) Vertical Moveout (VMO)

5. Which type of moveout accounts for the effects of the angle of the reflector?

a) Normal Moveout (NMO) b) Dip Moveout (DMO) c) Lateral Moveout (LMO) d) Vertical Moveout (VMO)

Exercise: Moveout and Depth Estimation

Scenario:

Imagine a seismic survey where a reflection from a potential oil reservoir is detected at two geophones. Geophone 1 is directly above the reflector (offset = 0 meters), and Geophone 2 is 1000 meters away from the reflector (offset = 1000 meters). The reflection arrives at Geophone 1 after 2 seconds and at Geophone 2 after 2.5 seconds.

Task:

1. Calculate the moveout: Find the difference in arrival times between the two geophones.
2. Estimate the depth of the reflector: Assuming the seismic wave velocity in the subsurface is 2000 meters per second, estimate the depth of the oil reservoir.

Techniques

Moveout: Deciphering the Echoes of Oil and Gas

This document expands on the provided introduction to moveout in seismic data interpretation, breaking it down into separate chapters.

Chapter 1: Techniques

Moveout analysis employs several techniques to extract valuable information from seismic data. These techniques primarily revolve around measuring and interpreting the time differences between seismic reflections arriving at different geophones. Key techniques include:

• Normal Moveout (NMO) Measurement: This is the most fundamental technique. It involves measuring the time difference between the reflection arrival at a zero-offset geophone (directly above the reflector) and the arrival time at geophones with increasing offsets. This difference is then plotted against offset, often resulting in a hyperbolic curve. The shape and parameters of this curve are crucial for subsequent analysis.

• Dip Moveout (DMO) Correction: When reflectors are not horizontal, simple NMO correction is insufficient. DMO correction accounts for the effects of dip, improving the accuracy of imaging dipping structures. This is a more complex process, often involving sophisticated algorithms to transform the seismic data into a common midpoint (CMP) gather. DMO correction aims to collapse dipping events into a single point, eliminating the apparent moveout caused by the dip.

• Velocity Analysis: Determining the velocity of seismic waves in the subsurface is critical for accurate moveout correction. Various techniques are used for velocity analysis, including:

  • Constant Velocity Stacking: This involves stacking traces with a single assumed velocity. The quality of the stacked traces is evaluated to determine the optimal velocity.
  • Velocity Spectra: This technique generates a velocity spectrum, showing the stacked energy as a function of velocity. The velocity corresponding to the strongest energy is selected.
  • Semblance: This method measures the coherence of stacked traces as a function of velocity. Higher semblance values indicate a better velocity estimate.

• Pre-stack Processing: Many moveout corrections are performed before stacking (summing) the seismic traces. This pre-stack processing allows for more accurate velocity analysis and imaging of complex geological structures.

Chapter 2: Models

Accurate interpretation of moveout relies on appropriate geological models. These models help to relate the observed moveout to subsurface properties:

• Hyperbolic Moveout Model: The basic model assumes a constant velocity layer, resulting in a hyperbolic relationship between travel time and offset. This is a simplification, but a useful starting point. The equation describing this relationship is: t² = t₀² + (x²/V²), where t is the arrival time, t₀ is the zero-offset time, x is the offset, and V is the velocity.

• Layered Velocity Models: More realistic models incorporate multiple layers with different velocities. The travel time in this case becomes more complex, requiring ray tracing or other numerical techniques to calculate the travel time for each layer.

• Anisotropic Models: In some geological formations, seismic velocities vary with direction. Anisotropic models account for this directional dependence, leading to more accurate moveout corrections and velocity estimations.

• 3D Models: For 3D seismic surveys, 3D velocity models are essential for accurate imaging. These models are often constructed using tomographic inversion techniques, which utilize moveout information from many different offsets and azimuths.

Chapter 3: Software

Several software packages are dedicated to seismic data processing and interpretation, including moveout analysis and correction:

• Seismic Unix (SU): A free and open-source software package providing a wide range of seismic processing tools, including NMO and DMO corrections. It offers great flexibility but requires programming skills.

• Petrel (Schlumberger): A commercial software package offering a complete workflow for seismic interpretation, including sophisticated moveout correction and velocity analysis tools. It has a user-friendly interface but is expensive.

• Kingdom (IHS Markit): Another commercial software suite providing extensive functionality for seismic interpretation and processing. Similar to Petrel in capabilities but with a different user interface.

• OpendTect: Open-source software with a powerful and versatile suite of tools for seismic interpretation. Includes various modules for velocity analysis and moveout correction.

Chapter 4: Best Practices

Effective moveout analysis requires adherence to best practices:

• Careful Data Quality Control: Ensure that the seismic data is of high quality before performing moveout analysis. Noise reduction and pre-processing steps are crucial.

• Appropriate Velocity Model: Selecting an accurate velocity model is paramount. Incorrect velocities lead to inaccurate moveout corrections and erroneous interpretations. Iterative velocity analysis is often required.

• Careful Selection of Parameters: The choice of parameters for NMO and DMO corrections depends on the specific geological setting and data quality. Testing different parameters is often necessary.

• Validation and Verification: The results of moveout analysis should be validated against other geological data and interpretations. Independent verification is important to ensure accuracy.

• Documentation: Detailed documentation of all processing steps, parameters, and interpretations is essential for reproducibility and transparency.

Chapter 5: Case Studies

Several case studies demonstrate the application of moveout analysis in real-world scenarios:

(Note: Real-world case studies would typically involve specific geological locations, seismic data examples, and detailed interpretations. The following are generalized examples):

• Case Study 1: Subsalt Imaging: Moveout analysis plays a critical role in imaging subsalt structures, where the complex velocity variations caused by salt bodies make accurate velocity analysis and moveout correction challenging. DMO correction is particularly important in these cases.

• Case Study 2: Fractured Reservoir Characterization: Moveout analysis can help identify fractures in reservoirs by analyzing subtle variations in moveout velocities. These variations can indicate the presence and orientation of fractures.

• Case Study 3: Deepwater Exploration: In deepwater environments, accurate velocity models are crucial for depth conversion and reservoir characterization. Moveout analysis plays a key role in constructing these models.

Each case study would typically involve detailed descriptions of the seismic data acquisition, processing workflow, velocity analysis results, and final geological interpretation, highlighting the importance of moveout analysis in specific exploration contexts.