Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

structural geology network

Subsurface Mapping
Techniques
 Subsurface Structural Mapping
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

• Seismic interpreters spend

structural geology network

the majority of their time

making maps
• The industry maps capture a
variety of data, including
structural and stratigraphic
features such faults, folds,
unconformities, channel
systems etc
• Subsurface structure maps
are rarely like geological
maps, but rather are
topographic maps for a
chosen seismic event or
reflector
 Basic Seismic Mapping
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

• Learning to Pick Wiggles!

structural geology network

• ‘…to maximize the

geological information
from the seismic data
through careful structural
and stratigraphic
interpretation techniques,
routine use of attribute
and coherency mapping
tools and attention to
detail in the generation of
structural maps…’
• Use the spatial
arrangement of seismic • This is no longer done by
and well data to create hand, but via the use high-
accurate and reliable powered interpretative or
models of the subsurface graphic workstations that
rapidly access huge volumes
of 2D & 3D seismic data
 Seismic Structural Interpretation
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar
structural geology network
 Subsurface Structure Mapping
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

• Structure contour maps are

structural geology network

a common way of
representing structural
geometry in the energy
Fault Gap or
Fault Polygon
industry
• Are often used in the past
as basis for a variety of
other important work
reservoir volume
calculations and reservoir
simulation modeling
• Starting to be superseded
by true 3D models,
N however maps are still
common communication
tools between geologists,
1 km
geophysicists and reservoir
C.I. = 50 m engineers
 Fault Polygon Definition
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

• Fault Cutoff Maps

structural geology network

Not just gaps in horizons 3D Interpretation

but the termination of
discrete surfaces in space
• Geometric definition
be as rigorous as possible
they are not easily
predictable, especially in
complex structural settings
 Plunging folds, salt diapirs
• Requires that all
structural surfaces are
mapped in 3D and
integrated with
stratigraphic surfaces Map Representation
 The Mapping Process
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

• Start with the faults and

structural geology network

think about how they

connect up in 3D
• Begin infilling with the
key stratigraphic surfaces
• Extend these to intersect
the mapped faults
• Interpolate the surfaces
over the entire area of
interest
Generate grids and
contour the gridded
surface
• Evaluate the integrity of
the resulting model
Does it make sense to
you? If not, why not?
 Subsurface Structure Mapping
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar
structural geology network

FW Cut-off • Structure contour maps are

a common way of
representing structural
Fault Gap or geometry in the energy
Fault Polygon industry
• Are often used in the past
as basis for a variety of
other important work
reservoir volume calculations
and reservoir simulation
modeling
• Starting to be superseded
by true 3D models, however
N
maps are still a common
communication tools
1 km between geologists,
HW Cut-off geophysicists and reservoir
C.I. = 50 m engineers
 Subsurface Structure Mapping
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar
structural geology network

Real Normal Fault Network

Resulting 3D
Structural Model

Structure Contour Map

Derived from 3D Model
 Using An Interpretive Workstation
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

• Immerse yourself in all of the data

structural geology network

• Rapidly explore the implications

of a variety of different structural
or stratigraphic interpretations
• Effectively integrate all other
available subsurface data (wells)

• Faster, therefore cheaper

• Better and more accurate, therefore,
less ‘risky’
• However, demands a high degree of
geological and geophysical
understanding to be more effective
 Fault Polygon Continuity
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

• Zig-Zagging Polygons
structural geology network

possible ‘over-linkage’ of
separate fault segments
assess the interpreted
length as a function of the
maximum displacement on
the fault surface

2
log displacement (km)

-2

-4

acceptable size
distribution
-6
-4 -2 0 2
log length (km)
 Coherency
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar

• Quantitative measure of the

structural geology network

lateral continuity of seismic

events
• Actively enhances the imaging
of small discontinuities such
as faults, fractures, or channel
margins at or close to the
limit of seismic resolution
such features would be more or
less impossible to map using
traditional manual picking
techniques
• Excellent for defining lateral
extent of and linkage within
fault networks
Coherency Image
 3D Visualization
Oxford Structural Geology Seminar
structural geology network

• ‘Slice & Dice’ the 3D

seismic volume in a
variety of different
orientations
in-line, cross-line and
time slices
horizon and fault slices
• Co-visualization of
multiple seismic
attributes
multi-volume rendering
and analysis
• Increasing use of auto-
tracking technologies
and smart ‘applets’ the
recognize geological
features