Oil and Gas

Oil and Gas | Geophysics and Seismic Interpretation

Introduction to Full Azimuth Imaging for Conventional Plays and Resource Plays

Course Code: N282
Instructors:  Walt Lynn
Course Outline:  Download
Format and Duration:
4 days

Summary

This course is for seismic interpreters and data processors seeking to gain a practical understanding of the current commercial methods of seismic imaging with an emphasis on full azimuth imaging. Participants will receive the knowledge required to make informed decisions regarding which processing and imaging algorithms to use, how to build and update velocity models, and learn to effectively design, guide, and quality control full-azimuth, full-offset imaging projects in a variety of geological settings. Participants will learn methodologies to compute, quality control and incorporate azimuthal seismic attributes with isotropic seismic attributes and reservoir information.

Feedback

Gave me an understanding of current status of PSDM and wave imaging.

Duration and Training Method

This is a four-day classroom course using a combination of lectures, demonstrations, case histories, and hands-on practical work exercises.

Course Overview

Participants will learn to:

  1. Distinguish the fundamental differences between time and depth migration.
  2. Differentiate between commonly used imaging algorithms including ray and wave-equation techniques.
  3. Understand current marine and land acquisition techniques used for wide/full azimuth imaging.
  4. Understand current processing and imaging strategies to obtain desired products for conventional and resource plays.
  5. Monitor the data conditioning stages of the initial processing sequence.
  6. Provide the appropriate interpretation inputs to the velocity model building process, and verify that the form of the velocity model is appropriate for the geology of the project.
  7. Understand the benefits, as well as the technical challenges, presented by full-azimuth, full-offset 3D data sets. Special emphasis will be placed on the conditioning of data to obtain, and the computation, uncertainty and use of, azimuthal interval velocity and azimuthal amplitude information.
  8. Incorporate seismic/well tie information that can be used as a constraint for velocity modeling and the determination of anisotropy parameters.
  9. Prepare and QC post-imaging data for isotropic and azimuthal simultaneous inversions.

The course content is divided into 8 chapters. On the last day, time will be provided for an open forum discussion of several client projects and case histories. Participants are encouraged to bring data examples to the class for general discussion.

Chapter 1: Introduction and the Reflection Seismic Experiment

Chapter 2: Full/wide Azimuth Seismic Background

  • Marine, land and ocean bottom acquisition
  • Simultaneous source shooting

Chapter 3. Basics of Seismic Imaging

  • What is migration?
  • Ray theoretical time-to-depth conversion
  • Zero-offset time migration
  • Zero-offset depth migration
  • Imaging principles for zero-offset migration
  • Image sensitivity to migration velocity
  • Migration artifacts

Chapter 4. Data Conditioning with Emphasis on Wide Azimuth Processes

  • Improving resolution
  • Seismic datums
  • Initial velocity analysis
  • Refraction/reflection statics
  • Multiple identification and suppression

Chapter 5. 3D Migration/Imaging

  • Depth migration vs. time migration - background
  • Depth migration vs. time migration - examples
  • Pre-stack migration imaging principles
  • Data acquisition considerations
  • Data organization and binning for azimuthal imaging
  • Use of 5-D interpolation
  • Choosing an algorithm
  • Migration parameterization, testing and quality control

 

Chapter 6. Migration Velocity Analysis and Velocity Model Updating

  • Building an initial migration velocity field
  • Basic concepts of MVA
  • Tomographic velocity model parameterization and updating
  • Estimating and incorporating layer anisotropy
  • Estimating and incorporating azimuthal anisotropy
  • Full-waveform inversion
  • Salt flooding
  • Velocity and image uncertainty

Chapter 7: Post-imaging Analysis

  • Interpretation in time vs. depth
  • Post-imaging time-depth conversion
  • Incorporating other seismic attributes
  • Co-rendering azimuthal and isotropic attributes
  • Off set and refl ection-angle common-image-point gathers
  • Preparation and QC of pre-stack migrated data for simultaneous inversions

Chapter 8: Case Histories

  • Land
  • Marine
  • Ocean-bottom seismic
  • Simultaneous sources

This course should be of interest to all seismic interpreters and data processors planning to incorporate depth imaging into their exploration and/or exploitation projects. Resource plays and sub-salt reservoirs present special imaging challenges that are addressed in this course.

 

Walt Lynn

Background
Subsequent to finishing his degrees, Walt has spent his career in the seismic service sector of the oil and gas industry – 11 years with Western Geophysical, 11 years with Petroleum Geo-services, PGS and has been a consultant with Lynn Inc. since 2002.   He has held geophysical positions within R&D groups, has managed R&D divisions, and has run operations for worldwide data processing.    

Walt specializes in multi-azimuth, multi-component 3-D seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Colorado School of Mines.   Walt is a Past-President (2001-02) and an Honorary Member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists and  an Honorary member of Geophysical Society of Houston.

Affiliations and Accreditation
PhD Stanford University - Geophysics
MSc Oregon State University - Geophysics
BSc Princeton University - Geology and Geophysics (High Honors)
Near-Surface Geophysicists, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers
Honorary Societies Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi
The Russian Academy of Natural Sciences

Courses Taught
N282: Introduction to Full Azimuth Imaging for Conventional Plays and Resource Plays

 

CEU: 2.8 Continuing Education Units
PDH: 28 Professional Development Hours
Certificate: Certificate Issued Upon Completion
RPS is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. We comply with the ANSI/IACET Standard, which is recognised internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices.
We issue a Certificate of Attendance which verifies the number of training hours attended. Our courses are generally accepted by most professional licensing boards/associations towards continuing education credits. Please check with your licensing board to determine if the courses and certificate of attendance meet their specific criteria.