Patent ID: 6463387
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
A method of seismic exploration for use with a seismic survey collected over a predetermined portion of the subsurface of the earth, said predetermined portion of the subsurface of the earth containing structural and stratigraphic features associated with the generation, migration, accumulation, or presence of hydrocarbons, said seismic survey having a plurality of seismic traces associated therewith, each of said plurality of seismic traces containing at least one seismic event therein, comprising the steps of:(a) selecting a seismic trace from among said plurality of seismic traces, said selected seismic trace having a surface location associated therewith; (b) identifying a reference seismic event in said selected seismic trace; (c) determining a time location of said identified seismic event; (d) selecting at least one different seismic trace from said plurality of seismic traces, each of said selected at least one different seismic traces being located proximate to said surface location of said selected seismic trace; (e) identifying a comparison event in at least one of said selected different seismic traces, each of said identified comparison events being at least approximately proximate in time to said time location of said identified seismic event; (f) calculating a similarity coefficient between said identified seismic event and at least one of said at least one selected comparison events; (g) assigning a same event ID number to said reference event and any comparison event wherein said calculated similarity coefficient exceeds a predetermined value; (h) storing at least said assigned event ID number, a value representative of said determined time location, and said associated surface location, in an ID database; (i) performing steps (b) through (h) at least once; (j) performing steps (a) through (i) at least twice; and, (k) utilizing said ID database to identify said structural and stratigraphic features associated with the generation, migration, accumulation, or presence of hydrocarbons.