Patent ID: 6249746
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
A method of processing data for mapping seismic isochron attribute values of a subterranean layer, said data comprising a digitized seismic trace data volume stored in a computer memory, wherein said digitized seismic trace data is arranged in said data volume such that each digitized point is identifiable by a three dimensional (3D) spatial coordinate of the earth, said method comprising:(a) defining a first plane in said data volume corresponding to the upper surface of said subterranean layer;(b) defining a second plane in said data volume corresponding to the lower surface of said subterranean layer;(c) calculating the direction of maximum thickening of said subterranean layer at a plurality of data points associated with said upper plane and said lower plane, wherein said direction of maximum thickening is an isochron attribute designated as an iso-azimuth value; and(d) writing said iso-azimuth value for said plurality of data points determined in step (c) to a 3D output data cube suitable for visual display of said iso-azimuth values.