Patent Document ID: 6018498
Application ID: 09145811
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer implemented method for automatically determining a fault lineament detectable in a three-dimensional (3D) seismic data volume containing a plurality of seismic traces arranged as a plurality of data points having x, y and z coordinates defining a physical location in said seismic data volume, wherein said data points are selected individual points on said seismic traces, said method comprising: a) converting said 3D seismic data volume to a fault plane (FP) data volume containing a plurality of probability factors, referred to herein as FP values, wherein an FP value and coordinates for said physical location for said FP values are associated with each of said plurality of data points in said 3D seismic data volume; b) determining at least one strip of said physical locations in said FP data volume having a high probability of residing on a subterranean fault plane detectable in said seismic data volume; c) converting said at least one strip of physical locations having a high probability to a line; and d) displaying said line as a fault lineament.