AAPG Slide Resources: Seismic Facies Analysis by Fred Schroeder.

AAPG T.I.P. Survey: To Improve Performance

Please consider taking this four-question survey when you are finished with your visit to the AAPG website. The survey will take about 30
seconds of your time.

Take Survey Now Take Survey In 3 Min Some Other Time Don't Show Again

I'm done I should Remind me to take I like the site the way
and am ready be done in this another time. it is and really see
to take this survey. about 3 minutes. (You have until 30 Sept.) no need to improve it.

Wait! There's more ... you could win $300!

By completing the survey you could win a $300 Visa gift card. Provide us your name and valid email address at the end of this survey. We'll
put your name in a drawing for the card. Your name and email address will not be used for solicitation. It is for notification purposes only.
Only one entry per person. Drawing and notification will take place 1 October 2012.

BLOGS BOOKSTORE BULLETIN CAREER CENTER EDUCATION EXPLORER MEETINGS LIBRARY

---AAPG
---AAPG SITESITE SHORT
SHORT CUTS--- CUTS--- Search  

Classifieds

Slides and talking

points are provided Seismic Facies Analysis Advertising

courtesy of AAPG
Visiting Geoscientist
Fred W. Schroeder. Downloads Resources Lecture Files | Exercise Files

The notes for each Lecture Slides PPT How to Run For Students Request Solutions

slide are printed next
to each thumbnail.
Below each
Printing Instructions:
thumbnail are
one document, 5 pages, letter size, B&W
download links for
one document, 1 page, seismic line, 15x24 inches (one copy per 3 students)
the individual slide.
one docment, 4 pages, figures, letter size, first 2 B&W, pages 3, 4 better in COLOR
Right-click on a link
Supplies:
to save the file to
Color pencils, eraser
your hard drive. To
preview the full-size
slide image, click on Slide 1
the thumbnail.
To download the The second part of stratigraphic interpretation focuses in on the
entire presentation prediction of rock types (lithofacies) within key sequences
right-click and save We start we either 2D or 3D seismic data
the appropriate link. We identify and map the major sequence boundaries using
reflection terminations
Then we perform what is referred to as seismic facies analysis
Our goal is to predict where we have potential reservoirs capped
by potential seals
We may also want to identify regions that have good source rock
potential
Download: full size image | PPT slide

Slide 2

Some definitions of terms:

A seismic facies unit – is a mappable, three dimensional seismic

http://www.aapg.org/slide_resources/schroeder/11b/index.cfm[9/23/2012 1:01:06 AM]

AAPG Slide Resources: Seismic Facies Analysis by Fred Schroeder.

unit composed of groups of reflections whose parameters differ

from those of adjacent facies units
Seismic Facies Analysis – is the description and geologic
interpretation (environmental setting, lithofacies, etc.) of seismic
reflection parameters

Download: full size image | PPT slide

Slide 3

This slide lists 4 types of features that we can use in our mapping:

1. Seismic amplitude ….
2. Reflection geometry …
3. Reflection continuity …
4. Wavelet frequency …

Download: full size image | PPT slide

Slide 4

This slide shows a 'road map' for stratigraphic analysis

First we perform seismic sequence analysis to map sequence

boundaries using reflection terminations
This subdivides the sediment fill into genetically related
units – depositional sequences
Second, we do seismic facies analysis, which has two elements
We use a technique to capture geometric information
We can also extract seismic attributes, any of a variety of
measures of the seismic reflections
Download: full size image | PPT slide A commonly used seismic attribute is reflection amplitude,
another is reflection continuity
We combine the geometric information with the seismic attributes
to predict the environments of deposition (EODs) that influenced
the types of deposits (e.g., a beach where clean sands may have
been deposited)

On the right, we have a portion of Line C from exercise 11a

We talked about the shelf-edge carbonate build-up "reef"

Below the seismic image is a map view for the youngest Jurassic
depositional sequence
The dark blue is the location of the "reef"
To the right (landward) is a carbonate shelf
To the left (basinward) is a carbonate slope

Slide 5

We need a method to make geometric observations and post them

on a map before we can make predictions
The method we use is called the ABC method
Although it looks like a formula, it is more a template for recording
observations

The A term is the type of termination pattern at the top of the

Download: full size image | PPT slide
sequence
erosional truncation, toplap, or concordance, i.e., no
terminations
The B term is the type of termination pattern at the base of the
sequence
onlap, downlap, or concordance, i.e., no terminations

http://www.aapg.org/slide_resources/schroeder/11b/index.cfm[9/23/2012 1:01:06 AM]

AAPG Slide Resources: Seismic Facies Analysis by Fred Schroeder.
Slide 6
Download: full size image | PPT slide
Slide 7
Download: full size image | PPT slide
Slide 8
Download: full size image | PPT slide
Slide 9
http://www.aapg.org/slide_resources/schroeder/11b/index.cfm[9/23/2012 1:01:06 AM]
The C term is the internal reflection pattern, e.g., parallel
The next few slides show some common internal reflection patterns
A way to remember the code is to think:
A = Above; B = Below; C = Center
This slide shows a hierarchical method to classify internal reflection
patterns
First, do you think the reflections indicate stratification patterns?
If they do, is the stratification simple, progradational, or
complex in appearance?
If not, the internal reflection pattern may be chaotic –
complex structure/stratigraphy or poor seismic imaging
or it may be reflection free – which could be due to a
nearly homogenous interval (massive sand, salt,
etc)
or it could be an imaging problem
The next slides illustrate the terms on the lower half of this diagram
Simple stratified means the seismic reflections are parallel, sub-
parallel or divergent
The spacing (thickness) between reflections are relatively uniform
A few words on the divergent pattern
In the diagram, there are fewer reflections on the left side
than the right
The shorter reflections terminate internally, not at the top or
base
This is probably due to seismic resolution issues
The internal layers are thick enough on the right that tops
and bases are imaged
But moving to the left, units thin and some get too thin for
the seismic data to fully resolve
Thus the reflections terminate internally as the total
sequence thins right to left
This slide focuses in on progradational internal patterns
This is commonly associated with deltaic-types of deposits that
build out a shelf
Sigmoid and oblique are two variations
Sigmoid exhibits a combination of upbuilding (or
aggredation) and outbuilding (or progradation
Oblique exhibits outbuilding without upbuilding
Oblique is characterized by toplap terminations at the top of
the sequence
Sigmoid and oblique represent outbuilding into relatively deep
water; 200 meters of water depth or more
Shingled is a progradational pattern in a shallower basin or on a
relic shelf
There is not enough paleotopography for progradation to
develop at a scale obvious on typical seismic data
Complex internal configurations show significant thickening and
thinning
Mounded shows thinning in at least two directions from a central
thick
mounds are common in carbonate environments and in
association with deep sea fans
Hummocky shows a complex pattern of thickening/thinning
Deformed indicates that there has been some post-depositional
forces that have partially disrupted the layering
AAPG Slide Resources: Seismic Facies Analysis by Fred Schroeder.

The example shown in the lower right is what might exist

Download: full size image | PPT slide where some down-slope creep has occurred

Slide 10

We will code this cartoon section (Line B) to illustrate the ABC

method
Animation shows the steps
Starting on the left, the first code would be – concordant at the top,
onlap at the base, and parallel internally
This code is good until we start to observe toplap
What is the code for the second unit? Toplap, Concordant, Oblique
The third zone? Toplap, Downlap, Oblique
The fourth zone? Concordant, Downlap, Parallel (or oblique)
Not everyone would code every segment the same, which
Download: full size image | PPT slide is not a problem
Once the codes are posted on a map and interpreted – that
is what is important
The last zone? Concordant, Concordant, Parallel

 
 

Slide 11

We have placed the codes for Line B on the map – we offset the
codes to help the illustration
We also have the codes for Line C (similar string of codes) and
Line A (different codes)
Note where Line B and Line A intersect – see a problem?
Line B has Oblique while Line A has Parallel
This is not necessarily a conflict
Progradation has a dip and a strike component
Line B is more of a dip orientation while Line A is more of a
strike orientation
Download: full size image | PPT slide With these two codes we can conclude the progradation is
primarily west to east

Slide 12

After we post the observations for each line, we have to synthesize

the geometric observations
In this example, there is a zone of oblique progradation to the ESE
near the center of the area
Landward there is an onlaping wedge
Basinward where is a sheet (C–C/P)

Download: full size image | PPT slide

Slide 13

We are now ready to interpret the EODs – Environments of

Deposition
From left to right we have:

http://www.aapg.org/slide_resources/schroeder/11b/index.cfm[9/23/2012 1:01:06 AM]

AAPG Slide Resources: Seismic Facies Analysis by Fred Schroeder.
Download: full size image | PPT slide
Slide 14
Download: full size image | PPT slide
Slide 15
Download: full size image | PPT slide
Slide 16
Download: full size image | PPT slide
Slide 17
http://www.aapg.org/slide_resources/schroeder/11b/index.cfm[9/23/2012 1:01:06 AM]
A fluvial/non-marine wedge that thins by onlap to the west
(tan)
A nearshore/marginal marine zone (characterized by
toplap) (yellow)
The paleo-slope at the end of this depositional period
(concordant at top) (green), and
The basinal deposits out in deep water (blue)
Given these interpreted EODs, we can think about the types of
depositional bodies we should have
We use depositional models based on modern analogues, ancient
outcrops and/or laboratory experiments
If we were to drill in the marginal marine (yellow) area of the map
on the last slide, we would expect (top-down)
Delta front sands
Delta front silts
Prodelta shales
Offshore clays
We can even anticipate a vertical (and lateral) facies succession as
shown on the right
We can even use geo-statistics to predict, for example, the
thickness and lateral extent of channel sands or crevasse splays
It is time for another exercise
The data comes from an area in East Texas
Together we will code Line 1
Here is line 1 with our interval of interest highlighted
Some red lines have been added on the peaks (blacks)
There are two ABC zones – boundary near the yellow vertical line
What is the code for the first zone – Tp-Dn/Ob (animation)
What is the code for the second zone – C-Dn/P (animation)
We have given you the base map with the codes posted for the
Woodbine interval - our zone of interest
Use this map to:
1. synthesize the observations
2. predict depositional environments
Note that some lines have depositional limits for the Woodbine and
AAPG Slide Resources: Seismic Facies Analysis by Fred Schroeder.

this sequence is NOT present on the line to the far west

GIVE STUDENTS SOME TIME TO WORK THE EXERCISE

Download: full size image | PPT slide

Slide 18

EXERCISE SOLUTION

This is the synthesis of the observations

Brown is C-On/Thin
Yellow is Tp-Dn/Ob
Green is C-Dn/P

Download: full size image | PPT slide

Slide 19

Here are the interpreted depositional environments

Brown is fluvial and upper delta plain – fluvial sands and shales
Yellow is lower delta plain – well sorted sands with some silts
Green is delta slope – shale with minor silt

Download: full size image | PPT slide

 
Contact Us | Energy Facts | Links | Site Search | Calendar | RSS | Site Feedback | Terms of Use
AAPG : 1444 S. Boulder : Tulsa, OK 74119 : USA | Phone: 1 918 584-2555 | Toll Free US & Canada: 1 800 364 2274 | Fax 1 918 580-2665

http://www.aapg.org/slide_resources/schroeder/11b/index.cfm[9/23/2012 1:01:06 AM]