Seismic Reflection Data:

what it is, how it can be used,

& an application at Elk Hills, CA

- Hudec and Martin, 2004

 Seismic Reflection
return of a wave
subject to or from a surface that it
caused by an strikes into the
earth vibration medium through
which it has traveled

Records seismic waves at the surface that are reflected

off of subsurface stratigraphic interfaces

- Clay, 1990

Images the subsurface using acoustic methods

 • Source
• Receivers

reflection patterns are

described by Snell's Law

- Kansas Geological Survey

grid of receivers for 3D survey:

inlines

Spacing

cross lines
12.5 m for Wytch Farm Oil Field
16.7 m for Elk Hills Oil Field
Common Midpoint Method

- http://walter.kessinger.com/work/seisx_processing.html
 Seismic x-section

two-way travel
time (ms)
- Kansas Geological Survey

• interface reflects energy proportional

to impedance difference
impedance = velocity x porosity
• subsurface geometries are reconstructed
• stratigraphic sections show up layered
Vertical
Horizontal

Minimum separation between two features such that we can tell that there are
two features rather than only one
 Time slice

Cross -section
 Seismic Reflection Data: Interpretation

2D image of normal faults from offshore Lebanon:

http://www.mines.edu/academic/geology/faculty/btrudgil/research.html

due to faulting
Stratigraphic variations due to depositional changes

Faulting on the order of 30+ meters

 Structural Applications

Individual layers and faults

Various scales
of
(Scale for this x-section)
interpretation

Stratigraphic packages and fault zones

- Kattenhorn and Pollard, 2001

- Fort et al., 2004

 Seismic Reflection Data: Application

Elk Hills Oil Field

20 miles east of the San Andreas Fault

- http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov
 Elk Hills: Motivation

Part 1 of 2 step project

Ultimate goal: fracture (stress) prediction across

a specified stratigraphic layer

Elastic models forward

model for slip-induced
stress perturbations

• fracture pattern today is a composite of

fracturing during each distinct slip event
• slip-induced stresses vary as faults interact
• evolutionary history important!
 Elk Hills: Motivation

Gain insight into fault

geometry and timing at Elk Hills

Industry: implications for hydrocarbon

entrapment and charge

General: implications for evolution

of thrust systems
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphy

McDonald structure Syn-depositional growth faulting:

N - Thinning onto highs

- Thickening across faults

B’
Use sedimentary features to
constrain fault movements with time
of deposition of specific layers

B
2 mi

B’
A West A’ B East
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

Stratigraphic Constraints on Fault Timing:

2D analysis (cross sections)

3D analysis (isochores)

Chronological fault evolution

model
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

Calitroleum

N
Pseudowell analysis
ms
MYA4-A
West
Wilhelm Pseudowell thickness plots
2 mi
A A’
Calitroleum

A A’

BRR

SW NE
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

Cross section analysis

Fault Movement Indicators

Example 1: Onlap

Active faulting and uplift

during deposition

Syn-faulting strata
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

Cross section analysis

Fault Movement Indicators

Example 2: Offset beds of

equal thickness

Faulting post deposition

Pre-faulting strata
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

Cross section analysis

Fault Movement Indicators
SW NE
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

Cross section analysis

Fault Movement Indicators

0.5 mile

100 ms

Offset onlap:
1. 3R>1R
2. 3R>BRR
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

x1 x2 x3 x4 x5

MYA4-A
Wilhelm

Calitroleum

500 ms BRR

McDonald
1 mile

Isochore: line drawn through points of equal

vertical (apparent) thickness of a unit
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

Two Signatures:
1. Close contours A’
a) a) fault cut
A’ interval
at time
(syn tectonic)
A

2. Thin beds A’ Structural high

b)

b) fault below
c)
interval
c) filled in
(syn tectonic)
paleo high
(post tectonic)
 5R Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints
A 5R A’

BRR
McDonald

Isochore: McDonald to Base Reef Ridge

N 2R Structural high
1R
- active fault

2R

1R 3R 3R Fault cut
Structural high
7
ft
7 - active fault
5R

6R
5R No expression
0 1 2 miles
6R
- inactive fault
0 2 4 6 km
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

Conclusions from all stratigraphic analyses

A 5R A’

fault initiations bracketed between horizons: west

Active faults
6R

2R, 3R, 1R, 5R

2R, 3R, 1R, 5R

2R, 3R, 1R
2R, 3R, 1R

McDonald
7, 2R, 3R
B B’

east
- Reid, 1990
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints
N
B’

Conclusions from all Analyses

2 mi
B
WEST A A’

Stage 1
EAST B B’ pre-McDonald
(mid Miocene)

7
Stage 1 A A’

pre-McDonald
(mid Miocene) Stage 2
B B’ pre-McDonald
(mid Miocene)

Stage 2 7 A A’

Post MYA-4A
(late Pliocene) Stage 3
pre-Base Reef Ridge
(early Pliocene)

A 5R A’

Stage 4
pre-Wilhlem
(mid Pliocene)
 Elk Hills: Stratigraphic Constraints

Fault Geometry & Timing

input for elastic models

determine faulting related

stress perturbations