1

SEISMIC
STRATIGRAPHY
PRESENTED TO:
Dr. SHAHID GHAZI
PRESENTED BY:
PALWASHA SHAHZAD RATHORE
 CONTENTS
 SEISMIC WAVES
SEISMIC SURVEY
DATA ACQUISITION
DATA PROCESSING
STRATIGRAPHY
 SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY
STAGES OF SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY
REFLECTION PARAMETERS
EXTERNAL GEOMETRY OF DEPOSITIONAL UNITS
 CORRELATION OF WELL AND SEISMIC DATA
 SIGNIFICANCE OF SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY
 REFERENCES

3
 SEISMIC WAVES
• Seismic wave types include surface waves that travel
along the surface of the earth and body waves
( compressional and shear waves) that travel through
the earth.
• Reflection seismic surveys typically use compressional
waves, which are also known as P-waves. P-waves are
the fastest waves and the first to arrive and be recorded
by instruments.
• P-waves are also pressure waves; each P-wave cycle
contains a compression and extension component.
Sound waves are examples of P-waves.
4
5
 SEISMIC SURVEY
• A seismic survey is a method of
investigating the subterranean
structure, primarily used in search of
oil and gas deposits.
• During reflection seismic surveys,
seismic waves are generated at or
near the earth surface using a seismic
source like dynamite, hammer,
vibrator, air gun or anything that will
transmit energy into subsurface.
• The seismic waves propagate from
source and travel through geologic
layers. At the interface between one
type of rock and another, there is a
change in physical properties in
particular density, seismic velocity
and their multiplication product,
seismic impedance. 6
• At geological interface, some seismic energy
reflects, or echoes, back to the surface.
• At the surface, seismic receivers, which are
electromechanical devices; microphones,
geophones, hydrophones or accelerometers-
detect the reflected energy and convert it into
images of the underground geology, which
may be interpreted for oil and gas exploration,
development and production purposes.

7
SEISMIC SURVEY WORK FLOW

8
 DATA ACQUISITION
• Reflection seismic data
may be acquired on land
or at sea.
• During land acquisition,
seismic data are collected
from a grid of seismic
receivers deployed on the
ground .

9
• For marine acquisition,
sources and streamers,
which are arrays of
receivers attached to a
cable, are deployed off the
back of a slowly moving
ship; seismic sources are
usually in front of
streamers.
• As the ship moves, the
sources fire at regular
intervals, and the receivers
record the signals.

10
 REFLECTION
• When P waves travel through
geologic layers, only some of
the waves energy reflects from
lithological interfaces; the
remaining cross the interface.
• Reflection coefficient is the
ratio of the amplitude of the
reflected wave to that of
incident wave.
• If coefficient is zero it means
no reflection occurs.
• Positive and negative values
tells is that lithology of high or
low impedance is present
across the interface.
11
 ACOUSTIC IMPEDANCE

• The impedance (Z) of a

rock unit is the product
of its velocity (v) and
density (ρ ), that is
Z=vρ.

12
 RESOLUTION OF SEISMIC DATA
Seismic resolution is the ability to distinguish between two features from
one another. There are two types of seismic resolution, being vertical and
horizontal.

 Vertical resolution
• Determines the thickness of the beds, such as two close seismic
responds corresponding to different depth levels.
• Vertical resolution represents the distance between two interfaces as
separate reflectors.
 Horizontal resolution
• Determines the termination of beds by using seismic reflection.
Horizontal resolution recognizes two lateral displaced features on the
single interface.

13
 VERTICAL RESOLUTION
A. Vertical resolution
• Resolution depends on
wavelength of signal at
depth in question, which
depends on frequency
and velocity.
• Wavelength (λ )=
Velocity x period =

Velocity/Frequency (f).
14
• The higher the
frequency of
the waveform,
the greater or
better will be
the vertical
resolution.

15
 LATERAL RESOLUTION
B. Lateral resolution
• The seismic energy travels
as wave fronts and the
region on the reflector
where the seismic energy
is reflected constructively
is known as the Fresnel
zone.
• Lateral resolution is
determined by the radius
of the Fresnel Zone
16
 DATA PROCESSING
• Both on land and at sea,
each receiver records a
trace, which represents the
amplitude of seismic
signal and noise received
during the recording time.
• Because multiple
recording devices are
activated when the source
is triggered, multiple
traces are produced.
17
SEISMIC SECTION

18
19
 STRATIGRAPHY

Stratigraphy is a branch of geology that studies rock

layers and layering(stratification). It is primarily used in
the study of sedimentary rocks. Types of stratigraphy:

 LITHO-STRATIGRAPHY
 BIOSTRATIGRAPHY
 CHRONO-STRATIGRAPHY
 SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY
 SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY
 MAGNETO-STRATIGRAPHY
20
 SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY
• The study of seismic data
for extracting the
stratigraphic information.

• Reflection seismology is
compartmentalized into
acquisition, processing
and interpretation.
Seismic stratigraphy deals
with interpretation.

• reflectors. 21
 STAGES OF SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY
The procedures for interpreting stratigraphy from seismic data
involve three principle stages:
(1)Seismic sequence analysis
Separating out time-depositional units based on detecting
unconformities or changes in seismic patterns.
(2) Seismic facies analysis
Determining seismic facies units from characteristics of seismic
reflection.
(3) Interpretation of depositional environments and lithofacies
Examining the lateral variation of individual reflection events, or
series of events, to locate where stratigraphic changes occur and
identify their nature; the primary tool for this is modeling by both
synthetic seismograms and seismic logs.
22
1. SEISMIC SEQUENCE ANALYSIS
Seismic sequence (or a depositional sequence)
A stratigraphic unit composed of a relatively conformable succession of
genetically related strata and bounded at its top and base by
unconformities or their correlative conformities.

A depositional sequence has Chrono-stratigraphic significance because all

the rocks of the sequence were deposited during the interval of geological
time defined by the ages of the sequence boundaries where they are
conformities.
•Seismic sequence analysis involves identification of major reflection
“packages” that can be delineated by recognizing surfaces of
discontinuity.
•Discontinuities may thus be recognized by interpreting systematic
patterns of reflection terminations along the discontinuity surfaces
.

23
 (A)

(B) (C)

24
Figure 1: Basic concept of depositional sequence
ONLAP TOPLAP

25
DOWNLAP
 2. SEISMIC FACIES ANALYSIS
• Seismic Facies Unit
Seismic facies are packages of reflectors with a set of
seismic characteristics differing from adjacent units . The
unit must be distinguishable from adjacent units and
mappable on earth's surface.
• Seismic Facies Analysis
Seismic facies analysis is the description and
interpretation of seismic reflection parameters, such as
configuration, continuity, amplitude, and frequency, within
the stratigraphic framework of a depositional sequence.

26
 IMPORTANT FEATURES IN SEISMIC
FACIES ANALYSIS
• Firstly, three important parameters are amplitude, frequency, and
continuity that are most useful for interpreting environments.
• Second important parameter is the parallelism of reflection cycles
to gross bedding and, therefore, to physical surfaces that separate
older from younger sediments.
• Exceptions to this concept include
(1) fluid contact reflections,
(2) limitations imposed by seismic resolution
(3) various non‐geologic coherent events.

In spite of these exceptions, this concept provides a powerful tool

for the analysis of reflection patterns.
27
 REFLECTION PARAMETERS
AMPLITUDE
•It is the distance from mid position of the wave to its extreme position.
•It is also affected by the spacing between reflecting surfaces.
•Where bed spacing is optimum, lower energy responses are phased
together constructively (constructive interference) to intensity or
amplify the reflected energy and thus increase amplitude.
FREQUENCY
•Number of vibration of seismic wave per second.
•The frequency spectrum of the acoustic signal generated varies
according to the energy sources.
•Frequency is primarily a characteristic of the nature of the seismic
pulse, but it is also related to such geologic factors as the spacing of
reflectors or lateral changes in interval velocity.

28
 CONTINUITY
• It depends upon the continuity of density-velocity contrast
along bedding surfaces of unconformities.
• Continuity of reflections is closely associated with continuity
of bedding (e.g., continuous reflections suggest widespread
layered deposits).

 REFLECTION CONFIGURATION
• It refers to the large no. of stratification patterns identified on
seismic record.
• Reflection cycle patterns include the configuration of
reflections (i.e., parallel, divergent, chaotic and reflection‐
free) and the nature of cycle terminations at the depositional
unit boundaries.
29
CONTINUITY FREQUENCY/ SPACING

AMPLITUDE 30
REFLECTION CONFIGURATION AND
TERMINATION

31
Variable density seismic display with interpreted seismic sequences with sequence
boundaries and seismic facies. 32
EXTERNAL GEOMETRY OF DEPOSITIONAL
UNITS
• The external form of
the depositional unit
can be analyzed from
a grid of seismic lines
and is valuable in
interpreting the
depositional processes
responsible for the
unit.
• Sheet, sheet drape,
wedge, lens, fan, and
other forms are
described.

33
GEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION FROM
REFLECTION PARAMETERS
Feature of Reflectors Geological Interpretation

Amplitude • Impedance contrasts

• Layer spacing
• Fluid content

Frequency • Bed spacing

• Fluid content
Continuity • Bedding or layer continuity
• Depositional processes
Reflection Configuration (Pattern) and • Stratification patterns
termination • Depositional processes
• Erosion and paleo-topography

34
 3. INTERPRETATION OF DEPOSITIONAL
ENVIRONMENTS AND LITHOFACIES

• Depositional environments can be predicted from seismic data

through an orderly approach to the interpretation of seismic
reflections.
• One keystone to this approach is an understanding of the
effects of lithology and bed spacing on reflection parameters.
• Lithofacies refer to a mappable subdivision of a designated
stratigraphic unit, distinguished from adjacent subdivisions on
the basis of lithology; a facies characterized by particular
lithological features.

35
DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT

36
LITHOFACIES

37
CORRELATION OF WELL AND SEISMIC DATA

• Well-seismic ties allow well data, measured in

units of depth, to be compared to seismic data,
measured in units of time
• This allows us to relate horizon tops identified in a
well with specific reflections on the seismic section
• We use sonic and density well logs to generate a
synthetic seismic trace
• The synthetic trace is compared to the real seismic
data collected near the well location
38
SEISMIC-WELL TIE WORK FLOW

Formation1

Formation2

Formation 3

Fault

39
SYNTHETIC SEISMOGRAM

40
SIGNIFICANCE OF SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY

• The science of seismic stratigraphy was

developed largely by petroleum companies for
locating petroleum deposits in deep.
• It is also used to locate deep structures and
feature like fold faults etc.
• Seismic reflection are used to identify and map
the structural attributes sub-surface sedimentary
layers.
• This is also used to find depth of oceans.
41
 REFERENCES
• Emery, D. and Myers, K. eds., 2009. Sequence stratigraphy.
John Wiley & Sons.
• https://wiki.aapg.org/Seismic_facies_analysis
• https://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/1.1440957
• http://publications.iodp.org
• https://www.slideshare.net
• http://basin.earth.ncu.edu.tw/download/courses/sequence_st
rat/10_seismic_stratigraphy.pdf
• https://wiki.seg.org
• https://www.slb.com//media/Files/resources/oilfield_review/d
efining_series/Defining-Seismic

42