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Automated Fault Extraction  Advanced image processing technology and heuristics based on structural geology automatically extract fault surfaces from 3-D discontinuity volumes. Applied as a process at the beginning of interpretation, major fault surfaces can be automatically extracted from the volume. These surfaces, embedded in the original seismic volume, improve the results of automatic horizon tracking algorithms and geobody segmentation algorithms by eliminating cycle skips and miscorrelation across faults.
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BackgroundInterpreting faults in 3-D seismic data is still one of the most time-consuming and tedious aspects of seismic interpretation. In the late 1990's, ARCO's research lab developed a new patented process to extract 3-D fault surfaces from discontinuity volumes. This process uses a combination of advanced image processing techniques and heuristics based on structural geology to automatically generate an initial interpretation of the 3-D fault surfaces in the volume.
Building on the work done at ARCO, this patented technology is being further developed at the BP Center for Visualization at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Work at the Center has improved the computational performance and usability of the application.
Software Features and BenefitsThis application is intended to be used both at the beginning of the 3-D interpretation and as an interactive tool during the interpretation process. Using a discontinuity volume as a starting point, the interpreter interactively defines a set of control parameters. These parameters can be defined for the entire 3-D volume or for a sub-volume. The process can then be applied as a batch process to the volume or interactively to sub-volumes. The interpreter can view and control the results of each step of the process. |
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