Domain Transformation

TerraSpark’s Domain Transformation technology unlocks the door to separating stratigraphy and structure and is unique in the industry. In other interpretation systems, depositional systems are imaged on “stratal slices” that can be created near interpreted horizons by flattening the volume on a single interpreted horizon.  The limitation of this approach is that it is only accurate near the interpreted horizon.  

 

Insight Earth's Domain Transformation removes all 3D structural effects from a volume, creating an entire output volume in which every horizontal slice is a stratal slice - a paleodepositional surface.  The transform properly handles differential sedimentation, differential compaction, unconformities (including angular), salt bodies, canyons, carbonate platforms, and can remove 3D fault displacements. 

 

The resulting stratal volume is ideal for imaging all of the depositional systems in the volume. The boundaries of the depositional systems are imaged and then interpreted in 3D using Surface Wrapping. The interpreted boundaries are then inverse transformed and merged with the structural interpretation.

 

 

 

 

When used as a tool in interpreting shale plays, our clients have used stratal Domain Transformation to successfully map the extent and thickness of the shale sweet spot.  In the past, it has only been after much expensive and time-consuming drilling that they’ve been able to find that sweet spot - that we now understand is the most productive zone of the shale reservoir.  The resulting geo-body can be “shrink wrapped” using our Surface Wrapping™ technology to yield a shale reservoir volume map which can be inverse transformed back into your time or depth volume for use in future leasing and drill-well positioning and planning.

 

Co-rendering the shale reservoir volume map with other seismic attribute volumes such as Terraspark’s micro-fracture detection volume can further refine and prioritize the development drilling plan.

 

Our clients are under pressure every day to provide management with the maps necessary to beat the competition to the best leases and then efficiently chase a rig schedule with the best priority drill locations identified.  They don’t have the time to use the old interpretation methods that produce less than optimal results.  Terraspark’s clients now produce this work in a matter of days rather than months using Insight Earth® software – the next generation of interpretation tools in use today.