AASPI
Seismic Processing Lab Manual and Wiki using Schlumberger’s
Vista Software Package
Bryce Hutchinson*, Thang Ha, and Kurt J. Marfurt, University of Oklahoma
Overview (and update from last time)
The purpose of this project is to provide a thorough set of
instructions for seismic processing. This guide will be utilized in a
lab in concert with a course on seismic processing. The lab
instructions will eventually be posted as an SEG Wiki.
Problem: A very small percentage of students want to deal
with the tedium associated with processing seismic data.
Leading these students, and future professionals, to accept
data as accurate.
Objective: Provide students with a flow to better understand
how seismic data is processed, while also showing them that
errors made in processing can have a large affect on
interpreted seismic data.
Assumptions: “Hands-on” learning techniques are more
effective for today’s students. Providing them with a guide to
apply the theory they learn in lecture will lead to a deeper
understanding of the theory.
Proposal: Develop an online lab manual (wiki) on 3D
seismic processing using Vista. Distribute this manual
through the SEG, along with 3D prestack land data volume.
Challenges: Bridging the gap between theory and practice,
and communicate the value of seismic processing to
interpretors, especially in avoiding interpretation pitfalls.
Solution: Create a comprehensive lab guide that is not
intimidating. Include theory in this guide and upload it as a
SEG Wiki for public consumption.
Sample Content (Comparison)
Deconvolution
Figure 12: CMP gathers shorted by shot, before
deconvolution is applied
Figure 13: Deconvolution applied to the CMP gathers
Deconvolution is applied to the data to better image the
reflectors and highlight noise by reducing the signal to it’s
constituent parts.
Wiki Preview – Applying a gain to the dataset
Figure 9: ExpTPower of 1.5
Figure 10: ExpTPower of 2
Figure 11: ExpTPower of 3
Figure 1: Options listed
from the Job Flow tab.
Figure 2: Job flow
window after the correct
operators (Input,
ExpTPower, and
Output) have been
added to it.
Figure 3: Options listed
for input upon double
clicking the input
operator.
Figure 4: Dialog
box for changing
the parameters of
ExpTPower.
Residual Statics
Figure 14: A single CMP before statics is applied.
Figure 15: Residual statics applied to a single CMP
flattening the signal in the circled areas.
Residual Statics flattens the signal along reflectors,
creating a more coherent signal.
Figure 5: Dialog box
editing the name of the
output of the flow.
Figure 6: New Flow File
window with the mouse
highlighting the icon to
link the operators.
Figure 7: Right clicking
in the flow file window
brings up this menu.
Figure 8: Flow window
that is ready to run.
Indicated by the green
status bars on each
operator.
Future Work
Large strides have been made since the wiki idea was
first proposed by Dr. Marfurt. Some work flows still
must be added to the lab guide like migration, air wave
attenuation, and residual velocity analysis. Once the lab
has been outlined and the steps completely recorded,
work can begin on converting the instruction set to an
SEG Wiki page. The processing lab will originally be
created to complement the lecture material. When the
Wiki is posted it will need to also include some
theoretical ideas that will be covered in the course.
Yilmaz, Öz, 2001, Seismic data analysis: SEG.
For communication: bdhutchinson@ou.edu