A method for generating a geophysical image of a subsurface region includes defining a computational sub-volume for the geophysical image including a predetermined number of seismic traces of a plurality of seismic traces and a predetermined number of samples per each one of the plurality of seismic traces, generating a data matrix corresponding to a first sub-volume of the subsurface region based on the defined computational sub-volume, the data matrix comprising the predetermined number of samples for the predetermined number of traces of a portion of a seismic dataset corresponding to the first sub-volume. The method also includes estimating a coherence between the predetermined number of traces of the data matrix by performing a sum of a variance of the predetermined number of samples of the data matrix, and assigning the estimated coherence to a location in the geophysical image.

Computer-implemented methods, apparatus, and computer programs disclosed herein are for obtaining horizon data, and comprise determining at least one extrema binary volume from a seismic data volume comprising a plurality of voxels and assigning a predetermined extrema value to each one of the found extreme voxels; determining an extrema graph from the at least one extrema binary volume; determining a neighbour graph from the extrema graphs; partitioning the nodes of the neighbour graph into a set of clusters, wherein a cluster contains a plurality of connected nodes representing extrema voxels of the at least one extrema binary volume, and each node is part of one cluster only; for each subset of the set of clusters, identifying whether or not the subset is a contradictory set of clusters according to at least one first predetermined condition; hierarchically partitioning the neighbour graph into a plurality of subgraphs, for example using a minimum cut approach, each subgraph being provided by a separate non-contradictory cluster, which is not part of any contradictory sets of clusters; and obtaining horizon data representing a plurality of horizons from the non-contradictory clusters inducing the plurality of subgraphs of the neighbour graph.

A sonic logging method is provided that transmits acoustic signals using a high order acoustic source and processes waveform data to identify a set of arrival events and time picks by automatic and/or manual methods. Ray tracing inversion is carried out for each arrival event over a number of possible raypath types that include at least one polarized shear raypath type to determine two-dimensional reflector positions and predicted inclination angles of the arrival event for the possible raypath types. One or more three-dimensional slowness-time coherence representations are generated for the arrival event and raypath type(s) and evaluated to determine azimuth, orientation and raypath type of a corresponding reflector. The method outputs a three-dimensional position and orientation for at least one reflector. The information derived from the method can be conveyed in various displays and plots and structured formats for reservoir understanding and also output for use in reservoir analysis and other applications.

A multi-wavefield seismic detection method and system based on construction noise of a shield machine. Multi-wavefield seismic information such as a body wave and a surface wave formed during propagation of a seismic wave generated by excitation in a stratum is obtained by using noise information caused by the construction of a shield machine as a seismic source, a stratum velocity model along a tunnel is constructed through joint inversion, and reflection wave information or the like is used for migration imaging, to eventually implement relatively accurate detection of a geological condition in front of a tunnel face of shield construction.

Hydrocarbon exploration and extraction can be facilitated by determining fault surfaces from fault attribute volumes. For example, a system described herein can receive a fault attribute volume for faults in a subterranean formation determined using seismic data. The fault attribute volume may include multiple traces with trace locations. The system can determine a set of fault samples for each trace location. Each fault sample can include fault attributes such as a depth value, an amplitude value, and a vertical thickness value. The system can determine additional fault attributes such as a dip value and an azimuth value for each fault sample of each trace location. The system can determine fault surfaces for the faults using the fault samples and fault attributes. The system can then output the fault surfaces for use in a hydrocarbon extraction operation.

A method and apparatus for utilizing a structured representation of a subsurface region. A method includes obtaining subsurface data for the subsurface region; and extracting the structured representation from the seismic data by: identifying geologic and fluid objects in the seismic images, wherein each object corresponds to a node of the structured representation; and identifying relationships among the identified geologic and fluid objects, wherein each relationship corresponds to an edge of the structured representation. A method further includes determining object attributes, edge attributes, and/or global attributes from the subsurface data. A method further includes inferring information from the structured representation.

Computer-implemented stratigraphic play quality generation is disclosed. Stratigraphic data can be processed from each of a plurality of respective data sources to generate conditioned stratigraphic data. From at least some of the conditioned stratigraphic data, attributes of at least one seismic sequence can be extracted, and at least one seismic surface and at least one structural element associated with at least some of the conditioned stratigraphic data can be determined. At least some of the conditioned stratigraphic data representing sedimentary layers can be correlated with seismic reflection data to ascertain a subsurface of the geologic area at a respective depth. Reservoir properties associated with the geologic area are linked to elastic properties, and a 2D model built. Moreover, 3D map can be generated that is usable for a prospective drilling plan.

A method for detecting an unknown fault in a target seismic volume. The method includes generating a number of patches from a training seismic volume that is separate from the target seismic volume, where a patch includes a set of training areas, generating a label for assigning to the patch, where the label represents a subset, of the set of training areas, intersected by an known fault specified by a user in the training seismic volume, training, during a training phase and based at least on the label and the training seismic volume, a machine learning model, and generating, by applying the machine learning model to the target seismic volume during a prediction phase subsequent to the training phase, a result to identify the unknown fault in the target seismic volume.

A method for subsurface fault extraction using undirected graphs is provided. Extracting faults in the subsurface may assist in various stages of geophysical prospecting. To that end, an undirected graph may be used in order to identify distinctive fault branches in the subsurface. Fault probability data, from seismic data, may be used to establish connections in the undirected graph. Thereafter, some of the connections in the undirected graph may be removed based on analyzing one or more attributes, such as dip, azimuth, or context, associated with the connections or nodes associated with the connections. After which, the undirected graph may be analyzed in order to extract the faults in the subsurface.

A system for seismic imaging of a subterranean geological formation, the system includes a receiver configured to obtain seismic data comprising a data volume representing a post-stacked image. The system includes a filtering module configured to: apply frequency-wavenumber (F-K) filter to the data volume extract a negative-dip structure image and apply the frequency-wavenumber (F-K) filter to the data volume extract a positive-dip structure image. The system includes a diffraction rendering module configured to: multiply the positive-dip structure image with the negative-dip structure image and generate a diffraction-enhanced seismic image representing a geological formation of the data volume.