Interpretation of Seismic

Amplitude
Dr. Maman Hermana
Which arrow will move first when
hammer strikes plate?
Velocity is related to stiffness of spring
Velocity is related to stiffness of total
rock
Stress- Strain Relationships
 Primary and Shear Waves
(Isotropic, Elastic Medium)
Bulk Moduli
Revisiting the Components of Bulk
Modulus
Effective Medium Averaging
Fluid Substitution Combination of
theoretical and Empirical Models
 Estimating Matrix Bulk Modulus
 Lower Limit (Reuss)
 Upper Limit (Voight)
 Mixing Models (Hill)
Estimating Fluid Properties Kfl and 
Definition of Pore Fluid Terms
The effect of Temperature on Gas
Density
 Gassmann’s Equation
Fluid Substitution Model
What’s Known.... What Unknown?
Gassmann Equation
Knowns and Unknowns Variables
Gassmann Equation
 Velocity Predictions
Gassmann’s Equation
Velocity vs Sw and 
Unconsolidated Sand
 Gassmann’s Fluid Substitution
Steps

1. Calculate the total and Fluid bulk moduli of in-situ

condition
2. Estimate Bulk modulus of matrix (using rock Physics
model V-R-H model)
3. Estimate of K dry
4. Estimate fluid properties (fl) using Batzle-Wang eqs.
5. Estimate Bulk modulus of saturated rock
6. Calculate Vp of saturated rock
7. Calculate Vs of saturated rock (µdry / saturated)1/2
Factor Affecting Seismic Velocity
 GASSMANN’S Fluid REPLACEMENT

3600

GASSMANN FLUID
3400
REPLACEMENT (1951)
Vp 3200

3000

2800
GAS
2600 GAS 100%
WATER OIL
2400 EFFECT

2200

Vs 2000

1800
0 20 40 60 80 100

Gas Saturation Water

23
Recognizing Hydrocarbon Signature
(Amplitude Interpretation)
 Outline

 Direct Hydrocarbon Indicator

 Diagnostic factors :
 Wavelet shape
 Amplitude: Background and angle comparison
 Other seismic parameters

 Field examples
Seismic Application in Petroleum
Exploration

 Seismic Application in Petroleum Exploration

26 (Courtesy Nissen)
 Hydrocarbon indicator
 Bright Spot (1970)
 DEFINING AMPLITUDE

 The term amplitudes in geophysical evaluation

sometimes, is used loosely to mean
any or all of the following:
 Reflection strength (Sweetness).
 Reflectivity.
 AVO.
 Acoustic impedance. (AI)
 Elastic impedance. (EI)
 Vp/Vs
 Poisson’s ratio
 Fluid factor.
SEISMIC ATTRIBUTES
1970s Amplitude Anomalies
Amplitude Anomalies
1973 : Early Observations of Near and
Far Offsets
1990s : Hydrocarbon Classes
Classification of AVO Responses
Class 1, 2 and 3
Linear Approximation
Class 1, 2, & 3
AVO Anomaly
Recognizing Class 3 AVO Anomalies
(bright spot)
 Summary of Class 3
AVO Hydrocarbon Signatures
 Class 2 AVO
Hydrocarbon Signatures
Class 2- Angle Stack
Class 2- Angle Stack
Class 2 – CDP Gathers
• The well A that was dry:
• (channel filled with
carbonaceous shale
• a flat or falling
AVO.

• The discovery well B

• A rising AVO
response.
Summary of Class 2
 Class 1
AVO Hydrocarbon Signatures
Recognizing Class 1 AVO
(Dim Out)
Class 1 Angle Stacks
Class 1 – CDP Gathers
Summary of Class 1 AVO
Direct Hydrocarbon Indicator
DHI
Phase Reversal
Amplitude shut off
Geology Constraints
 FACTORS AFFECTING SEISMIC
AMPLITUDES

1. Wave Field Divergence or Spreading

2. Angle dependent Reflection and Transmission losses
3. Angle dependent Ghosting in Marine situation
4. Inelastic Absorption
5. Internal Peg-leg Multiple energy loss
6. Geometric effect of structures causing Focusing /
Defocusing
7. Scattering and non Specular reflection
8. Mode Conversion (P->S)
SIGNIFICANCE OF AMPLITUDES

1. Quality of sand: Net-to-Gross.

2. Porosity.
3. Pore fill: gas, oil or brine.
4. Lithology, hard on soft shale, coal.
5. Thickness of bed.
6. Shale anisotropy.
7. Exaggerated by tuning.
8. Reduced by depth (compaction)
9. Hard streak. ( positive amplitudes )
SAND QUALITY FROM AMPLITUDE
Rock physics trend in Malay Basin

 shows the distribution of

acoustic impedance in the
Malay Basin.

 Note that with depth the

hydrocarbon effect is less
pronounced and that it
becomes more difficult to
separate the oil from the gas
response.

 The solid lines shown in the

figure are the mean
values of each of the fluids
 Conclusions
 Not all bright spots are DHI. For example: the
following can cause a bright spot
• Hard shale on soft shale.
• Brine sand.
• Anisotropy.

 DHIs are best studied in the AVO-Inversion domain. However,

on the stacked section the DHIs have recognizable patterns that
an experienced interpreter can detect.
• Structural conformity
• Seismic character: polarity and phase.
• Low frequency response.
• Phase and polarity change.
• Fluid contact.
• Flat spot. 65 (Courtesy Nissen)
• Amplitude shut off.