Fresh on the heels of the 2017 SEG workshop dedicated to the role of geophysics in unconventional plays, the present talk will consider a small, but important, subset of that workshop theme, namely seismic processing challenges which arise in unconventional reservoir development. While some of these challenges, for example the ubiquitous quest for higher frequencies, were earmarked as important topics long before the advent of the unconventional realm, others, such as azimuthal imaging and low-frequency preservation, have seen a relatively recent ascent to prominence correlating directly with the unconventional boom. Collectively these processing challenges have cast renewed focus on some existing tools and concepts (e.g., AVO-compliant processing, refraction statics, deconvolution and coherent noise suppression), while forcing rapid adoption of new technologies like 5D interpolation.
For example, the images below demonstrate the reinvigoration of an existing AVO-compliant processing algorithm known as surface-consistent (SC) amplitude scaling. Specifically, these images show the action of a novel type of SC scaling, essentially a frequency-dependent extension of the unbiased scaling approach of Nagarajappa and Cary (2015), applied to a dataset shot over the the Kansas Mississippian Trend. Figure (a) shows f-x amplitude spectra (top) and time-domain stack (bottom) before applying the scaling and Figure (b) shows the corresponding displays after scaling. Note the improved continuity in bandwidth and improved amplitude balancing on the stack in (b) after applying the new technique.
This talk will dissect a modern unconventional processing flow and examine key processing steps including the one shown in the above example. Real data examples will be shown throughout and the presentation will end with a candid overview of outstanding challenges.
References
Nirupama Nagarajappa* and Peter Cary (2015), Unbiased surface-consistent scalar estimation by crosscorrelation. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2015: pp. 2337-2341.
Speaker Biography: Mike Perz, TGS
Mike Perz holds a BSc in Physics (University of Toronto) and an MSc in Geophysics (University of British Columbia). Upon graduating in 1993, he joined Pulsonic Geophysical as a seismic processing applications programmer, and four years later moved to Geo-X Systems Ltd. (later Divestco Inc.), first writing code then managing the processing R&D group. In 2010, Mike joined Arcis Corporation where he was employed as Vice President of Technology and Integration at the time that organization was purchased by TGS in 2012. He remains at TGS up to this day with a position of Director, Technology and Innovation, a role whose primary mandate is to demonstrate the value of seismic in unconventional resource development. Mike’s research interests have historically spanned all elements of land processing, including deconvolution, refraction statics, interpolation, and azimuthal imaging. Mike served as Technical Chairman for the 2007 CSEG convention and has received several Best Paper, Best Presentation and Honorable Mention awards from both the CSEG and the SEG.