Seismic resolution enhancement by the Curvelet transform

Abstract

Zone A in Nanpu Sag of Bohai Bay has the characteristics of multiple provenances, multiple sedimentary systems, fast phase transition, many faults, a short fault distance, thin reservoirs and rapid lateral changes. At present, due to the low resolution of seismic data and thin sand layer of the target formation, it is difficult to depict the channel sand body, and it is also difficult to meet the requirements of accurately implementing low amplitude structures, reservoir prediction and well location deployment. When a seismic wave propagates in the stratum, it has the characteristics of multi-scale, multi-resolution and multi-directionality, while the Curvelet transform has the advantage of expressing these characteristics. In this paper, according to the geological characteristics and seismic response characteristics of continental thin interbedded strata in zone A, the seismic data are first transformed to the Curvelet domain. Then, the formation absorption and seismic wave attenuation are compensated in the Curvelet domain. Lastly, the data mentioned above are inversely transformed into the time–space domain. This paper presents the method and process of using the Curvelet transform to enhance the resolution of seismic data in thin interbedded strata. The application of a theoretical model and field data show that this method can effectively enhance the resolution of seismic data while maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio. The innovative use of this method in zone A lays the foundation for the follow-up work of this structure.

KEYWORDS:

• Asia
• high resolution
• processing
• poststack
• seismic exploration
• transform

Acknowledgements

In the process of revising the manuscript, the editor and reviewers have put forward many valuable constructive opinions for this paper. I would like to express my gratitude here.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by East China Institute of Technology [grant number DHBK2019222].