GEOPHYSICS Flashcards
A single seismic trace.
1-D seismic data
A check-shot survey of a well, which can be used to correct the sonic log and generate a synthetic seismogram that displays changes in amplitude versus traveltime.
1-D seismic data
A vertical section of seismic data consisting of numerous adjacent traces acquired sequentially.
2D seismic data
A group of 2D seismic lines acquired individually, as opposed to the multiple closely spaced lines acquired together that constitute 3D seismic data.
2D seismic data
Seismic data or a group of seismic lines acquired individually such that there typically are significant gaps (commonly 1 km or more) between adjacent lines. A 2D survey typically contains numerous lines acquired orthogonally to the strike of geological structures (such as faults and folds) with a minimum of lines acquired parallel to geological structures to allow line-to-line tying of the seismic data and interpretation and mapping of structures.
2D survey
A type of multicomponent seismic data acquired in a land, marine, or borehole environment by using three orthogonally oriented geophones or accelerometers. 3C is particularly appropriate when the addition of a hydrophone (the basis for 4C seismic data) adds no value to the measurement, as for example, on land. This technique allows determination of both the type of wave and its direction of propagation.
3C seismic data
A set of numerous closely-spaced seismic lines that provide a high spatially sampled measure of subsurface reflectivity. Typical receiver line spacing can range from 300 m [1000 ft] to over 600 m [2000 ft], and typical distances between shotpoints and receiver groups is 25 m [82 ft] (offshore and internationally) and 110 ft or 220 ft [34 to 67 m] (onshore USA, using values that are even factors of the 5280 feet in a mile). Bin sizes are commonly 25 m, 110 ft or 220 ft. The resultant data set can be “cut” in any direction but still display a well sampled seismic section. The original seismic lines are called in-lines. Lines displayed perpendicular to in-lines are called crosslines. In a properly migrated 3D seismic data set, events are placed in their proper vertical and horizontal positions, providing more accurate subsurface maps than can be constructed on the basis of more widely spaced 2D seismic lines, between which significant interpolation might be necessary. In particular, 3D seismic data provide detailed information about fault distribution and subsurface structures. Computer-based interpretation and display of 3D seismic data allow for more thorough analysis than 2D seismic data.
3D seismic data
The acquisition of seismic data as closely spaced receiver and shot lines such that there typically are no significant gaps in the subsurface coverage. A 2D survey commonly contains numerous widely spaced lines acquired orthogonally to the strike of geological structures and a minimum of lines acquired parallel to geological structures to allow line-to-line correlation of the seismic data and interpretation and mapping of structures.
3D survey
Four-component (4C) borehole or marine seismic data are typically acquired using three orthogonally-oriented geophones and a hydrophone within an ocean-bottom sensor (deployed in node-type systems as well as cables). Provided the system is in contact with the seabed or the borehole wall, the addition of geophones allows measurement of shear (S) waves, whereas the hydrophone measures compressional (P) waves.
4C seismic data
Three-dimensional (3D) seismic data acquired at different times over the same area to assess changes in a producing hydrocarbon reservoir with time. Changes may be observed in fluid location and saturation, pressure and temperature. 4D seismic data is one of several forms of time-lapse seismic data. Such data can be acquired on the surface or in a borehole.
4D seismic data
A term to indicate features in seismic data other than reflections, including events such as diffractions, multiples, refractions and surface waves. Although the term suggests that such events are not common, they often occur in seismic data.
abnormal events
The range of wavelengths of energy that can be absorbed by a given substance.
absoprtion band
An algorithm used in numerical simulation along the boundary of a computational domain to absorb all energy incident upon that boundary and to suppress reflection artifacts.
absorbing boundary conditions
The ratio of absorbed incident energy to the total energy to which a body is exposed.
absorptance
The property of some liquids or solids to soak up water or other fluids. The natural gas dehydration process uses glycols (liquids) that absorb the water vapor to finally obtain dehydrated gas. In the same way, light oil, also called absorption oil, is used to remove the heavier liquid hydrocarbons from a wet gas stream to obtain dry gas.
absorption
The conversion of one form of energy into another as the energy passes through a medium. For example, seismic waves are partially converted to heat as they pass through rock.
absorption
A device used during surveying to measure the acceleration of a ship or aircraft, or to detect ground acceleration in boreholes or on the Earth’s surface produced by acoustic vibrations.
accelerometer
Pertaining to sound. Generally, acoustic describes sound or vibrational events, regardless of frequency. The term sonic is limited to frequencies and tools operated in the frequency range of 1 to 25 kilohertz.
acoustic
In geophysics, acoustic refers specifically to P-waves in the absence of S-waves (i.e., in fluids, which do not support S-waves, or in cases in which S-waves in solids are ignored).
acoustic
An obsolete piece of equipment that converts acoustic signals from analog to electrical form and back. A common use of an acoustic coupler was to provide an interface between a telephone and an early type of computer modem.
acoustic coupler
A type of elastic wave produced by deformation or brittle failure of material and characterized by relatively high frequency.
acoustic emission
The product of density and seismic velocity, which varies among different rock layers, commonly symbolized by Z. The difference in acoustic impedance between rock layers affects the reflection coefficient.
acoustic impedance
A seismic reflectivity section, or a 2D or 3D seismic section, that has been inverted for acoustic impedance. Sonic and density logs can be used to calibrate acoustic impedance sections.
acoustic impedance section
A display of traveltime of acoustic waves versus depth in a well. The term is commonly used as a synonym for a sonic log. Some acoustic logs display velocity.
acoustic log