Curvature attributes and seismic interpretation: Case studies from Argentina basins

MARIO E. SIGISMONDI, Petrobras Energa SA, Neuqun, Argentina JUAN C. SOLDO, Heriot Watt University, Scotland

The concept of surface curvature dates from work by Gauss

in the 1820s but practical applications have only been possible with the advent of powerful workstations in recent years. In order to explain the concept of curvature, lets first focus on a two-dimensional curve on a x-y coordinate (Figure 1). This curved line can be thought of being made up of many arcs of a circle, with differing centers and radii. The curvature at any given point on this curve is the reciprocal of the radius of the particular arc at that point. It can also be defined as the derivative of the curves tangent angle with respect to position on the curve at that point. In other words, if (s) denotes the angle which the curve makes with some fixed reference axis as a function of the path length s along the curve, then k = d/ds. In terms of Cartesian coordinates x-y, tan() = dY/dX. A plane curve can be represented as a function Y = f(X) where X and Y are Cartesian coordinates. Pythagoras gives us (ds)2 = (dX)2 + (dY)2, which can be rearranged as ds/dX = [1 + (dY/dX)2]1/2. The curvature k can then be determined by directly evaluating the derivative d/ds as follows:

Figure 1. Definition of curvature k and its relationship to radii.

(1) If the X axis is tangent to the curve at the point in question, then tan () approaches d and dX approaches ds (i.e., the zero dip situation) and from equation 1 the curvature can be defined as simply the second derivative, = d2Y/dX2. We can get a sense for both the sign and magnitude of curvature of a curve if we replace these radii by normal vectors (Figure 2). In this case, we are following the convention proposed by Roberts (2000). As indicated in Figure 2, it is quite simple to understand how the arrangement of these vectors indicates where the curve bends (i.e., the vectors are diverging, converging, or parallel). Planar surfaces have zero curvature, anticlines positive curvature, and synclines negative curvature. Another useful property of the curvature attribute is that it is independent of orientation of the surface, which is not the case with first derivative attributes such as dip or edge. This concept is straightforwardly extended to three dimensions (Figure 3) because by cutting any surface with a plane, we can make a curve from which the curvature can be calculated. If we cut this surface with an orthogonal plane, we obtain what is known as normal curvature (Roberts, 2001). From any two sets of orthogonal normal curvature values, we can calculate other curvature attributes such us mean curvature, Eulers curvature, Gaussian curvature, etc. Equation 1 shows that curvature depends on the second derivative of the function. This means that our data should be filtered to reduce or remove any noise and tracking mispicks, etc. It is necessary, therefore, to run spatial filters using varying grid densities and to use many algorithms (median filters, despike filters, distance weighted filters,
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Figure 2. Sign convention adopted for values of curvature.

Figure 3. 3D surface intercepted by several orthogonal sets of planes and defining a few types of curvature (modified from Roberts, 2001).

etc.). Sometimes it is necessary to iterate this filtering, but one should take care not to over smooth the data to the point that all surface irregularities are removed. A balance should be kept between removing noise but maintaining surface information. Visualization is routinely used in seismic interpretation,

Figure 4. Smoothed version of the time structure map.

Figure 7. Maximum curvature attribute of the interpreted horizon. The graben is within the circle.

Figure 8. Most negative curvature attribute and related detailed features. Figure 5. W-E inline over a graben feature.

Figure 6. Dip map, top of Piedra Clavada Formation structure map.

Figure 9. Smoothed version of the time structure map at base of Vaca Muerta Formation.

especially when the intention is to identify changes in the geometry and shape of the interpreted surface (faulting or subtle trends). A good color map with an appropriate range of values can enhance discontinuities, even if they are subtle.

Special care must be taken with the color ramp and the color spectrum range because if we use many base colors, we can lose some definition. On the other hand, by using too few colors or strong contrasts such as black and white, we can obscure results.
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Figure 10. Seismic section showing graben in Rio Neuqun Field.

Figure 13. Gaussian curvature, base of Vaca Muerta Formation.

Figure 11. Dip map of the time structure map.

Figure 14. Most negative curvature, base of Vaca Muerta Formation.

Figure 12. Maximum curvature, base of Vaca Muerta Formation.

Data examples from Argentina. The first data example is from a 3D survey (bin size = 25 25 m, nominal fold = 36) from Magallanes Basin, Argentina. The area of interest is approximately 40 km2. The interpreted time horizon is a seismic marker within Palermo Aike Formation, an Upper Cretaceous shale and sandstone deltaic sequence (equivalent to Piedra Clavada Formation). It was interpreted along a 10 10 line/crossline grid and then autotracked over the entire area. Next a series of filters was applied to obtain a
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Figure 15. Time structure map of glauconitic marker.

time structure map or TSM (Figure 4). As can be seen, some features need special consideration. In the lower center of the map is a graben structure that can also be observed on the seismic section (Figure 5). Figure 6 shows the dip

Figure 16. Most positive curvature, glauconitic marker.

attribute from the top of Piedra Clavada Formation TSM (Figure 4). The color map adopted for visualization is a black and white scheme, which aids interpretation. While there is a good discrimination of the fault system in the area, let us compare this to a curvature attribute called maximum curvature or Kmax (Figure 7). This attribute can be explained with reference to Figure 3: of all the orthogonal planes that intercept our 3D surface, the one that describes the maximum absolute curvature is called maximum curvature. The color map in Figure 7 was selected to bring out the main faults. Faults are clearly delimited by the juxtaposition of red against dark blue, where red represents the downthrown side and dark blue the upthrown side of the fault. This allows us to distinguish between faults (juxtaposition of color) and other linear features, such as ridges and valleys. This type of discrimination is not possible with the dip attribute. With this additional throw information in the Kmax map in Figure 7, the graben (circled feature) can now be easily delimited without the need to refer to a seismic section. Another attribute called most negative curvature (Kmn) also helps identify very subtle surface lineaments contained within the surface. Clearly, the detailed interpretive quality has been improved by the use of curvature attributes (Figure 8). The second data example comes from a 3D survey over Rio Neuqun Field, in Neuqun Basin. The TSM in Figure 9 represents the base of Vaca Muerta Formation, an Upper Jurassic (Titonian) transgressive marine sequence that is the source rock for the majority of Neuqun Basin. The area of study is approximately 40 km2 (bin = 30

Figure 17. Curvedness with 1, 2, 3, and 5 aperture ratio, glauconitic marker.

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ness with different ratio aperture and the sensitive features of the fault patterns. An attribute comparison. During the course of this work, much discussion occurred with colleagues about curvature attributes. Can we compare both classical attributes and curvature attributes? Is there a way to see both of them at once and make a difference map? The answer is yes and no. In order to compare curvature with dip values, they must be normalized to a common scale; that is why we answer no to our questions. In Figure 18, two sets of data attributes are plotted together with the values of TWT (two-way traveltime) from Austral Basin. Dark blue indicates values of twoway traveltime for an inline over the graben structure. Values of mean curvature are magenta and dip values are olive green. As we can see, there is a large contrast in values of mean curvature as compared to dip values. This is also true in Figure 19, where we compare the most negative curvature attribute with dip values. The curvature values show a much larger increase across the faulted areas (i.e., higher contrast). The greater the contrast (on an appropriate color map), the better the visualization result and the easier to discriminate faults. Conclusion. Curvature attribute maps are a powerful tool for visualization and interpretation of structural features. Several curvature attributes were introduced, explained, and illustrated with two data sets. In both cases, they have improved the interpretation and structural understanding. Finally, a comparison between common dip attribute and various curvature attributes has been made in order to highlight the main differences between them. In both cases, a higher contrast in the curvature attribute helps to better identify the fault system.
Suggested reading. Curvature attributes and their application to 3D interpreted horizons by Roberts (First Break, 2001). Detection of abnormal strain in structures using Gaussian curvature analysis by Lisle (AAPG Bulletin, 1994). Numerical methods for computing interfacial mean curvature by Bullard et al. (in Computational Materials Science 4, Elsevier, 1995). Seismic attributes technology for reservoir forecasting and monitoring by Chen and Sidney (TLE, 1997). Predicting natural fracture distribution in reservoir from 3D seismic estimates of structural curvature by Belfield (2000 SPE Rocky Mountain Regional/Low Permeability Reservoir Symposium and Exhibition). TLE
Acknowledgments: We thank the management of the Development and Production Division of Petrobras Energa SA for allowing the data sets to be presented. Special thanks to colleagues Peter (the highlander) McGregor, Santiago Benotti, and Diego Lenge from Petrobras Energa SA for general and helpful discussions. Also we thank Andy Roberts from Enterprise Oil Norge for assistance with the software and his big contribution to applied reservoir geophysics. Bruce Hart developed the "CurvZ software" to run the curvedness and other attributes. Corresponding author: msigismo@petrobrasenergia.com; juan.soldo@ pet.hw.ac.uk

Figure 18. Comparison of seismic attributes (normalized values); magenta = mean curvature and olive green = dip.

Figure 19. Comparison of seismic attributes (normalized values); magenta = most negative curvature and olive green = dip.

30 m, nominal fold = 30). This horizon was interpreted on a 5 5 inline/crossline grid and then autotracked. The graben structure feature in the center of Figure 9 is also clearly seen on the seismic section in Figure 10. The dip map in Figure 11 also highlights this structural feature. Once again, in light colors (white to light gray), we can see the main graben faulting and the associated minor internal faults. However, although this map adequately delineates the fault system, curvature attribute maps reveal even more detail and surface information. The attribute in Figure 12 (maximum curvature) clearly shows the graben structures and uses a similar color scheme to Figure 7. Figures 13 and 14 illustrate other additional curvature attributes, respectively Gaussian curvature (Lisle, 1994) and most negative curvature. These two attributes also help identify the faults of the graben. The third example also comes from a 3D survey in Austral Basin. The TSM (Figure 15) represents the top of the glauconitic marker in Chimn Aike Field. The study area covers nearly 123 km2, with the follow acquisition parameters: BS = 25 25 m, fold = 30, and offset = 3089 m. Figure 16 shows the most positive curvature, and 17 the curved1126 THE LEADING EDGE NOVEMBER 2003