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Perspectives

The polarity of zero-phase wavelets

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Alistair R. Brown and William L. Abriel, Associate Editors

Everyone agrees that zero phase is the data condition
that makes seismic interpretation easier and more accurate. This becomes increasingly important as an interpretation progresses from structure to stratigraphy to
hydrocarbon identification to reservoir analysis. Hence
data processing today makes every effort to deliver
the data in a zero-phase condition. We know that achieving a zero-phase wavelet is difficult, and thus it would be
helpful if authors in this journal provide a comment on
the phase of the data they are presenting in their interpretations. The beneficial properties of zero phase result
from the symmetry of the wavelet, but there are two
polarities (two versions of zero phase), depending on
how the amplitude of the wavelet relates to increases
or decreases in acoustic impedance.
SEG normal polarity refers to recorded polarity
and thus is a definition of the polarity of minimum
phase wavelets. The definition, established by the
SEG Technical Standards Committee many years ago,
states that a compressional wave arriving at the geophone causes the first break to be a deviation to negative numbers. This definition does not easily transfer to
zero-phase wavelets, so there is no universal normal for
zero-phase processed polarity. There are preferences in
regions of the world and within companies, so the zerophase processed polarity needs to be understood by the
interpreter and stated in his presentation of results.
American polarity is defined as an increase in
impedance producing a positive amplitude reflection
(peak) on the zero-phase seismic section. This is the polarity preferred by Sheriffs Encyclopedic Dictionary and
promoted by the SEG Wiki. Also, some people regard
this as normal in North America. European polarity
is defined as an increase in impedance producing a negative amplitude reflection (trough) on the zero-phase
seismic section. This is the polarity regarded as normal
in Europe and Australia. In terms of worldwide distribution, the two polarities are about equally prevalent.
The two polarities are equally useful for interpretation, so the only real issue for the seismic interpreter
is to understand which polarity he/she has and to be
confident that the data are properly zero phase. It is less
important what the interpreter names the polarity, but
the label normal is clearly not useful in our modern
interconnected world. The authors have been using
and promoting the names American polarity and
European polarity for many years, and we promote
them again here. Our new journal Interpretation should

Figure 1. American polarity hydrocarbon bright spot.

Figure 2. European polarity hydrocarbon bright spot.

not endorse one polarity or the other but rather should

encourage a more general adoption of these polarity
names. In this way, we can all communicate the interpretation of our data with greater clarity.
Today seismic data are normally displayed and interpreted on workstations in color. The most common
(and generally most useful) color scheme is blue-whitered. This double-gradational color scheme uses white
for zero amplitude, blue for positive amplitude, and red
for negative amplitude. This implementation is widespread, is the default on many workstations, and should
be totally universal. In this way there is no interaction
between color usage and the polarity definitions above.
Accordingly the polarity definitions become: American
polarity means an increase in impedance is a blue reflection; European polarity means an increase in
impedance is a red reflection.
We illustrate the two polarities with two hydrocarbon bright spots. A hydrocarbon sand that generates
a simple bright spot must be lower impedance than
the embedding rock. Thus, the decrease in impedance
is at the top and the increase is at the base. A hydrocarbon bright spot in American polarity is then redover-blue (Figure 1), and a hydrocarbon bright spot in
European polarity is blue-over-red (Figure 2).

This piece appears in Interpretation, Vol. 2, No. 1 (February 2014); p. 19F19F, 2 FIGS.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/INT2013-1202-PS.1. 2014 Society of Exploration Geophysicists and American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.

Interpretation / February 2014 19F