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A 3D seismic survey over the Intisar E field in the Ajdabiya Trough of the Sirte Basin, Libya, revealed a channel-like feature in Eocene carbonates that wraps around the pinnacle reef that contains the reservoir. We have used coherence, curvature, and spectral decomposition seismic attributes to determine the morphology and gray-level co-occurrence matrix attributes to define seismic facies within the feature. These indicated that the channel originated by submarine scouring caused by downslope movement of turbidity currents. Erosion was followed by the deposition of successive layers of carbonate debris in the channel. Stratigraphic correlations with the adjacent pinnacle reef revealed that the channel was cut during the late stage of reef growth, and a second channel formed after the Intisar E reef ceased to grow. Differences in seafloor elevation over the reef probably diverted turbidity currents so channels were not cut into the reef, breaching the reservoir. This interpreted geologic history may explain why some pinnacle reefs in the Intisar complex contained giant reservoirs, whereas others were barren.

Texture attributes describe the spatial arrangement of neighboring amplitudes values within a given analysis window. We chose a statistical texture classification method, the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), and its derived attributes, to produce a semiautomated description of the spatial arrangement of seismic facies. The GLCM is a measure of how often different combinations of neighboring pixel values occur. We tested the application of directional GLCM-based attributes for the detection of seismic variability within paleoriver features. Calculation of 3D GLCM-based attributes can be done in 13 space directions. The results of GLCM-based attribute calculation differed depending on the chosen GLCM parameters (number of gray levels, analysis window, and direction of calculation). We specifically focused on how the direction of calculation influenced the computation of attributes, while keeping other parameters constant. We first tested the workflow on a 2D training image and later ran on a real seismic amplitude volume from the Vienna Basin. Based on the GLCM-based attributes, we could map the channel features and extract them as geobodies. Additionally, we generated a new set of directional GLCM-based attributes to detect spatial changes in the seismic facies. By comparing these directional attributes, we could determine areas within the channel features having higher directional variability. Areas with higher tendency to directional variations might be associated with changes in lithology, seismic facies, or with seismic anisotropy.

We have used poststack seismic attributes to describe the fracture network of the naturally fractured Tensleep Formation at Teapot Dome, Wyoming, USA. The attributes include coherence, coherence based on spectral decomposed seismic data, attributes based on curvature, and textural attributes based on the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). Results were compared with image log interpretations of four wells. Seismic attribute analysis allowed determination of strikes and dips as well as the intensity of fractures. The GLCMbased attributes proved especially valuable for building a discrete fracture network.

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