Frequency bandwidth enhancement using continuous wavelet transform and random noise attenuation by f-xy filtering technique – a case study from Badin oilfield, Indus basin, Pakistan

Abstract

Routine seismic data processing does not always meet the quantitative interpreters’ expectations especially in areas like Badin, where prospective thin bed B – sand interval is ambiguous throughout the seismic volume. Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) provides detailed description of seismic signal in both time and frequency without compromising on window length and a fixed time-frequency resolution over time-frequency spectrum. We present enhancement of seismic data for effective interpretation using the bandwidth extension technique. Implementing bandwidth extension, the dominant frequency increases from 18 Hz to 30 Hz and the frequency content boosted from 40 Hz to 60 Hz. Noise inclusion by the technique was suppressed by F-XY predictive filter and F-XY deconvolution with edge preserve smoothing. Phase and spectral balancing were applied to partial angle stacks to stabilize the phase rotation across the 3D survey, particularly for far offset stack. Frequency was balanced using surface consistent spectrum balancing, and subjected to trace scaling for amplitudes balance and preservation. Results of the techniques yielded unique improvement on the data resolution and subtle information about the thin sand beds were better delineated. Tuning thickness analysis reveals the usefulness of bandwidth extension, with an increase of 30% in the resolving power of thin beds.