Application of a Variational Mode Decomposition-Based Instantaneous Centroid Estimation Method to a Carbonate Reservoir in China

Abstract

A novel hydrocarbon detection technique named the variational mode decomposition (VMD)-based instantaneous centroid method is proposed in this letter. It reveals frequency-dependent amplitude anomalies that may reflect some details deeply buried within the intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) in particular frequency bands. Instantaneous amplitude and instantaneous frequency information from each IMF are used to generate each IMF instantaneous centroid. A weighted correlation scheme is employed to generate the VMD-based instantaneous centroid volume for a seismic trace. Model testing and field data from a carbonate reservoir in China illustrate that the VMD-based instantaneous centroid method can provide a better hydrocarbon-prone interpretation with a higher resolution and accuracy. Comparisons between the VMD-based instantaneous centroid method and the short-time Fourier transform, and continuous wavelet transform and prestack wave impedance inversion technology indicate that the proposed method is more convenient and can effectively target gas reservoirs. This letter presents a complementary approach to current methods used to extract frequency-dependent amplitude anomaly information.