Enhanced detection of faults using dip-steered multitrace similarity-computation techniques: Example using offshore Niger Delta 3D seismic data

Abstract

Techniques for improved detection of faults have been applied to 3D seismic data acquired over the central parts of the deepwater Niger Delta. A volume containing the dips and azimuths of the traces was first computed directly from the data. The data were enhanced by applying filters to compute two structurally improved volumes containing localized and subregional dips and azimuths of the traces. Multitrace similarity was then computed using the seismic reflectivity and subregional dip data as input. The attributes highlighted an east-northeast–west-southwest-trending zone of high dips and low-similarity anomalies representing the location of a major zone of strike-slip faulting separating a northwest-southeast-trending zone of thrusting into two compartments. Faults in the northern compartment consist of forethrusts and backthrusts verging in opposite directions, whereas faults in the southern compartment verge basinward. If the quality of data had not been improved by using these techniques, the complex structural framework might not have been seen clearly.