Enhancing seismic feature orientations: A novel approach using directional derivatives and Hilbert transform of gradient structure tensor

Abstract

Seismic dip calculation serves as a widely employed technique in the realms of seismic interpretation and reservoir characterization, strategically employed to highlight faults and attributes within the seismic volume. Among the various methodologies utilized for estimating structural dip and azimuth, the Gradient Structure Tensor (GST) stands out. This approach involves leveraging the dominant eigenvector of the positive definite GST matrix to ascertain the inline and crossline dip of seismic data.

In the initial phase of our innovative proposal, we employed the spectral balancing technique to enhance the fidelity of seismic data. Subsequently, leveraging this groundwork, we introduced an Analytical Directional Gradient Structure Tensor technique, a distinctive adaptation of GST. This novel approach involves the calculation of directive derivatives in both perpendicular and parallel directions to seismic features. By incorporating directive derivatives, our method excels in capturing subtle stratigraphic nuances, particularly in the dipping direction of interest. To validate the accuracy and effectiveness of our approach, we present compelling evidence through the examination of synthetic and real-field seismic volume outcomes. This underscores the robustness and reliability of our proposed method in enhancing the precision of seismic dip calculations and providing valuable insights into subsurface geological features.