Optimized ant tracking algorithm for fault and fracture detection: A case study from a southern Iran oilfield

Abstract

Faults and fractures are crucial geological structures in hydrocarbon exploration, influencing fluid flow, hydrocarbon accumulation and reservoir dynamics. The current study focuses on identifying faults and fractures in both vertical and horizontal seismic sections of a southern Iran oilfield. By enhancing exploration strategies and resource discovery through the optimized application of the ant-tracking technique, this research utilizes Three-dimensional seismic data and cross sections to interpret faults and fractures. In this study, an optimized ant-tracking algorithm was applied, in which variance and smoothing attributes were integrated with the standard ant-tracking approach. By incorporating these seismic attributes, fault locations and geometries were determined with greater clarity, noise was reduced, and spurious trends were eliminated. This optimization enhanced fault visibility and continuity, thereby allowing a more accurate detection and interpretation of fault and fracture networks. Analyzing the dip and azimuth of sedimentary layers revealed a salt dome in the oilfield. At the dome's crest, major NW-SE trending normal faults form a graben structure. Additionally, minor NW-SE normal faults and related steep conjugate fractures were identified using the optimized ant-tracking algorithm.