5

Seismic Tie

Contents
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
SeisTie-Force Two-Way Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Time Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Correlate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Power Spectrum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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Overview
Although checkshots usually provide a better tie to seismic than just integrating the sonic, there is always
some residual error, and some slipping and sliding of the final synthetic on the seismic. The best way to tie
a synthetic to seismic is to directly overlay the two traces and make the tie. This is sometimes not possible
for poor quality seismic data but modern seismic data with good signal to noise ratio will usually work well.
The seismic tie is often the most critical aspect of seismic interpretation. Hence, the ability to make that
tie, and make it well, should be a very important aspect of any exploration effort.
With Geolog6, Geophysics users have the tools to make an excellent tie of the well to the seismic. Although
the procedure described below can be considered equivalent to generating artificial checkshots to force a tie,
it is quite easy and very accurate. In fact, Geolog6 allows users to overlay the synthetic and seismic traces
to generate a TWTIME reference log directly, without having to go through Welltie. It is also possible to
generate artificial checkshots.
The Seismic Tie procedure involves using the interactive Depth Shift module with the vertical reference set
to TWTIME to derive a new two-way time reference directly from comparing a time seismic trace with a
time synthetic.
Phase bias, which can be a significant problem when making loop to loop seismic to synthetic correlations,
can be removed by comparing Hilbert envelopes of the two time traces. The Hilbert envelope transform is
available via the "Correlate" on page 5-5 or Envelope on page 9-5 module. Comparison is made by a direct
overplot of the synthetic and seismic trace, including their envelopes, and stretching or squeezing the
synthetic to tie the traces at various time picks.

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SeisTie-Force Two-Way Time

Use the SeisTie-Force Two-Way Time menu options to create a seismic tie, and calculate the correlation or
power spectrum of either a seismic or synthetic trace.

Time Shift
References the interactive Depth Shift on page 3-40 module (with the vertical reference set to TWTIME)
to overlay the synthetic on top of the seismic and make the tie. Note that the synthetic trace (or Envelope
on page 9-5 function) must be selected first, then, with the SHIFT key pressed, select the seismic trace (or
Envelope function). Finally, select Geophysics > SeisTie-Force TWTime(z) > Time Shift to start the Depth
Shift module.

Example of Creating a Seismic Tie

1. Load the SEGY seismic data.
2. Create a synthetic seismic trace:
Create TWTIME using a welltie method (see Compute TWTIME Reference on page 3-3).
Run Synthetic on page 4-1
3. Open seistie.layout (from the installation directory).
Select the seistieArray layout when using power spectra, or auto- or cross-correlations, in the
tie (see "Power Spectrum" on page 5-7 or "Correlate" on page 5-5 for further details).
4. Select the synthetic trace and, with the SHIFT key down, select the seismic trace.
5. Select Geophysics > Seistie-Force TWTime(z) > Time Shift and enter a set name such as
"TMATCH".
6. Pick a few points to stretch and squeeze the synthetic to match the seismic as shown in Fig. 1;
(see also Depth Shift Create Manual on page 3-40 for further information on using this
function).
7. Click Done.
8. Select Well > View > New > Text and copy the TMATCH.TWTIME_COR log to the Reference
set and rename it to REFERENCE.TWTIME.
Or, to create a new set of artificial checkshots:
copy REFERENCE.DEPTH to TMATCH;
run General > Log Copy > Log Duplicate on page 1-25, setting TMATCH.DEPTH to the
set reference of the new output checkshot set;
re-run Welltie using these checkshots.
9. Re-run Synthetic on page 4-1 to remake a synthetic traceit can go into either a new set or
the old TWTIME set.

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The tie can also be done with the Hilbert Envelope on page 9-5 of each trace but it is simpler
with the seismic and synthetic directly. The advantage is that the Hilbert envelope prevents
picking bias due to phase shifts.
An example result where the synthetic has been shifted to tie the seismic times is shown in
Fig. 2.
A list of potential errors is listed in Sources of Errors in Well to Seismic Ties on page 10-10.

Examples

Fig. 1: Using interactive Time Shift to stretch and squeeze synthetic to match Seismic CDP385

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Fig. 2: Resulting tie after re-computing synthetics using new TWTIME_COR log

Correlate
This module computes the auto- or cross-correlation of input logs over a moving window. The Envelope on
page 9-5 function of the two input logs derived from the Hilbert transform can be used to cross-correlate to
avoid phase bias. A Hanning weight used to shape the cutoff of the window may be applied to the input gate
before the correlation (the value 100 indicates the rectangular window). The output is an array log
containing the correlations.
By default, the maximum shift for cross-correlation mode is set to plus and minus half the size of the input
gate. For auto-correlation mode, it is set to one sample less than the input gate length. Only the positive
half of the auto-correlation function is output.
1. Select Geophysics > SeisTie-Force TWTime(z) > Correlate to display the tp_to_correl
module.
2. Set the values for the parameters as described in Table 5-1, "The tp_to_correl Module
Parameters" on page 5-6.

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The tp_to_correl Module

Table 5-1: The tp_to_correl Module Parameters

Parameter Name

Default

Description

CORREL_TYPE

auto

Select either:
AUTO
Computes the auto-correlation of either the seismic or the
synthetic trace using small moving windows down the trace. Autocorrelation functions are output at the center of each window to an
array log for display.
OR
CROSS
Compute the cross-correlation of the seismic and synthetic traces
over small moving windows down the traces. Cross-correlation
functions are output at the center of each window to an array log
for display. The maximum positive and negative shift of the cross
correlation function can be set by the user.

REFERENCE_TOP

Specify the top and bottom time of the first gate. If missing, the
gate will be set to the range of the input trace.

REFERENCE_BOTTOM
REFERENCE_INC

Enter a value to increment the time gate down the trace

REFERENCE_GATES times.

REFERENCE_GATES

Input gates may overlap by making REFERENCE_INC less than

REFERENCE_BOTTOM - REFERENCE_TOP. If an input gate
has more than half the frames missing, it is not processed.
Multi-gate correlations are output to an array log, positioned at the
center of each gate. The array log will have a vertical sample rate
equal to the input trace. The horizontal sample rate will also be the
same as the trace time sample rate.

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Table 5-1: The tp_to_correl Module Parameters

Parameter Name

Default

MAX_SHIFT

Description
If left blank, the maximum shift for:
auto-correlation mode is: one sample less than the input gate
length; only the positive half of the auto-correlation function is
output;
cross-correlation mode is: plus and minus half the size of the
input gate.
Change, as required.

PERCENT_FLAT

100

A Hanning weight used to shape the cutoff of the window may be

applied to the input gate before the correlation (the value 100
indicates the rectangular window).

USE_ENVELOPE

no

Set to YES to use the envelope function of the two input logs
derived from the Hilbert transform to do cross-correlation.

REFERENCE

reference.twtime

TWTIME

LOG_STAY

Log to use as a comparison.

LOG_MOVE

Log to be shifted.

LOG_OUT

correl

Change the name of the output array log, if required.

Power Spectrum
Computes and plots the Fourier amplitude and phase spectrum of an input depth or time log. Output is a
CGM plot file, and an array log, if required, containing the amplitude spectrum.
1. Select Geophysics > SeisTie-Force TWTime(z) > Power Spectrum to display the
tp_to_spectrum module.
2. Set the values for the parameters as described in Table 5-2, "The tp_to_spectrum Module
Parameters" on page 5-8.

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The tp_to_spectrum Module

Table 5-2: The tp_to_spectrum Module Parameters

Parameter Name

Default

Description

MORE_OPTIONS

no

Select YES to make available all parameters in the module which

are associated with the CGM plot file to be generated.

PLOT_TITLE

{well}

Change, if required; not available unless MORE_PLOT is set to

YES.

PLOT_LEGEND

{top}-{bottom}
{refunits}

Change, if required; not available unless MORE_PLOT is set to

YES.

PLOT_TYPE

power

Select the type of plot, POWER or AMPLITUDE, to be generated;

not available unless MORE_PLOT is set to YES.

NORM_OPTION

equalize

Specify NONE, EQUALIZE or VALUE for the amplitude spectrum;

not available unless MORE_PLOT is set to YES.

NORM_VALUE

Enter a value for maximum spectrum amplitude scaling factor; not

available unless MORE_PLOT is set to YES.

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Table 5-2: The tp_to_spectrum Module Parameters (Continued)

Parameter Name

Default

Description

FREQUENCY_SCALE

linear

Specify either a LINEAR or LOGARITHMIC scale; not available

unless MORE_PLOT is set to YES.

FREQUENCY_MIN

Multi-gate spectra may be output to an array log. Spectra will be

output at the center of each gate. Frequencies begin at
FREQUENCY_MIN and end at FREQUENCY_MAX with a sample
rate of the frequency increment, which is listed in the Well message
window.

FFT_SMOOTH_HZ

Enter a value if a smoothing window is required.

POWER_SCALE

50

Scaling factor in decibels.

REFERENCE_INC

0.5

The spectra of any interesting sections (gates) of the input log can be
displayed by defining REFERENCE_TOP, REFERENCE_BOTTOM
and REFERENCE_INC fields. By default, the gate will be set to the
whole range of the input log. The colors used in the plot will
represent the spectra from each section.

REFERENCE_GATES

Enter the number of gates (interesting sections) to use.

FREQUENCY_MAX

REFERENCE_TOP
REFERENCE_BOTTO
M

REFERENCE_ZERO

Specify the zero or start time of the input time or depth series or
wavelet. If a value is entered, the designated time or depth sample
is moved to the first position in the FFT array.
Note: This is only applied to the first gate if multiple gates are
specified.

LOG_IN_MIN

Minimum log value to plot.

LOG_IN_MAX

Maximum log value to plot.

PLOT_SINGLE

yes

Multiple gates on a single input log can be displayed individually or

overplotted on a single composite plot. Only the plot generated under
the name specified for PLOT_FILE will be automatically opened.

PLOT_LOG_IN

no

Option to plot input log.

PLOT_FILE

spectrum

Prefix for plot file.

PLOT_XSIZE

Horizontal size of plot.

PLOT_YSIZE_AMP

Vertical size of power plot.

PLOT_YSIZE_LOG

Vertical size of log plot.

PERCENT_FLAT
REFERENCE

Hanning weight to apply.

LOG_IN

reference.depth

The input time or depth log can be plotted optionally after Hanning
is applied.

LOG_OUT

If an array log is required, enter or select a log name.

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Index
A
artificial
checkshots to force a tie, generating 2
auto-correlation of trace, compute 6

C
compute
auto-correlation of trace 6
cross-correlation of trace 6
Fourier amplitude,phase spectrum 7
create
seismic tie 3
cross-correlation of trace, compute 6

P
phase bias, removing 2

S
seismic
tie, steps to create 3
steps to
create a seismic tie 3
synthetic
artificial checkshots to force a tie, generating 2
auto-correlation of trace, compute 6
cross-correlation of trace, compute 6
seismic tie, steps to create 3
tie to seismic 1

T
tie synthetic to seismic 1

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