Combined attribute displays
StSteven Lynch · 2004
Recent advances in computer graphics have made it possible to display seismic data as true three-dimensional surfaces complete with complex lighting effects. A typical 3-D seismic display has three independent components, the 3-D structure, its colouring and a variable density plane (the ‘sea level’) that cuts through the display. Each component can show a separate attribute and so the display is ideal for showing various combinations of instantaneous seismic attributes. In this paper we use 3-D seismic displays to examine a number of instantaneous attribute combinations. Of the combinations that are examined, the reflection strength structure overlaid by the seismic amplitude had the most visible benefit. It was very easy to see where the peak energy drifted away from the seismic peaks/troughs. The reverse display of seismic amplitude overlain by the reflection strength display was also informative but in a more general sense. Colouring the seismic amplitudes with the instantaneous phase was also useful in helping enhance the continuity of weak events. However, the effect was not as pronounced as one might expect because the 3-D display of the seismic data itself is very effective at resolving low amplitude events. We used the sea level plane to associate high frequency changes in the instantaneous frequency with the seismic data. The sea level plane is an excellent method of visually associating two attributes and in this case it proved better than simply colouring the instantaneous frequency with the seismic amplitudes. The high frequency spikes that protruded through the seismic sea level were visually dramatic and their association with the seismic data was obvious.