Use of Geostatistics to Assess Seismic Data Quality at Processing and Interpretation Stages

The recent development of geostatistical tools in the seismic processing and interpretation software packages encourages us to develop methodological approaches to better assess the quality of seismic data and, if applicable, filter them in an efficient manner. the seismic velocity case is used as an example to illustrate such an approach. At the seismic processing stage, the self-consistency of the stacking velocity field is studied using conventional geostatistical tools in order to detect picking anomalies. At the interpretation stage well data are used to better separate the useful geological information from the seismic noise and artefacts. This approach requires a reliable estimation of the non-stationary component of the velocity field and an appropriate covariance model using up-to-date geostatistical software packages and fully trained geoscientists. A close interaction between geostatistical analysis and geophysical interpretation has to be maintained throughout the process. The approach can be adapted to other types of seismic data such as impedance volumes.