A deterministic evaluation of seismic fidelity using velocity modeling and attribute analysis to improve surface seismic imaging around Vinton Dome Louisiana

Inadequate spatial subsurface fidelity is a common problem with 3D seismic data acquired near salt domes, especially on land. Amelioration of this problem is the main objective of this research. In this study I used 3D surface seismic data acquired over Vinton Dome. Vinton Dome is a piercement dome located in Calcasieu Parish, southwest Louisiana. The acquisition was specifically designed to image the dome's flanks and adjacent dipping strata. The seismic data were originally prestack time migrated (PSTM). The PSTM imaging was unable to produce interpretable images of the flanks of the dome and several small, faulted reservoir compartments.; To accomplish my main goal of improving the spatial fidelity of the subsurface imaging, I decided to image the data using prestack depth migration (PSDM). The results of the study show that using an initial sediment, interval velocity model derived from sonic logs improved spatial subsurface fidelity. The improvement in fidelity was most apparent at the salt flanks of the dome and in the numerous fault reservoir blocks. I present detailed comparisons of the three image volumes in these areas. The methodology used in this thesis is applicable to any of piercement-type dome on the upper Gulf Coast Continental margin.