What are the best practices for identifying patterns in seismic data using data visualization?

1 Choose the right type of visualization

Depending on your purpose and audience, you may want to use different types of visualization to display seismic data. Seismic sections are vertical slices of the earth that show the reflection amplitude of seismic waves along a line or a plane, and can be used to identify faults, fractures, folds, and other geological features. Seismic maps are horizontal views of the earth that show the variation of a seismic attribute (such as amplitude, frequency, or velocity) over an area, and can be used to locate reservoirs, traps, and anomalies. Seismic volumes are three-dimensional representations of the earth that show the spatial distribution of seismic attributes; they can be used to explore the shape, size, and orientation of geological structures and formations.

2 Apply appropriate filters and transformations

Seismic data can be prone to noise, artifacts, and distortions that can make it difficult to identify patterns and signals. To improve the quality and clarity of seismic data, filters and transformations may be necessary. Noise reduction techniques, such as smoothing, averaging, or thresholding, can reduce random or systematic noise. Deconvolution techniques, such as inverse filtering, spectral whitening, or wavelet shaping, can remove the effects of the seismic source and the earth's response on the seismic data. Migration techniques like ray tracing, finite difference, or Kirchhoff can correct the apparent position and shape of the reflectors in seismic data. All of these filters and transformations can help to highlight relevant features and change the scale or perspective of the data.

3 Use color and contrast wisely

Color and contrast are essential elements of data visualization that can influence how you perceive and interpret seismic data. Color can convey information about the magnitude, direction, or category of seismic attributes, while contrast can emphasize the differences or similarities between seismic features. However, color and contrast can also introduce biases, distortions, or illusions that can mislead or confuse you. To use color and contrast wisely, it's important to follow some general guidelines. This includes using a color scheme that is appropriate for the type and range of data, is accessible and readable for different audiences, is complementary and harmonious, and avoids clashes, conflicts, or redundancies between different colors. Additionally, use contrast to highlight the most important features of the data, to create a visual hierarchy and order among different elements, to create a balance between the foreground and background, and to avoid overloading or overwhelming viewers with too much or too little information.

4 Incorporate interactivity and animation

Interactivity and animation are advanced features of data visualization that can enhance your ability to identify patterns in seismic data. These features provide you with control, allowing you to interact with the data by zooming, panning, rotating, selecting, filtering, or modifying it. Additionally, they provide you with feedback, so that you can see how the data changes or responds to your actions or inputs. Interactivity and animation also allow for engagement with the data by creating, testing, or verifying hypotheses, questions, or scenarios about the data. Finally, these features enable storytelling by creating, sequencing, or narrating a series of visualizations that reveal the patterns, trends, or insights of the data.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?