Pseudo-3D techniques for analysis and interpretation of high-resolution marine seismic reflection data

The increasing quality and resolution of marine seismic reflection data, as well as their availability in digital form within large data sets, require the development and testing of new techniques to improve their interpretation. In this work, we present a case study dealing with application of 3D techniques to a set of 2D shallow-water data, where the effect of lateral reflections/diffractions can be neglected. We show how such techniques can be effective in highlighting geological properties/features of the seafloor and sub-seafloor, including reflectivity analysis of prominent horizons, seismic facies classification based on definition of acoustic properties, and compilation of a "flattened" version of seismic sections, by time shifting a particular reflector to a horizontal reference level. This latter technique enables compilations of pseudo-3D grids of seismic volumes, that could be subsequently sampled (time sliced) allowing for compilation of seismic amplitude and reflectivity maps which could be used to infer geological properties and processes.