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The effect of intra-trappean heterogeneities on seismic data: A case study from the Deccan Traps

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Abstract

Hydrocarbon exploration interests have renewed the need for developing new sub basalt imaging techniques. One of the most important problems encountered today is seismic imaging below basalt. In recent years, this problem appears to have been overcome partly by using long offset seismic data. However near offset data are yet to be fully utilised due to the complex waveform caused by the surface as well as internal heterogeneity of the basalts. The near normal incidence data, which influence the sub-basalt imaging, are highly useful to understand the internal structure within a basalt layer. The use of converted waves for such targets has been proposed as an alternative in a rather homogeneous basalt layer. With a few synthetic modelling exercises here we highlight the practical difficulties in dealing with more realistic and heterogeneous basalt flow. Full waveform seismograms are computed to understand the effects of intra-trappean sediments on the seismic data. A case study from the Deccan Traps of India is presented in this paper. First, we discuss the effects of intercalated sediments on the overall seismic image. Later, the sonic log data from the field are used to compute the full wave-field response using the reflectivity method and compared with the field data. The feasibility of using mode converted waves (P to S and vice-versa at the top and bottom basalt interfaces) for sub-basalt imaging in Kutch region is discussed through a series of velocity-depth profiles. By comparing with the field data we demonstrate that the effects of multiple thin layering within the basalt can strongly deteriorate the image we seek to interpret and exploit.

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Author notes

  1. Dhananjai Pandey

    Present address: National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bullard Laboratories, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, UK, CB3 0EZ

    Dhananjai Pandey

  2. Laboratoire de G’eosciences Marines, IPG Paris 4 Place Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France

    Satish Singh

  3. SOES, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK, SO14 3ZH

    Martin Sinha

  4. Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping Plc., Aberdeen, UK, AB23 8GD

    Lucy MacGregor

Authors
  1. Dhananjai Pandey
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  2. Satish Singh
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  3. Martin Sinha
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  4. Lucy MacGregor
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Correspondence to Dhananjai Pandey.

Additional information

Dhananjai Pandeyreceived his M. Sc. (Tech) in Exploration Geophysics from Banaras Hindu University in 1997, India followed by Doctorate degree from University of Cambridge (2003), UK. His doctoral work was based on using long offset data from the Deccan Traps of India for sub-basalt imaging. His major research interests are wide-angle seismic data modeling and inversion for crustal structure determination. His professional experience includes both working in academic as well as industrial research. He has been working as marine geophysicist at National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa, India. Presently he is working as post doctoral researcher in geophysical computing at National Oceanography Centre Southampton, UK.

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Pandey, D., Singh, S., Sinha, M. et al. The effect of intra-trappean heterogeneities on seismic data: A case study from the Deccan Traps. Appl. Geophys. 4, 183–193 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-007-0033-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-007-0033-8

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