Questions:
1) What is the difference between the Seisnetics process and other methods?

2) What is the difference between Attribute Analysis and Seisnetics?

3) How does Seisnetics handle faults?

4) How does Seisnetics interface with our existing data and interpretation workflow?

5) What software installation is involved at my site? 

6) What is the maximum size survey that may be analyzed?

Seisnetics Answers:
1) Other methods, such as auto-trackers, incorporating computerized algorithms have been used for more than a decade for “picking” seismic data. But major issues still exist such as: 1) miss-picking of the wavelet and 2) poor accuracy.  These auto-trackers use local criteria to decide how to continue the tracking. Very often the information available locally is far from being sufficient for a good decision, whatever the auto-tracker algorithm or its level of sophistication. 

As shown in the red circle (figure below), when going from left to right, the auto-tracker tends to track “up” because locally it seems to be a good solution; the correlation is similar in characteristics and in close proximity. Without knowledge of the surrounding neighbourhood we may agree with the auto-tracker. But if we have a larger view of the surrounding neighbourhood, it becomes obvious that the first solution is not a good one, the appropriate solution is just a few pixels to the right on the same horizontal line. The limitation is not on the auto-tracker algorithm, but in the methodology it self, local search cannot find global solutions.

2) Volume interpretation is the technique of using seismic data attributes to highlight features by applying thresholds on their values. The samples that are within the range are visible while the others are made invisible.
Of course, this approach works only on a given data set when a given combination of attribute values is supplied such that they result in the display of proper seismic attributes that are discriminate enough to visualize the feature of interest. And this has to be repeated for each feature. Since there is no prior criteria that will help in defining the values for a “good attribute” to highlight a given feature, this results in a very lengthy and iterative process with no guarantee of finding a solution. Volume interpretation has proven satisfactory only for highly discriminate features in coherent zones (see figure below).

3) Faults?  A basic premise of all genetic algorithms implies that correlations of DNA and solutions be based upon global rather than local criteria.  For this very reason one of the pillars of Seisnetics success is its ability to perform very well in highly faulted and complex environments.  Auto-trackers can at best provide single horizon picking up to the fault.  After that, manual efforts (occasionally difficult and time intensive) are required to estimate the next move.  Seisnetics automates this process on a volume basis and delivers hereto unattainable accuracy and speed in faulted environments.  

4) Seisnetics is designed to work in and respect your current workflow and seismic interpretation environment.  For input, we only request that you provide your seismic volume in SEGY format.  By loading from SEGY we are able to avoid many issues related to maintaining numerous database links.  The media to be provided is your choice, though DVD or FTP is preferred for the smaller jobs.  The Seisnetics processing is performed at our site and then the results are provided to the Client for review by use of the intuitive Seisnetics 3D Viewer.  The desired surfaces are selected then exported out of Seisnetics in universal ASCII format.  These surfaces are then uploaded and final interpretation takes place using the usual interpretation tools.  With Seisnetics there is no new software to maintain and no change in the normal workflow.  The only change is a significant reduction in project cycle time, reduced time spent in tedious and repetitive “picking” and greatly increased accuracy in faulted environments.

5) All loading and processing is executed at the Seisnetics site.  The Seisnetics 3D Viewer is provided on a loaner basis after processing is complete to assist with pre-interpretation and selection of the surfaces to be exported (this on Seisnetics hardware).  Exported ASCII horizons are provided on CD or DVD.  There is no software required for installation at the Client site.  

6) Large surveys can consist of many gigabytes of data.  Such surveys are not an issue with Seisnetics since processing may be conducted on a sub-volume basis and then integrated into a final solution to fully and accurately describe the complete survey area.