The thickness of many reservoirs is only a fraction of the vertical dimension spanned by the dominant wavelength of the seismic wavelet that illuminates and images those reservoirs. Such reservoirs are referred to as seismic thin beds. The purpose of this module is to demonstrate how seismic reflection amplitude can be used to interpret reservoirs that have thicknesses less than one-fourth of the dominant wavelength of the illuminating wavefield.

The following exercise will lead you through the process of using seismic reflection amplitude to interpret thin-bed reservoirs. As you work through the exercise, you will examine the effects of changing the frequency content of the illuminating seismic wavelet and will image a simple wedge model with low-frequency and high-frequency wavelets. You will learn what determines whether a thin bed is resolved or detected by the illuminating wavefield. You will also consider the question "What effect do shale stringers within a thin bed have on the thin-bed reflection response?" This analysis will be used to develop rules to follow when estimating net pay in heterogeneous thin beds.

To proceed, click on the color-coded pathway in the design flowchart. Use the glossary to gain a better understanding of key terms and definitions. To receive guidance when making decisions for any step in the process, click on "Ask the Expert" from the menu. As you work through the steps in the exercise, you will develop an understanding of concepts and techniques that can be used to identify and interpret thin beds using seismic reflection amplitudes and simple models.