Application Of Spectral Decomposition For Structural And Stratigraphy Identification In Central Niger Delta

Authors

Keywords:

Spectral Decomposition, Continuous Wavelet Transform, Short-Time Fourier Transform, Fault, Channels, Point bars

Abstract

This comprehensive study evaluates the efficacy of Spectral Decomposition in refining seismic data interpretation, particularly in identifying subtle geological features such as faults, channels, and point bars. Utilizing Petrel and OpendTect software packages, we analyzed 3D seismic datasets from both land and marine environments, employing a multi-stage approach that involved conventional seismic interpretation methods and advanced Spectral Decomposition techniques. Our results demonstrate that Spectral Decomposition significantly outperforms conventional methods in delineating faults and channels, revealing structural and stratigraphic traps that are often obscured in traditional time-slice analyses. By enhancing the visibility of sub-seismic faults and complex geological features, Spectral Decomposition enables geologists and geophysicists to improve well placement accuracy, target prospective zones more effectively, and optimize exploration and production strategies. This study highlights the potential of Spectral Decomposition to revolutionize seismic data interpretation and its applications in hydrocarbon exploration.

Dimensions

Ambati, V., Mahadasu, N. B., & Nair, R. R. (2021). Reservoir wellbore stability analysis and weak zones identification using the 1d mem, swelling tests and ucs: A case study from mumbai offshore, India. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 47, 1-23. DOI.10.1007/s13369-021-05530-w

Aminu, M. B., & Ojo, S. B. (2018). Application of spectral decomposition and neural networks to characterise deep turbidite systems in the outer fold and thrust belt of the Niger Delta. Geophysical Prospecting, 66, 736–752. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2478.12569

Ashique, S., & Samiranjan, B. (2010). Use of ant-track volume in horizontal well placement. 8th Biennial International Conference & Exposition on Petroleum Geophysics, Paper 296.

Asim, S., Ahmad, S., Zhu, P., Naseer, M. T., & Butt, M. (2016). Spectral decomposition application for analyzing the structure and the reservoir potential: A case study of Penobscot, Nova Scotia offshore, Canada. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9, 66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2168-x

Castagna, J. P., Sun, S. and Siegfried, R. W., (2003). Instantaneous spectral analysis: Detection of low-frequency shadows associated with hydrocarbons. The Leading Edge, 22(2), 120-127. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1559038

Chakraborty, A., & Okaya, D. (1995). Frequency-time decomposition of seismic data using wavelet-based methods. Geophysics, 60(6), 1906–1916. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1443922

Chopra, S. and Marfurt K, J., (2007). Seismic Attributes for Prospect Identification and Reservoir Characterization. SEG Geophysical Development Series No. 11. 45 - 72. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.9781560801900

Chopra, S., & Marfurt, K. J. (2015). Choice of mother wavelets in CWT spectral decomposition. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2015, 2957–2961. https://doi.org/10.1190/segam2015-5852193.1

Chopra, S., & Marfurt, K. J. (2007). Seismic Attributes for Prospect Identification and Reservoir Characterization. SEG Geophysical Development Series No. 11. Society of Exploration Geophysicists. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.9781560801900

Cohen, L. (1995). Time-Frequency Analysis. Prentice Hall.

Dimri, V. P., Vedanti, N., & Chattopadhyay, S. (2005). Fractal analysis of aftershock sequence of Bhuj earthquake – A wavelet based approach. Current Science, 88, 1617–1620.

Durogbitan, A., Simon, E., Auduson, A., Ekene, O., & Collins, I. (2023). Use of spectral decomposition in identifying stratigraphic baffles below seismic resolution: A case study of UTB field, offshore Niger Delta. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 217, 105193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2023.105193.

Ehirim, C. N., & Akpan, A. S. (2017). Continuous Wavelet Transform Based Spectral Decomposition of 3D Seismic Data for Reservoir Characterization in Oyi Field, SE Niger Delta. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 14(8), 766–771. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2017.766.771

Holdaway, K. R., & Irving, D. H. B. (2017). Enhance Oil & Gas Exploration with Data-Driven Geophysical and Petrophysical Models. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119394228

Kazemeini, S. H., Juhlin, C., Zinck-Jørgensen, K., & Norden, B. (2009). Application of the continuous wavelet transform on seismic data for mapping of channel deposits and gas detection at the CO₂SINK site, Ketzin, Germany. Geophysical Prospecting, 57(1), 111–123. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2478.2008.00723.x

Kobr, M. (2021). Geophysical well logging. In H. K. Gupta (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58631-7_173

Lai, J., Wang, G., Fan, Q., Pang, X., Li, H., Zhao, F., Li, Y., Zhao, X., Zhao, Y., Huang, Y., Bao, M., Qin, Z., & Wang, Q. (2022). Geophysical well-log evaluation in the era of unconventional hydrocarbon resources: A review on current status and prospects. Surveys in Geophysics, 43(3), 913–957. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-022-09705-4

Mallat, S. G., & Zhang, Z. (1993). Matching pursuits with time-frequency dictionaries. IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, 41(12), 3397–3415. https://doi.org/10.1109/78.258082

Miao, X., & Cheadle, S. (1998). High resolution seismic data analysis by wavelet transform and matching pursuit decomposition. Geo-Triad, CSEG/CSPG/CWLS Joint Convention, 31–32.

Miao, X., Todorovic-Marinic, D., & Klatt, T. (2007). Enhancing seismic insight by spectral decomposition. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2007, 1437–1441. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.2792768

Mirza, N. A., Rowell, P., & Sriburee, S. (2014). Detection of fluvial sand systems using seismic attributes and continuous wavelet transform spectral decomposition: Case study from the Gulf of Thailand. Marine Geophysical Research, 35(2), 105–123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-014-9213-0

Morlet, J., Arens, G., Fourgeau, E., & Giard, D. (1982). Wave propagation and sampling theory—Part I: Complex signal and scattering in multilayered media. Geophysics, 47(2), 203–221. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1441328

Ngeri, A. P., Uko, E. D., and Tamunobereton-ari, I. (2018). The Choice of Mother Wavelet in the Application of Continuous Wavelet Transform Method of Spectral Decomposition in Field ‘A’ in Central Niger Delta. Asian Journal of Applied Science and Technology (AJAST), 2 (4), 303-314.

Ngeri, A.P., O.A. Davies, Dieokuma Tamunosiki. (2024). Application of Coherence Attribute For Prospect Identification. Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 2024, 11(8):125-131.

Ngeri, A.P., Tamunobereton-ari, I. & Amakiri, A.R.C. (2015). Ant-Tracker Attributes: An Effective Approach to Enhancing Fault Identification and Interpretation. IOSR Journal of VLSI and Signal Processing (IOSR-JVSP).5(6), Ver. II, 67-73 E-ISSN: 2319 – 4200, P-ISSN No. : 2319 – 4197. https://doi.org/10.9790/4200-05626773

Partyka, G., Gridley, J., & Lopez, J. (1999). Interpretational applications of spectral decomposition in reservoir characterization. The Leading Edge, 18(3), 353–360. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1438295

Peyton, L., Bottjer, R., & Partyka, G. (1998). Interpretation of incised valleys using new 3-D seismic techniques: A case history using spectral decomposition and coherency. The Leading Edge, 17(10), 1294–1298. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1438127

Polikar, R. (1994). The Engineer's Ultimate Guide to Wavelet Analysis. Amed. 1 - 79.

Saadatinejad, M. R., & Hassani, H. (2013). Application of wavelet transform for evaluation of hydrocarbon reservoirs: Example from Iranian oil fields in the north of the Persian Gulf. Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics, 20(2), 231–238. https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-20-231-2013

Shorollahi, E., Zargar, G., & Riahi, M. A. (2013). Using continuous wavelet transform and short-time Fourier transform as spectral decomposition methods to detect stratigraphic channel in one of the Iranian south-west oil fields. International Journal of Science and Emerging Technologies, 5(5), 291–299.

Sinha, S., Routh, P. S., Anno, P. D., & Castagna, J. P. (2005). Spectral decomposition of seismic data with continuous-wavelet transform. Geophysics, 70(6), P19–P25. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.2127113

Stockwell, R. G., Mansinha, L., & Lowe, R. P. (1996). Localization of the complex spectrum: The S transform. IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, 44(4), 998–1001. https://doi.org/10.1109/78.492555

Zhao, T., & Song, W. (2012). An application of matching pursuit time-frequency decomposition method using multi-wavelet dictionaries. Petroleum Science, 9(3), 310–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-012-0214-9

Torrado, L., Mann, P., & Bhattacharya, J. (2014). Application of seismic attributes and spectral decomposition for reservoir characterization of a complex fluvial system: Case study of the Carbonera Formation, Llanos foreland basin, Colombia. Geophysics, 79(5), B221–B230. https://doi.org/10.1190/geo2013-0429.1

Victor, A. Taha, N.D. Andrew, B.S. Michael, J.S. Brian, T. Ole, V. & Gillian, W., (2012). Seismic Detection of Subtle Faults and Fracture. Oilfield Review Summer, 24, no 2, 28 – 43.

Wang, Y. (2007). Seismic time-frequency spectral decomposition by matching pursuit. Geophysics, 72(1), 13–20. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.2387109

Wen, X., Zhang, B., Pennington, W., & He, Z. (2015). Relative P-impedance estimation using a dipole-based matching pursuit decomposition strategy. Interpretation, 3(4), T197–T206. https://doi.org/10.1190/INT-2015-0035.1

Song, Y., Li, Z., Jiang, Z., Luo, Q., Liu, D., & Gao, Z. (2017). Progress and development trend of unconventional oil and gas geological research. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 44(4), 638–648. https://doi.org/10.11698/PED.2017.04.18

Yilmaz, Ö. (2001). Seismic data analysis: Processing, inversion, and interpretation of seismic data. Investigations in Geophysics, No. 10. Society of Exploration Geophysicists. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.9781560801580

Zabihi, N. E., & Siahkoohi, H. R. (2006). Single frequency seismic attribute based on short-time Fourier transform, continuous wavelet transform, and S transform. 6th International Conference & Exposition on Petroleum Geophysics, Kolkata, 662–666.

Published

2026-09-22

How to Cite

Ngeri, A. P., Dieokuma, T., & Amonieah, J. (2026). Application Of Spectral Decomposition For Structural And Stratigraphy Identification In Central Niger Delta. Nigerian Journal of Applied Physics, 2(3), 46-58. https://doi.org/10.62292/njap-v2i3-2026-14

How to Cite

Ngeri, A. P., Dieokuma, T., & Amonieah, J. (2026). Application Of Spectral Decomposition For Structural And Stratigraphy Identification In Central Niger Delta. Nigerian Journal of Applied Physics, 2(3), 46-58. https://doi.org/10.62292/njap-v2i3-2026-14