MULTI-TRACE SEISMIC ATTRIBUTES ILLUMINATE PERMIAN MASS WASTING FEATURES AND PROCESSES

New multi-trace seismic attributes that combine amplitude with trace-to-trace reflection dip, phase rotation, mathematic curl and divergence calculations shed new light on irregular features associated with mass wasting processes along the Permian age Northwest Shelf of the Delaware Basin in New Mexico. Although features associated with the Leonardian/Guadalupian carbonate shelf margin, such as slump scars, debris flows and shelf-parallel brittle failure are well known in outcrop, they are primarily studied in two dimensions. Coeval subsurface shelf margin deposits are easily traced in conventional 3-D seismic, however, steep sedimentary dip, poor velocity contrast, and irregularly shaped sediment bodies lead to inadequately imaged three dimensional details. Mass wasting features in particular are difficult to map, since there is no consistent reflector character that can be easily picked and tracked. Application of seismic attributes developed at the Allied Geophysical Laboratories produce 3-D volumes that are horizon and interpreter independent.

Combined with 3-D visualization and animation tools, attributes generated for the Permian shelf margin at Vacuum Field, Lea County, New Mexico, clearly reveal headscarp details, extension fractures, stratal discordance features and a wide variety of sediment bodies related to lowstand siliciclastic basin fill and highstand carbonate shelf margin failure. The illumination of these features delineate critical elements of shelf margin evolution, basin fill and sediment transport.