3-D physical modeling study of a lower Cretaceous channel in central Alberta

Kelly Dale Hrabi, Donald C. Lawton

A physical model was constructed of a Lower Cretaceous meandering channel system from south central Alberta. Numerous 3-D acquisition tests were tried and it was found that receiver patch size has a significant effect on subsurface fold coverage and distribution.

A 2-D seismic line was shot over the model and it indicated that there is no significant variation in reflection amplitude strength from the point bar as it varies in thickness from 0-30 m. Sideswipe energy appears to mask any amplitude variation. The point bar appears to attenuate high frequencies and this produces a shadow zone under the point bar on deeper reflectors. Three post-stack time-migration algorithms were tested and each produced similar migrated sections but the running time of each algorithm varied significantly.