System and method for analyzing and imaging an enhanced three-dimensional volume data set using one or more attributes

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for creating a combination attribute volume or combo volume by combining one or more attribute volumes into a single volume. For instance, seismic data volumes may be used for creating a combination seismic attribute volume from multiple seismic attribute volumes. This is accomplished by replacing certain of the standard 8-bit data values in a seismic data volume with marker values that denote certain values of other, spatially coincident, seismic attribute data. The resulting combo volume may then be displayed and a seed pick positioned on an event of interest such as a geological body. An auto-picker function or program will then find all the connecting points which will quickly further define the event. The event may then be displayed and interpreted.

1 . A method for combining a plurality of 3D volume data sets in a single output 3D volume data set, each 3D volume data set comprising a plurality of voxels, each voxel comprising a data value and being positioned at a 3D location in a respective 3D volume data set, said method comprising: 
 selecting a first 3D volume data set representing a first attribute;    selecting a second 3D volume data set representing a second attribute;    comparing each of said data values in at least one of said first 3D volume data set and said second 3D volume data set with a preselected data value range;    inserting a first selected data value at a position corresponding with said respective data value in said output 3D volume data set for each data value within said data value range;    inserting a second selected data value at a position corresponding with said respective data value in said output 3D volume data set for each data value outside said data value range; and    displaying at least one section of said output 3D volume data set.    
   
   
       2 . A program storage device readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps of imaging an output 3D volume data set, the 3D volume data set including a plurality of voxels, each voxel defined by a 3D coordinate and a data value, the method comprising: 
 selecting a plurality of spatially coincident 3D volume data sets wherein each of said 3D volume data sets is related to at least one of a corresponding plurality of attributes;    selecting one or more selectable criteria for comparing with data values of one or more of said plurality of spatially coincident data sets;    inserting a first preselected data value at a coordinate corresponding with said respective data value in said output 3D volume data set when said data value meets said one or more selectable criteria; and    displaying at least one section of said output 3D volume data set.    
   
   
       3 . A method for displaying an enhanced 3D volume data set related to one of a plurality of attributes using a 3D volume data set comprising a plurality of voxels, each voxel comprising a data value and being positioned at a 3D location in said 3D volume data set, said method comprising: 
 selecting each data value within a data value range, said data value range being related to one of said plurality of attributes;    selecting a criteria and comparing each selected data value with said criteria;    inserting a preselected data value at a position corresponding with said data value in said enhanced 3D volume data set when said data value meets said criteria;    inserting said data value at a position corresponding with said respective data value in said enhanced 3D volume data set when said data value does not meet said criteria;    displaying at least a section of said enhanced 3D volume data set;    utilizing said display for inserting a seed pick at a selected event shown in said display; and    auto-picking a plurality of data value connected to said seed pick which have a data value identical to said seed pick data value at which said seed pick is positioned for automatically determining an extent of said event.    
   
   
       4 . A method for rendering a combo volume derived from a plurality of 3D volume data sets, comprising: 
 selecting a base 3D volume data set, said base 3D volume data set comprising voxels having a 3D coordinate and a base dataword, said base dataword being related to a first attribute;    selecting a second 3D volume data set, said second 3D volume data set comprising voxels having a spatially coincident coordinate with respect to said base 3D volume data set and a second dataword related to a second attribute;    selecting voxels in said second 3D volume data set based on a first preselected data value range;    rendering said combo volume by replacing said base dataword in said base 3D volume data set with a first preselected data value related to said second attribute when said respective voxel in said second 3D volume data set is within said first preselected data value range; and    displaying at least a portion of said combo volume.