METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING PAIRS OF TURNINGS RELATED TO THE SAME SEISMIC EVENT IN ADJACENT SEISMIC TRACES

A computer system automatically determines pairs of significant turnings related to the same seismic event in adjacent seismic traces of a three-dimensional seismic volume, wherein a turning is defined as a zero-crossing in the Nth derivative of the seismic trace. The times of the turnings of a first trace are compared with the times of the turnings of a second trace, and vice versa. The mutual smallest differences between times of turnings is detected and those turnings having the smallest mutual differences are paired, thereby designating the turnings that are mutual nearest neighbors, provided that the signs of the (N+1)th derivatives are the same (positive or negative). The system has the capability to compare the signs. The system repeats the comparison and pairing throughout the three-dimensional seismic volume.