Seed-Guided, Fault-Aware Horizon Tracking via Greedy Propagation for Geological Modelling
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17794/rgn.2025.5.13Keywords:
seismic horizon, geological model, greedy propagation, dynamic programming, Gola fieldAbstract
The Gola Gas field in the northwestern Drava Basin lies within the structurally complex petroleum system. Its sandstone reservoirs exhibit spatial heterogeneity due to deltaic fan sedimentation, necessitating robust interpretation tools. We present a fully Python-based seismic horizon extraction and 3D geological modelling workflow tailored to this challenge. The method leverages the greedy propagation method to track horizons with optimal reflector continuity, overcoming limitations of manual interpretation and traditional auto-pickers in faulted or noisy zones. An initial approximation is provided via seed-guided interpolation. Around this surface, a seismic sub-volume is extracted and flattened to align reflections. Within this volume, the greedy algorithm identifies a locally optimal path, maximizing continuity and amplitude strength. Our implementation extends the cost-based framework with slope guidance, local correlation, and robust outlier filtering to ensure geologic realism and repeatability. Surfaces are converted to 3D meshes using interpolation and smoothing, and the results are integrated into an interactive 3D geological model of the Gola field. For the first time in the research area, the model was built entirely in Python, enabling automated horizon extraction, geobody visualization, and seismic interpretation within a flexible, open-source environment.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ana Brcković, Marko Cvetkovic, Josipa Kapuralić, Ivan Medved
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