Quantum mechanics-based seismic energy absorption analysis for hydrocarbon detection

SUMMARY Seismic attenuation has a considerable impact on resolution reduction and the increase in the dominant frequency period of seismic data. The absorption coefficient estimates, which measure inelastic attenuation, provide a deep understanding of the medium property changes in different geological settings. Conventional absorption coefficient estimation technologies always use time–frequency methods for seismic energy absorption analysis. However, despite continuing efforts to improve the absorption coefficient estimation, the limitation of the time–frequency methods still causes insufficient accuracy of the attenuation estimates, imposing major challenges in oil and gas hydrate exploration. In this study, a quantum mechanics-based seismic absorption coefficient estimation method was proposed for hydrocarbon detection. The seismic data were first projected on a specific basis constructed using the resolution of the Schrödinger equation. Seismic energy absorption analysis was then conducted in the potential-wave function domain. Finally, the quantum absorption coefficient estimates are given by the procedure after using a logarithmic operation and the least-squares fitting method. We examined the merits of these methods using model and field data. The gas reservoir was accurately targeted, which demonstrates that the proposed method has great potential for hydrocarbon detection.