Supervised Seismic Facies Classification in Ataga Field of Niger Delta Basin using a Thalweg Tracker and Deep Learning Approach
Research Article  ·  Published: 28 July 2026
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Reservoir Science
Volume 2, Issue 4, 2026: 289-304
Research Article Open Access

Supervised Seismic Facies Classification in Ataga Field of Niger Delta Basin using a Thalweg Tracker and Deep Learning Approach

1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria
2 Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria
* Corresponding Author: Abdullah Musa Ali, [email protected]
Volume 2, Issue 4

Article Information

Published in Reservoir Science
Pages 289-304

Abstract

Seismic facies classification remains a critical yet challenging task in subsurface characterization due to the complexity of depositional systems and limitations of manual interpretation. This study presents a supervised deep learning workflow for seismic facies prediction using a dip-steered median filtered (DSMF) seismic volume. Ten facies label sets, representing minima and maxima responses, were derived from unsupervised vector quantization (UVQ) clustering and subsequently refined using Thalweg tracking, with 1,500 samples per class. These labels, together with the DSMF volume, were used to extract 3D cubelets (41×41×3) for training convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Three architectures, LeNet, ResNet18, and SimpleNet, were implemented and evaluated based on classification performance and geological consistency of predicted facies volumes. Among the tested models, LeNet demonstrated superior performance, producing laterally continuous and stratigraphically consistent facies distributions that closely follow the geometry of seismic reflectors. The predicted facies exhibit clear differentiation between sand-prone, shale-dominated, and heterolithic units. Validation using gamma-ray (GR) and density (RHOB) logs confirms a strong correspondence between predicted facies and lithological variations, with sand intervals corresponding to low GR responses and shale intervals to high GR values. Minor limitations include partial merging of polarity-based facies classes; however, overall depositional patterns remain well preserved. The results highlight the effectiveness of a DSMF-driven LeNet approach for reliable and geologically meaningful seismic facies classification.

Graphical Abstract

Supervised Seismic Facies Classification in Ataga Field of Niger Delta Basin using a Thalweg Tracker and Deep Learning Approach

Keywords

reservoir characterization deep learning Niger Delta basin Ataga field seismic facies classification thalweg tracker convolutional neural network

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available on request.

Funding

This work was supported by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) under the 2025 Institutional-Based Research (IBR) Fund. The authors also acknowledge support from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) under the In-Country Scholarship Scheme. The authors also appreciate the OpendTect Pro Plugin License provided by dGB Earth Sciences.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

AI Use Statement

The authors declare that no generative AI was used in the preparation of this manuscript.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

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Cite This Article

APA Style
Adamu, M. A., Ali, A. M., & Kasim, S. (2026). Supervised Seismic Facies Classification in Ataga Field of Niger Delta Basin using a Thalweg Tracker and Deep Learning Approach. Reservoir Science, 2(4), 289-304. https://doi.org/10.62762/RS.2026.333274
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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Adamu, Muhammad Aminu
AU  - Ali, Abdullah Musa
AU  - Kasim, Sani
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/28
TI  - Supervised Seismic Facies Classification in Ataga Field of Niger Delta Basin using a Thalweg Tracker and Deep Learning Approach
JO  - Reservoir Science
T2  - Reservoir Science
JF  - Reservoir Science
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
SP  - 289
EP  - 304
DO  - 10.62762/RS.2026.333274
UR  - https://www.icck.org/article/abs/RS.2026.333274
KW  - reservoir characterization
KW  - deep learning
KW  - Niger Delta basin
KW  - Ataga field
KW  - seismic facies classification
KW  - thalweg tracker
KW  - convolutional  neural network
AB  - Seismic facies classification remains a critical yet challenging task in subsurface characterization due to the complexity of depositional systems and limitations of manual interpretation. This study presents a supervised deep learning workflow for seismic facies prediction using a dip-steered median filtered (DSMF) seismic volume. Ten facies label sets, representing minima and maxima responses, were derived from unsupervised vector quantization (UVQ) clustering and subsequently refined using Thalweg tracking, with 1,500 samples per class. These labels, together with the DSMF volume, were used to extract 3D cubelets (41×41×3) for training convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Three architectures, LeNet, ResNet18, and SimpleNet, were implemented and evaluated based on classification performance and geological consistency of predicted facies volumes. Among the tested models, LeNet demonstrated superior performance, producing laterally continuous and stratigraphically consistent facies distributions that closely follow the geometry of seismic reflectors. The predicted facies exhibit clear differentiation between sand-prone, shale-dominated, and heterolithic units. Validation using gamma-ray (GR) and density (RHOB) logs confirms a strong correspondence between predicted facies and lithological variations, with sand intervals corresponding to low GR responses and shale intervals to high GR values. Minor limitations include partial merging of polarity-based facies classes; however, overall depositional patterns remain well preserved. The results highlight the effectiveness of a DSMF-driven LeNet approach for reliable and geologically meaningful seismic facies classification.
SN  - 3070-2356
PB  - Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge
LA  - English
ER  - 
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@article{Adamu2026Supervised,
  author = {Muhammad Aminu Adamu and Abdullah Musa Ali and Sani Kasim},
  title = {Supervised Seismic Facies Classification in Ataga Field of Niger Delta Basin using a Thalweg Tracker and Deep Learning Approach},
  journal = {Reservoir Science},
  year = {2026},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {289-304},
  doi = {10.62762/RS.2026.333274},
  url = {https://www.icck.org/article/abs/RS.2026.333274},
  abstract = {Seismic facies classification remains a critical yet challenging task in subsurface characterization due to the complexity of depositional systems and limitations of manual interpretation. This study presents a supervised deep learning workflow for seismic facies prediction using a dip-steered median filtered (DSMF) seismic volume. Ten facies label sets, representing minima and maxima responses, were derived from unsupervised vector quantization (UVQ) clustering and subsequently refined using Thalweg tracking, with 1,500 samples per class. These labels, together with the DSMF volume, were used to extract 3D cubelets (41×41×3) for training convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Three architectures, LeNet, ResNet18, and SimpleNet, were implemented and evaluated based on classification performance and geological consistency of predicted facies volumes. Among the tested models, LeNet demonstrated superior performance, producing laterally continuous and stratigraphically consistent facies distributions that closely follow the geometry of seismic reflectors. The predicted facies exhibit clear differentiation between sand-prone, shale-dominated, and heterolithic units. Validation using gamma-ray (GR) and density (RHOB) logs confirms a strong correspondence between predicted facies and lithological variations, with sand intervals corresponding to low GR responses and shale intervals to high GR values. Minor limitations include partial merging of polarity-based facies classes; however, overall depositional patterns remain well preserved. The results highlight the effectiveness of a DSMF-driven LeNet approach for reliable and geologically meaningful seismic facies classification.},
  keywords = {reservoir characterization, deep learning, Niger Delta basin, Ataga field, seismic facies classification, thalweg tracker, convolutional  neural network},
  issn = {3070-2356},
  publisher = {Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge}
}

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