Supervised Seismic Facies Classification in Ataga Field of Niger Delta Basin using a Thalweg Tracker and Deep Learning Approach
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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.
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References
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Cite This Article
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 -
@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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