Jamie Rich Kurt Marfurt University of Oklahoma ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics

 Curvature is commonly used along side coherency to characterize faulting  Curvature quantifies the degree of bending on a surface and is generalized as a volumetric attribute  We must consider direction and magnitude of curvature

Direction of curvature measurement Circle with a radius equal to the inverse of curvature Largest curvature Smallest curvature

Direction of curvature measurement Circle with a radius equal to the inverse of curvature Largest curvature Smallest curvature

Direction of curvature measurement Circle with a radius equal to the inverse of curvature Largest curvature Smallest curvature

White, 2013 Largest Magnitude Negative Curvature Largest Magnitude Positive Curvature

Mai, 2010

 In order to better locate the fault we are interested in the inflection point  Where does the curvature change sign?  Is that change positive or negative?  Coherency can’t tell us this!

Gao, 2013

Xline N Inline

Xline N

Gao, 2013

Xline N Inline

Xline N

N Inline

Xline N

 Differentials of curvature (Flexure) can be useful for defining fault planes  Care must be used when defining directions and signs  Further consideration and 3D application may expand usefulness