Abstract

An interpretation workstation based apparatus having an "Auto Fault" software stored therein automatically identifies a plurality of fault cuts in each of a plurality of horizons in a seismic data volume in response to a plurality of predetermined "horizon time structures". When a processor in the workstation executes the "Auto Fault" software, the processor will receive the "horizon time structures" and perform the following steps: (a) identify valid gaps in each of the horizon time structures where each gap has a proper length and a proper slope, (b) locate midpoints in each of the valid gaps, (c) draw fault cuts at each of the midpoints of each of the valid gaps in the horizon time structure where the drawn fault cut has an inclination angle equal to a predefined and user input inclination angle for single horizon analysis, and an angle determined by association for multiple horizon analysis, and (d) extend the upper and the lower part of the horizon of the horizon time structure to the newly drawn fault cuts until a pair of fault contacts on the fault cuts are determined whereby each of the plurality of fault cuts in each of the plurality of horizons in the seismic data are automatically and rapidly determined.