This volume is a collection of Geologic Column papers reprinted from The Leading Edge. It is a concise and rich collection of geologic principles for use by interpretative geologists and geophysicists. Although the primary emphasis is on those principles that can affect the seismic record, broader-interest articles are also included. An understanding of these principles is essential for a comprehensive and complete interpretation of seismic data. The papers are organized by types of source rocks and their maturation, the stratigraphic setting in which hydrocarbons migrate and accumulate, descriptions of both clastic and carbonate sediment regimes, and the importance of biostratigraphy in understanding various geologic settings. Although the papers deal with conventional trap geometry to a limited degree, they emphasize some of the more specialized trap qualities such as fractured reservoirs and strike/slip-dominated features. They also cover other aspects of exploration, including the application of remote sensing, surface geochemical methods, and geostatistics. Problems of risk assessment and the organizational concepts and advantages of multidisciplinary teams also are addressed. The Geologic Column is a by-product of two committees, the SEG Interpretation Committee and the AAPG Geophysical Integration Committee (formerly Geophysics Committee), and this volume is copublished by SEG and AAPG.
