A new 3-D skeletonization technique based on a four-cycle correlation allows automatic event detection and mapping of surfaces in any 3-D volume of reflection seismic data. Interpretation results are comparable to those derived using conventional 3-D interpretation packages. Furthermore, a product of skeletonization is a surface file containing a variety of seismic attributes for each identified surface that can be accessed for detailed statistical analysis.¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union