Fracture detection via correlating P-wave amplitude variation with offset and azimuth analysis and well data in eastern central Saudi Arabia

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. T531-T544
Author(s):  
Ali H. Al-Gawas ◽  
Abdullatif A. Al-Shuhail
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Production Data ◽  
Fracture Zones ◽  
Fracture Detection ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Well Data ◽  
Patch Geometry

The late Carboniferous clastic Unayzah-C in eastern central Saudi Arabia is a low-porosity, possibly fractured reservoir. Mapping the Unayzah-C is a challenge due to the low signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and limited bandwidth in the conventional 3D seismic data. A related challenge is delineating and characterizing fracture zones within the Unayzah-C. Full-azimuth 3D broadband seismic data were acquired using point receivers, low-frequency sweeps down to 2 Hz, and 6 km patch geometry. The data indicate significant enhancement in continuity and resolution of the reflection data, leading to improved mapping of the Unayzah-C. Because the data set has a rectangular patch geometry with full inline offsets to 6000 m, using amplitude variation with offset and azimuth (AVOA) may be effective to delineate and characterize fracture zones within Unayzah-A and Unayzah-C. The study was undertaken to determine the improvement of wide-azimuth seismic data in fracture detection in clastic reservoirs. The results were validated with available well data including borehole images, well tests, and production data in the Unayzah-A. There are no production data or borehole images within the Unayzah-C. For validation, we had to refer to a comparison of alternative seismic fracture detection methods, mainly curvature and coherence. Anisotropy was found to be weak, which may be due to noise, clastic lithology, and heterogeneity of the reservoirs, in both reservoirs except for along the western steep flank of the study area. These may correspond to some north–south-trending faults suggested by circulation loss and borehole image data in a few wells. The orientation of the long axis of the anisotropy ellipses is northwest–southeast, and it is not in agreement with the north–south structural trend. No correlation was found among the curvature, coherence, and AVOA in Unayzah-A or Unayzah-C. Some possible explanations for the low correlation between the AVOA ellipticity and the natural fractures are a noisy data set, overburden anisotropy, heterogeneity, granulation seams, and deformation.

Quantifying the uncertainty in an AVO interpretation

Geophysics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard T. Houck
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Reflection Coefficients ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Full Characterization ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea

Lithologic interpretations of amplitude variation with offset (AVO) information are ambiguous both because different lithologies occupy overlapping ranges of elastic properties, and because angle‐dependent reflection coefficients estimated from seismic data are uncertain. This paper presents a method for quantifying and combining these two components of uncertainty to get a full characterization of the uncertainty associated with an AVO‐based lithologic interpretation. The result of this approach is a compilation of all the lithologies that are consistent with the observed AVO behavior, along with a probability of occurrence for each lithology. A 2‐D line from the North Sea illustrates how the method might be applied in practice. For any data set, the interaction between the geologic and measurement components of uncertainty may significantly affect the overall uncertainty in a lithologic interpretation.

Amplitude-variation-with-offset and prestack-waveform inversion: A direct comparison using a real data example from the Rock Springs Uplift, Wyoming, USA

Geophysics ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. B45-B59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhashis Mallick ◽  
Samar Adhikari
Keyword(s):  
Wave Equation ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Quantitative Estimation ◽  
Waveform Inversion ◽  
Forward Modeling ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Rock Springs Uplift ◽  
Rock Springs

Recent advances in seismic data acquisition and processing allow routine extraction of offset-/angle-dependent reflection amplitudes from prestack seismic data for quantifying subsurface lithologic and fluid properties. Amplitude-variation-with-offset (AVO) inversion is the most commonly used practice for such quantification. Although quite successful, AVO has a few shortcomings primarily due to the simplicity in its inherent assumptions, and for any quantitative estimation of reservoir properties, they are generally interpreted in combination with other information. In recent years, waveform-based inversions have gained popularity in reservoir characterization and depth imaging. Going beyond the simple assumptions of AVO and using wave equation solutions, these methods have been effective in accurately predicting the subsurface properties. Developments of these waveform inversions have so far been along two lines: (1) the methods that use a locally 1D model of the subsurface for each common midpoint and use an analytical solution to the wave equation for forward modeling and (2) the methods that do not make any 1D assumption but use an approximate numerical solution to the wave equation in 2D or 3D for forward modeling. Routine applications of these inversions are, however, still computationally demanding. We described a multilevel parallelization of elastic-waveform inversion methodology under a 1D assumption that allowed its application in a reasonable time frame. Applying AVO and waveform inversion on a single data set from the Rock Springs Uplift, Wyoming, USA, and comparing them with one another, we also determined that the waveform-based method was capable of obtaining a much superior description of subsurface properties compared with AVO. We concluded that the waveform inversions should be the method of choice for reservoir property estimation as high-performance computers become commonly available.

Quest to delineate shale channel hazard in sandy reservoir

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. SC37-SC46
Author(s):  
Jessa-lyn Lee
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Spatial Extent ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Lithology Prediction ◽  
Sand Bar ◽  
And Inversion

Using a combined amplitude-variation-with-offset (AVO) and inversion workflow, a 2D seismic data set was used to predict the lateral lithology changes in a sand bar deposit cut by shale-filled channels. Drilling into a shale channel drastically affects the success of a well, so understanding the spatial extent of such a feature is considered important to the economics of the development program. Based on results from extensive pre- and poststack modeling, a combination of AVO and inversion attributes provided the best chance at lithology prediction. Using this method, a channel map was created for a small study area. It is important to identify the risks and uncertainties intrinsic in the processes that are being applied as well as the effect of the overlying geology. This example in particular showed how vital it is to understand the geology in a specific area, know the technical limits of the data being used, and adapt workflows accordingly.

Fracture mapping using seismic amplitude variation with offset and azimuth analysis at the Weyburn CO2 storage site

Geophysics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. B295-B306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Duxbury ◽  
Don White ◽  
Claire Samson ◽  
Stephen A. Hall ◽  
James Wookey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Co2 Storage ◽  
Horizontal Stress ◽  
Storage Site ◽  
Fracture Zones ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Seal Integrity ◽  
Cap Rock ◽  
Weyburn Field

Cap rock integrity is an essential characteristic of any reservoir to be used for long-term [Formula: see text] storage. Seismic AVOA (amplitude variation with offset and azimuth) techniques have been applied to map HTI anisotropy near the cap rock of the Weyburn field in southeast Saskatchewan, Canada, with the purpose of identifying potential fracture zones that may compromise seal integrity. This analysis, supported by modeling, observes the top of the regional seal (Watrous Formation) to have low levels of HTI anisotropy, whereas the reservoir cap rock (composite Midale Evaporite and Ratcliffe Beds) contains isolated areas of high intensity anisotropy, which may be fracture-related. Properties of the fracture fill and hydraulic conductivity within the inferred fracture zones are not constrained using this technique. The predominant orientations of the observed anisotropy are parallel and normal to the direction of maximum horizontal stress (northeast–southwest) and agree closely with previous fracture studies on core samples from the reservoir. Anisotropy anomalies are observed to correlate spatially with salt dissolution structures in the cap rock and overlying horizons as interpreted from 3D seismic cross sections.

An integrated broadband preprocessing method for towed-streamer seismic data

Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. V201-V221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Aharchaou ◽  
Erik Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Pressure Data ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Field Source ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Ringing Artifacts ◽  
Joint Application ◽  
Amplitude Compensation ◽  
Unified Method

Broadband preprocessing has become widely used for marine towed-streamer seismic data. In the standard workflow, far-field source designature, receiver and source-side deghosting, and redatuming to mean sea level are applied in sequence, with amplitude compensation for background [Formula: see text] delayed until the imaging or postmigration stages. Thus, each step is likely to generate its own artifacts, quality checking can be time-consuming, and broadband data are only obtained late in this chained workflow. We have developed a unified method for broadband preprocessing — called integrated broadband preprocessing (IBP) — which enables the joint application of all the above listed steps early in the processing sequence. The amplitude, phase, and amplitude-variation-with-offset fidelity of IBP are demonstrated on pressure data from the shallow, deep, and slanted streamers. The integration allows greater sparsity to emerge in the representation of seismic data, conferring clear benefits over the sequential application. Moreover, time sparsity, full dimensionality, and early amplitude [Formula: see text] compensation all have an impact on broadband data quality, in terms of reduced ringing artifacts, improved wavelet integrity at large crossline angles, and fewer residual high-frequency multiples.

Value of information analysis and Bayesian inversion for closed skew-normal distributions: Applications to seismic amplitude variation with offset data

Geophysics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. R151-R163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javad Rezaie ◽  
Jo Eidsvik ◽  
Tapan Mukerji
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Value Of Information ◽  
Bayesian Inversion ◽  
Information Analysis ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Seismic Amplitude ◽  
Value Of Information Analysis ◽  
Skew Normal

Information analysis can be used in the context of reservoir decisions under uncertainty to evaluate whether additional data (e.g., seismic data) are likely to be useful in impacting the decision. Such evaluation of geophysical information sources depends on input modeling assumptions. We studied results for Bayesian inversion and value of information analysis when the input distributions are skewed and non-Gaussian. Reservoir parameters and seismic amplitudes are often skewed and using models that capture the skewness of distributions, the input assumptions are less restrictive and the results are more reliable. We examined the general methodology for value of information analysis using closed skew normal (SN) distributions. As an example, we found a numerical case with porosity and saturation as reservoir variables and computed the value of information for seismic amplitude variation with offset intercept and gradient, all modeled with closed SN distributions. Sensitivity of the value of information analysis to skewness, mean values, accuracy, and correlation parameters is performed. Simulation results showed that fewer degrees of freedom in the reservoir model results in higher value of information, and seismic data are less valuable when seismic measurements are spatially correlated. In our test, the value of information was approximately eight times larger for a spatial-dependent reservoir variable compared with the independent case.

Amplitude variation with offset inversion using the reflectivity method

Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. R185-R195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongxing Liu ◽  
Jingye Li ◽  
Xiaohong Chen ◽  
Bo Hou ◽  
Li Chen
Keyword(s):  
Wave Velocity ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Transmission Losses ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Avo Inversion ◽  
Propagation Effects ◽  
Reflectivity Method ◽  
Internal Multiples

Most existing amplitude variation with offset (AVO) inversion methods are based on the Zoeppritz’s equation or its approximations. These methods assume that the amplitude of seismic data depends only on the reflection coefficients, which means that the wave-propagation effects, such as geometric spreading, attenuation, transmission loss, and multiples, have been fully corrected or attenuated before inversion. However, these requirements are very strict and can hardly be satisfied. Under a 1D assumption, reflectivity-method-based inversions are able to handle transmission losses and internal multiples. Applications of these inversions, however, are still time-consuming and complex in computation of differential seismograms. We have evaluated an inversion methodology based on the vectorized reflectivity method, in which the differential seismograms can be calculated from analytical expressions. It is computationally efficient. A modification is implemented to transform the inversion from the intercept time and ray-parameter domain to the angle-gather domain. AVO inversion is always an ill-posed problem. Following a Bayesian approach, the inversion is stabilized by including the correlation of the P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity, and density. Comparing reflectivity-method-based inversion with Zoeppritz-based inversion on a synthetic data and a real data set, we have concluded that reflectivity-method-based inversion is more accurate when the propagation effects of transmission losses and internal multiples are not corrected. Model testing has revealed that the method is robust at high noise levels.

Traveltime and relative geometric spreading approximation in elastic orthorhombic medium

Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. C153-C162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shibo Xu ◽  
Alexey Stovas ◽  
Hitoshi Mikada
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Real Data ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Form Expression ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Rational Form ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Numerical Tests ◽  
Geometric Spreading

Wavefield properties such as traveltime and relative geometric spreading (traveltime derivatives) are highly essential in seismic data processing and can be used in stacking, time-domain migration, and amplitude variation with offset analysis. Due to the complexity of an elastic orthorhombic (ORT) medium, analysis of these properties becomes reasonably difficult, where accurate explicit-form approximations are highly recommended. We have defined the shifted hyperbola form, Taylor series (TS), and the rational form (RF) approximations for P-wave traveltime and relative geometric spreading in an elastic ORT model. Because the parametric form expression for the P-wave vertical slowness in the derivation is too complicated, TS (expansion in offset) is applied to facilitate the derivation of approximate coefficients. The same approximation forms computed in the acoustic ORT model also are derived for comparison. In the numerical tests, three ORT models with parameters obtained from real data are used to test the accuracy of each approximation. The numerical examples yield results in which, apart from the error along the y-axis in ORT model 2 for the relative geometric spreading, the RF approximations all are very accurate for all of the tested models in practical applications.

Processing, inversion, and interpretation of a 2D seismic data set from the North Viking Graben, North Sea

Geophysics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 837-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gislain B. Madiba ◽  
George A. McMechan
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Velocity Ratio ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Shear Velocity ◽  
Seismic Section ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
Fluid Content ◽  
The North

Simultaneous elastic impedance inversion is performed on the 2D North Viking Graben seismic data set used at the 1994 SEG workshop on amplitude variation with offset and inversion. P‐velocity (Vp), S‐velocity (Vs), density logs, and seismic data are input to the inversion. The inverted P‐impedance and S‐impedance sections are used to generate an approximate compressional‐to‐shear velocity ratio (Vp/Vs) section which, in turn, is used along with water‐filled porosity (Swv) derived from the logs from two wells, to generate fluid estimate sections. This is possible as the reservoir sands have fairly constant total porosity of approximately 28 ± 4%, so the hydrocarbon filled porosity is the total porosity minus the water‐filled porosity. To enhance the separation of lithologies and of fluid content, we map Vp/Vs into Swv using an empirical crossplot‐derived relation. This mapping expands the dynamic range of the low end of the Vp/Vs values. The different lithologies and fluids are generally well separated in the Vp/Vs–Swv domain. Potential hydrocarbon reservoirs (as calibrated by the well data) are identified throughout the seismic section and are consistent with the fluid content estimations obtained from alternative computations. The Vp/Vs–Swv plane still does not produce unique interpretation in many situations. However, the critical distinction, which is between hydrocarbon‐bearing sands and all other geologic/reservoir configurations, is defined. Swv ≤ 0.17 and Vp/Vs ≤ 1.8 are the criteria that delineate potential reservoirs in this area, with decreasing Swv indicating a higher gas/oil ratio, and decreasing Vp/Vs indicating a higher sand/shale ratio. As these criteria are locally calibrated, they appear to be valid locally; they should not be applied to other data sets, which may exhibit significantly different relationships. However, the overall procedure should be generally applicable.

scholarly journals AVO analysis for high amplitude anomalies using 2D pre-stack seismic data

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamees N. Abdulkareem ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
High Amplitude ◽  
Rock Properties ◽  
Fluid Substitution ◽  
Amplitude Variation ◽  
Amplitude Variation With Offset ◽  
The Real ◽  
North West ◽  
Avo Analysis ◽  
Controlling Parameter

Amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis is an 1 efficient tool for hydrocarbon detection and identification of elastic rock properties and fluid types. It has been applied in the present study using reprocessed pre-stack 2D seismic data (1992, Caulerpa) from north-west of the Bonaparte Basin, Australia. The AVO response along the 2D pre-stack seismic data in the Laminaria High NW shelf of Australia was also investigated. Three hypotheses were suggested to investigate the AVO behaviour of the amplitude anomalies in which three different factors; fluid substitution, porosity and thickness (Wedge model) were tested. The AVO models with the synthetic gathers were analysed using log information to find which of these is the controlling parameter on the AVO analysis. AVO cross plots from the real pre-stack seismic data reveal AVO class IV (showing a negative intercept decreasing with offset). This result matches our modelled result of fluid substitution for the seismic synthetics. It is concluded that fluid substitution is the controlling parameter on the AVO analysis and therefore, the high amplitude anomaly on the seabed and the target horizon 9 is the result of changing the fluid content and the lithology along the target horizons. While changing the porosity has little effect on the amplitude variation with offset within the AVO cross plot. Finally, results from the wedge models show that a small change of thickness causes a change in the amplitude; however, this change in thickness gives a different AVO characteristic and a mismatch with the AVO result of the real 2D pre-stack seismic data. Therefore, a constant thin layer with changing fluids is more likely to be the cause of the high amplitude anomalies.

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