Methodology for

Determination of

Fracture Density and Orientation

 AGENDA
•Modeling – applications to survey design, processing and interpretation
•Fracture characterization
•Case histories
•PS - data acquisition and processing to image below gas clouds
•Sensitivity analysis to quantify 4D effects in carbonate reservoirs

•Seismic data processing for AVO and seismic inversion

•Introduction
•Surface consistency
•Transforms
•The convolutional model
•The field wavelet - deconvolution
•Propagation effects and their compensation – Q and spherical
divergence
•Transmission
•Multiples
•Noise – organized and random
•Source and receiver array directivity
•Imaging for pre-stack analysis
 Objective

•Imaging
•Curvature attributes
•Curvature – Property of a curve - how bent a curve is at a particular
point
•Effective at delimiting faults and fault geometries

•Quantitative estimation
•Elliptical inversion
•Estimate, using azimuthally sectored seismic data:
•Magnitude of anisotropy
•Azimuth of major velocity
•Measure of error in estimation
 Velocity Anisotropy
Modeling Study

•Objective

•Theoretical basis

•Methodology

•Summary and Conclusions

 Velocity Anisotropy
Modeling Study
Theoretical Basis

P-wave anisotropy
- Modifies travel-times – NMO velocities
change with azimuth
- No impact on P-wave reflectivity (NI)
Image from Shen et al
S-wave anisotropy
- Modifies AVO gradient (Ruger)
- Gradient approximates isotropic
response to elliptical variation of S-wave
velocity

γ = (Vsf-Vss)/Vsf
φ = azimuth angle
R(i, φ) = Ro + [Go(iso) + Go(anis)] sin2i i = incidence angle
 Velocity Anisotropy
Modeling Study
Theoretical Basis
P-wave anisotropy
- Modifies travel-times – NMO velocities
change with azimuth
- No impact on P-wave reflectivity

S-wave anisotropy Image from Shen et al

- Modifies AVO gradient (Ruger)
- Gradient approximates isotropic
response to elliptical variation of S- 10000

wave velocity 8000

N 6000

φ φ = azimuth angle
Vsf
4000

2000

0
Y

-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

-2000

Vss Vsf Vss

-4000 V( φ) =
V sin ( φ) + Vss2 cos2 ( φ)
2
sf
2
-6000

R(i, φ) = Ro + [Go(iso)]sin2i -8000 S-wave Velocity Ellipse

-10000
 Velocity Anisotropy
Modeling Study
10000

•Elliptical inversion (EI) Input 8000

6000

•Assumes that velocity in anisotropic

4000

2000
γ1
media changes elliptically with -10000 -5000
0
0
γ2
5000 10000

azimuth -2000

γ3
-4000

-6000

•Requires measurements in, at least, -8000

three azimuths (γ1, γ2, γ3, …) -10000

10000

in
Output

M
8000

Vs
•Fits an ellipse to the measurements 6000

4000

2000

•EI outputs 0
θ
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

• VsMin = Minor semi-axis -2000

Vs
• VsMax = Major semi-axis -4000
M ax
-6000

• θ = Angle to major semi-axis -8000

• ε = Error -10000
 Velocity Anisotropy
Modeling Study

•Objective

•Theoretical basis

•Methodology

•Summary and Conclusions

 Velocity Anisotropy
Modeling Study

•Methodology

•Sensitivity study using well data

•Seismic data preparation

•Elliptical attributes from seismic data

 Well Log Data Quality Control

Resistivity
Orthogonal Sonic Logs Shallow
Shear Sonics Density Gamma Poisson P&S and Deep

The depth range to model is that where the separation between S-wave velocities is
largest (~3175 to 3190 mts)
 Modeling – Pseudo Shear Wave Velocities

Density Velocity Ellipse

10000

8000

N 6000

VsMax
4000

2000

VsMax / VsMin
0

Y
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

Target
-2000
VsMin
-4000

VsMax
-6000

-8000

-10000

γ – Azimuth of observation
VsMin
VsMin
VsMax

The interval for modeling is that in which VsMax/VsMin is larger than 1.10
(Red flag “target”)
 Estimation of Fracture Density and
Orientation
-Sensitivity Analysis – Modeled Logs-

N
•Pseudo shear wave sonic logs are
created to evaluate, at well log
resolution, the elliptical inversion θ

•Fracture direction (θ) at 110

degrees (chosen arbitrarily)
CDP 100
• Anisotropies (VsMax/VsMin)
from 1.0 to 1.5 (CDPs 100 to 10000

150)
8000

6000

4000

2000

0
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

-2000

-4000

-6000
CDP 150
-8000
10000
-10000
10000

•Directions of measurement at VsMAX/VsMIN = 1.0 8000

8000

6000
6000

γ = 0 deg (North), 45 deg, 90

4000
4000

2000
2000
γ
0
0

deg (East) and 135 deg

-10000
-10000 -5000
-5000 0
0 5000
5000 10000
10000
-2000
-2000

-4000

-6000

-8000
VsMAX/VsMIN = 1.5
-10000
 Sensitivity Analysis at Well Log Resolution
Modeled Logs
Shear Wave Velocities - Input to Elliptical Inversion
CDP
100 150

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
θ
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

-2000

-4000

-6000

-8000

-10000

Direction of observation (γγ) = 0 deg

10000
Azimuth of major semi-axis (θ) = 110 deg
8000

6000

4000

2000 Cdp 100 - Anisotropy = 1.0

0
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

-2000

-4000 Cdp 150 - Anisotropy = 1.5

-6000

-8000

-10000

S-Wave Velocity
Target
γ = 0 deg
 Sensitivity Analysis at Well Log Resolution
Modeled Logs
Shear Wave Velocities - Input to Elliptical Inversion
CDP
100 150

10000

8000

6000

4000
γ
2000

0 θ
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

-2000

-4000

-6000

-8000

-10000

Direction of observation (γγ) = 45 deg

Azimuth of major semi-axis (θ) = 110 deg

Cdp 100 - Anisotropy = 1.0

Cdp 150 - Anisotropy = 1.5

S-Wave Velocity Target

γ = 45 deg
 Sensitivity Analysis at Well Log Resolution
Modeled Logs
Shear Wave Velocities - Input to Elliptical Inversion
CDP
100 150

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0
θ γ
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

-2000

-4000

-6000

-8000

-10000

Direction of observation (γγ) = 90 deg

Azimuth of major semi-axis (θ) = 110 deg

Cdp 100 - Anisotropy = 1.0

Cdp 150 - Anisotropy = 1.5

S-Wave Velocity
Target
γ = 90 deg
 Sensitivity Analysis at Well Log Resolution
Modeled Logs
Shear Wave Velocities - Input to Elliptical Inversion
CDP
100 150

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0 θ γ
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

-2000

-4000

-6000

-8000

-10000

Direction of observation (γγ) = 135 deg

Azimuth of major semi-axis (θ) = 110 deg

Cdp 100 - Anisotropy = 1.0

Cdp 150 - Anisotropy = 1.5

S-wave velocity
γ= 135 deg Target
 Sensitivity Analysis at Well Log Resolution
Modeled Logs – Four Azimuths of Observation
Shear Wave Velocities - Input to Elliptical Inversion
CDP CDP CDP CDP CDP
100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150

10000
10000 10000 10000

8000
8000 8000 8000

6000
6000 6000 6000

4000
4000 4000 4000

2000
2000 2000 2000

0
0 0 0
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000 -10000 -5000 0 5000 10000 -10000 -5000 0 5000 10000
-2000
-2000 -2000 -2000

-4000
-4000 -4000 -4000

-6000
-6000 -6000 -6000

-8000
-8000 -8000 -8000

-10000
-10000 -10000 -10000

γ= 0 deg γ= 45 deg γ= 90 deg γ= 135 deg

Target
θ = 110 deg θ = 110 deg θ = 110 deg θ = 110 deg
 Sensitivity Analysis at Well Log Resolution
Result of Elliptical Inversion
Shear Wave Velocities
CDP CDP CDP CDP CDP CDP
100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150

10000 10000 10000

8000 8000 8000

6000 6000 6000

4000 4000 4000

2000 2000 2000 θ

0 0 0
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000 -10000 -5000 0 5000 10000 -10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

-2000 -2000 -2000

-4000 -4000 -4000

-6000 -6000 -6000 Correlation

-8000 -8000
Anisotropy -8000
Coefficient Target
-10000 -10000 -10000

VsMin VsMax θ = 110 deg

Min = 5000’/s Min = 5000’/s Min = 1 Min = 0 degrees Min = 0
Max = 10000’/s Max = 10000’/s Max = 1.5 Max = 180 degrees Max = 1

Min Max
 Spectrum Estimation for Wavelet Generation
Original Processing

Amplitude Spectrum
 Pre-stack Synthetic Seismogram

Wavelet

Target Target
@ 0.5 @ 4.0
msec msec
sampling sampling Target
Color corresponds to
In Wavelet’s
angle of incidence
Time
Spectrum
The image in the left compares the target in depth after it was re-sampled at 0.5
msec and 4.0 msec. Note that the upper event corresponds to a smaller depth
interval.
 Pre-stack Synthetic Seismograms
Azimuth of Major Axis (θ
θ) = 110 deg
Azimuth of Observation (γγ) = 135 deg
Maximum Offset = 12,000’
CDP 100 CDP 110 CDP 120 CDP 130 CDP 140 CDP 150
VsMax/VsMin = 1.0 VsMax/VsMin = 1.1 VsMax/VsMin = 1.2 VsMax/VsMin = 1.3 VsMax/VsMin = 1.4 VsMax/VsMin = 1.5

Offset Offset Offset Offset Offset

Offset Offset Offset Offset Offset

10000

10000
8000

8000
6000

6000
4000 γ
4000
γ 2000

2000
θ
-10000 -5000
0
0 5000
θ 10000
-10000 -5000
0

-2000
0 5000 10000

-2000

-4000
-4000

-6000
-6000

-8000
-8000

-10000
-10000

-ve +ve
 Velocity Anisotropy
Modeling Study

•Synthetic seismograms

•Created using P-wave, density and pseudo-shear

wave sonic logs

•Wavelet estimated from original seismic data (zero

phase)

•Pre-stack synthetics are used to estimate

•AVO attributes
•Elastic inversion (to obtain P- and S-wave
impedances)
 AVO Attributes from
Pre-stack Synthetic Seismograms
Azimuth of Major Axis (θ
θ) = 110 deg
Azimuth of Observation (γγ) = 135 deg

Anisotropy in Target Anisotropy in Target

1.0 1.5 1.0 1.5

10000 10000

8000 8000

6000 6000

4000 4000

2000 2000

0 0
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000 -10000 -5000 0 5000 10000

Target Ro -2000

-4000
Go -2000

-4000

-6000
-6000

-8000
-8000

-10000
-10000

AVO attributes are computed from the gathers of the previous image.
Notice that Ro shows no sensitivity to anisotropy for this modeling exercise
 Sensitivity Analysis at Seismic Resolution
Result of Elliptical Inversion
AVO Attributes - Go
CDP CDP CDP CDP CDP CDP CDP
100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150

Go Go Correlation
Ro Minimum Maximum GoMax/GoMin Azimuth Coefficient Target

Min = -0.2 Min = -0.2 Min = -2.0 Min = 0 degrees Min = 0

Max = +0.2 Max = +0.2 Max = +2.0 Max = 180 degrees Max = 1

Min Max
 Velocity Anisotropy
Modeling Study

•Synthetic seismograms

•Created using P-wave, density and pseudo-shear

wave sonic logs

•Wavelet estimated from original seismic data (zero

phase)

•Pre-stack synthetics are used to estimate

•AVO attributes
•Elastic inversion (to obtain P- and S-wave
impedances)
Estimation of Fracture Density and Orientation
-Sensitivity Analysis – Synthetic Seismograms
Elastic Inversion

•P- and S-wave impedances are estimated from the pre-

stack synthetic seismograms

•Shear wave impedances are input into elliptical

inversion

•The results of the elliptical inversion are evaluated and

compared to those from the AVO gradient (Go)
 Estimation of Fracture Density and Orientation
-Sensitivity Analysis – Shear-wave Impedances
from Elastic Inversion
CDP CDP CDP CDP CDP
100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150

10000
10000 10000 10000

8000
8000 8000 8000

6000
6000 6000 6000

4000
4000 4000 4000

2000
2000 2000 2000

0
0 0 0
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000
-10000 -5000 0 5000 10000 -10000 -5000 0 5000 10000 -10000 -5000 0 5000 10000
-2000
-2000 -2000 -2000

-4000
-4000 -4000 -4000

-6000
-6000 -6000 -6000

-8000
-8000 -8000 -8000

-10000
-10000 -10000 -10000

γ= 0 deg γ= 45 deg γ= 90 deg γ= 135 deg

Target
θ = 110 deg θ = 110 deg θ = 110 deg θ = 110 deg

The elastic inversion of the input gathers results in shear-wave impedances associated
to the shear-wave velocities used in this modeling exercise (Slides 18 to 21)
 Sensitivity Analysis at Seismic Resolution
Result of Elliptical Inversion
S-Wave Impedances (IS) from Elastic Inversion
CDP CDP CDP CDP CDP CDP
100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150 100 150

IS IS Correlation
Minimum Maximum ISMax/ISMin Azimuth Coefficient Target

Min = 17000’/s(gr/cc) Min = 17000’/s(gr/cc) Min = 1 Min = 0 degrees Min = 0

Max = 23000’/s(gr/cc) Max = 23000’/s(gr/cc) Max = 1.3 Max = 180 degrees Max = 1

Min Max
 Velocity Anisotropy
Modeling Study

•Methodology

•Sensitivity study using well data

•Seismic data preparation

•Elliptical attributes from seismic data

 Velocity Anisotropy
Seismic Data Preparation

•Azimuthal binning of pre-migration data

•Pre-stack time migration of azimuthal sub-volumes

•Automated, residual RMS velocity picking

•Velocities EI
•Impedances EI
 Physical Basis
Density and orientation of Micro-fractures

•P- and S-wave velocities travel

faster in the fractures’ direction.
N
•Differences between fast and slow
velocities (anisotropy) is a measure

at

n
nt k
io
ie ac
Or Cr
of fracture density

<-
A Velocity Ellipse
φ

A = Semi-major axis
•Geokinetics’ fracture B
B = Semi-minor axis
φ = Azimuth
characterization methodology
computes (through Elliptical
Inversion (EI)) direction of maximum
velocity (VF or A In the figure) and a
measure of anisotropy (VF/VS or A/B
in the figure)
 Pre-stack
Data Elliptical Inversion
Validate Field
Geometry for
TILEs Flowchart
Adequate Generation
Offset and Azimuth
Full Azimuth
PSTM Velocity
Field

Azimuth
Binning

Azimuth 1 Azimuth 1 Azimuth 1 Azimuth 1

Gather Gather Gather Gather

Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning

Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic

Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
Picking Picking Picking Picking

Condition, Condition, Condition, Condition,

Convert to Convert to Convert to Convert to
Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel.

Elliptical Inversion
 Pre-stack
Data Elliptical Inversion
Validate Field
Geometry for
TILEs Flowchart
Adequate Generation
Offset and Azimuth
Full Azimuth
PSTM Velocity
Field

Azimuth
Binning

Azimuth 220 Azimuth 670 Azimuth 1120 Azimuth 1570

Gather Gather Gather Gather

Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning

Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic

Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
Picking Picking Picking Picking

Convert to Convert to Convert to Convert to

Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel.
Condition Condition Condition Condition

Elliptical Inversion
 Evaluate Acquisition Geometry for
Adequate Offset-Azimuth Distribution
Project Offset/Azimuth/Fold distribution

•Automated velocity estimation

requires uniform fold-azimuth

2500
distribution

mts
•Offsets larger than 2500 m are not
included in the analysis
 Azimuth analysis: offset:0-3700 m. Azimuth: -180 -> +180 degrees

Evaluate Acquisition
Geometry for
Adequate Offset-
Azimuth Distribution

Azimuth analysis: offset:0-2000 m. Azimuth: -180 -> +180 degrees

Offset-azimuth distribution is also

evaluated through spider plots
 Pre-stack
Data Elliptical Inversion
Validate Field
Geometry for
TILEs Flowchart
Adequate Generation
Offset and Azimuth
Full Azimuth
PSTM Velocity
Field

Azimuth
Binning

Azimuth 220 Azimuth 670 Azimuth 1120 Azimuth 1570

Gather Gather Gather Gather

Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning

Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic

Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
Picking Picking Picking Picking

Convert to Convert to Convert to Convert to

Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel.
Condition Condition Condition Condition

Elliptical Inversion
 Shot Line
Complete shot salvo
Nominal Layout
2225 m 250 m
90 shots = 4500 m Tiles

Given the Nominal Layout, data

Receiver Line
250 m
can be grouped in “TILES”.

Each “Tile” contains one trace per

3D bin with a unique offset-
azimuth distribution.
2975 m

Shot / receiver
Shot / receiver
azimuths 270-360
azimuths 0-90

Shot / receiver Shot / receiver

azimuths 181-270 azimuths 90-180

Bin boundaries Tile1 Tile2 Bin boundaries

inline offset +/- 250m Offset – 0 mts Offset – 500 mts Xline offset 250m-750m
X-line offset +/- 250m Azimuth = 90o from North Azimuth = 90o from North Inline offset +/- 250m
Inline offset Tile average offset
3535
+2250 to +2750

+1750 to +2250
2500

2000
2549

2061
2692

2236
2915

2500
3201

2828
3201 Tiles
2500 2915

25
+1250 to +1750 1500 1581 1802 2121

Tiles are numbered for ease of

00
2236 2692
1802

m
+750 to -+1250 1000 1118 1414

ts
250 to +750 500 707
1118 1581 2061 2549 identification (lower left)
500 1000 1500 2000 2500
0
-250 to -250

-250 to -750
The upper left image shows the offsets
-750 to -1250 R R
associated to the tiles in quadrant 1
-1250 to -1750
R

-1750 to -2250

-2250 to -2750
Xline offset
-750 to -2250 -750 to -1250 -250 to +250 +750 to +1250 +1750 to +2250
-2250 to -2750 +2250 to +2750

Inline offset tile number (sorted by offset/azimuth)

+2250 to +2750
97 96 95 94 93 92 91 90 89 88 87

+1750 to +2250
98 62 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 86

2500
25

+1250 to +1750
99 63 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 53 85
00

mts
+750 to -+1250
100 64 36 16 15 14 13 12 28 52 84
m
ts

250 to +750 101 65 37 17 5 4 3 11 27 51 83

-250 to -250 102 66 38 18 6 1 2 10 26 50 82

-250 to -750 103 67 39 19 7 8 9 25 49 81 121

104 68 40 20 21 22 23 24 48 80 120
-750 to -1250

-1250 to -1750
105 69 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 79 119

-1750 to -2250 106 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 118

-2250 to -2750
107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 Xline offset
-750 to -2250 -750 to -1250 -250 to +250 +750 to +1250 +1750 to +2250
-2250 to -2750 +2250 to +2750
 Tiles

Inline offset tile number (sorted by offset/azimuth)

+2250 to +2750

+1750 to +2250

+1250 to +1750

+750 to -+1250 Each TILE (offset-azimuth bin)

250 to +750
resulted in one trace per bin (two
when the reciprocal azimuth
-250 to -250
trace is used (n+180 deg))
-250 to -750

-750 to -1250

-1250 to -1750

-1750 to -2250
Green is
single fold
-2250 to -2750
Xline offset
-750 to -2250 -750 to -1250 -250 to +250 +750 to +1250 +1750 to +2250
-2250 to -2750 +2250 to +2750
 Tiles
Fold diagrams (all 3D bins) for:

All azimuths and offsets

fold 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80-90
Tiles:1-81 azimuth 0 to 360

Tile 12
Offset 1414 mts
Azimuth 45 deg

fold 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tile:12 offset: 1414 m azimuth:45

 Pre-stack
Data Elliptical Inversion
Validate Field
Geometry for
TILEs Flowchart
Adequate Generation
Offset and Azimuth
Full Azimuth
PSTM Velocity
Field

Azimuth
Binning

Azimuth 220 Azimuth 670 Azimuth 1120 Azimuth 1570

Gather Gather Gather Gather

Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning

Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic

Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
Picking Picking Picking Picking

Convert to Convert to Convert to Convert to

Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel.
Condition Condition Condition Condition

Elliptical Inversion
Inline offset Azimuth diagram 220
Tiles
+2250 to +2750
96 95 94 93 92 91 90 89 88

+1750 to +2250
62 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54

+1250 to +1750
63 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 53
670
A total of 60 planes are
+750 to -+1250
migrated for the Isarene
64 36 16 15 14 13 12 28 52
project.
250 to +750 65 w
37 17 5 4 3 11 27 51

-250 to -250 66 38 18 6 1 2 10 26 50
The benefit of migrating Tiles is
-250 to -750 that, once migrated, the tiles
can be grouped to correspond
-750 to -1250

to different azimuth bins.

-1250 to -1750
1120

-1750 to -2250

-2250 to -2750
1570 Xline offset
-750 to -2250 -750 to -1250 -250 to +250 +750 to +1250 +1750 to +2250
-2250 to -2750 +2250 to +2750

The migrated Tiles are grouped to form azimuth bins as follows

Azimuth 220 - From 00 to 450 and 1800 to 2250
Azimuth 670 – From 450 to 900 and 2250 to 2700
Azimuth 1120 – From 900 to 1350 and 2700 to 3150
Azimuth 1570 – From 1350 to 1800 and 3150 to 3600
Interval Velocities – From Hand Picked PSTM Gathers
Inline 1176 Velocities post PSTM (Azimuth:22) Inline 1176 Velocities post PSTM (Azimuth:67)

Inline 1176 Velocities post PSTM (Azimuth:112) Inline 1176 Velocities post PSTM (Azimuth:157)
 Stacks of Azimuth Bins – QC Purposes

Inline 1176 PSTM Stack (azimuth:22) Inline 1176 PSTM Stack (azimuth:67)

Inline 1176 PSTM Stack (azimuth:112) Inline 1176 PSTM Stack (azimuth:157)
 Pre-stack
Data Elliptical Inversion
Validate Field
Geometry for
TILEs Flowchart
Adequate Generation
Offset and Azimuth
Full Azimuth
PSTM Velocity
Field

Azimuth
Binning

Azimuth 220 Azimuth 670 Azimuth 1120 Azimuth 1570

Gather Gather Gather Gather

Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning

Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic

Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
Picking Picking Picking Picking

Convert to Convert to Convert to Convert to

Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel.
Condition Condition Condition Condition

Elliptical Inversion
 Data Conditioning

Prior to automatic picking, noise

is reduced in the data through
FK filter.

This is done for each cdp of

each azimuth bin

Before noise After noise

attenuation attenuation Difference
 Automatic Velocity Picking

Relative velocity update

The full azimuth PSTM

velocity field is automatically
updated for each azimuth bin
through a combination of:

- Third order (quartic) velocity

equation (including eta
estimation)

-Swan’s* technique

-Sparse picking based on

semblance threshold

Before Velocity After Velocity

Update Update and
Angle Mute
RMS Velocity Update
Inline 1176
Full azimuth RMS velocity field

Estimating residual NMO

velocities automatically
reduces interpreter bias and
ensures that velocities in all
azimuth bins are evaluated
equally.

Azimuth 112 after automatic

velocity updates are a applied
to the “all azimuth” velocity field
 Pre-stack
Data Elliptical Inversion
Validate Field
Geometry for
TILEs Flowchart
Adequate Generation
Offset and Azimuth
Full Azimuth
PSTM Velocity
Field

Azimuth
Binning

Azimuth 220 Azimuth 670 Azimuth 1120 Azimuth 1570

Gather Gather Gather Gather

Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning

Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic

Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
Picking Picking Picking Picking

Convert to Convert to Convert to Convert to

Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel.
Condition Condition Condition Condition

Elliptical Inversion
 Velocity Conditioning
Vel. Increment

Velocity from seismic (blue)

Inline 1176

Sonic log (black) Interval velocities prior to

smoothing

The updated RMS velocity field

is converted to interval velocities
and smoothed.

Smoothing parameters are

Vel. Increment determined based on
Velocity from seismic (blue)
comparison of velocities from
seismic (blue line @ well TX-1A)
with sonic velocities (black line)
Sonic log (black)

Interval velocities after

smoothing (11x11 smoother)
Smoothing Parameters for Interval Velocities
5x5 smooth log

7x7 smooth log

9x9 smooth log

11x11 smooth log

Sonic log
Velocities from automatic
updates with different
smoothing parameters

Smoothing parameters are

determined based on comparison
of velocities from seismic with
different smoothing radii with
those from the sonic log

Hand picked velocities

Sonic Velocities
 Interval Velocities for four Azimuths – Prior to Smoothing

Input Az = 220 Az = 670

Inline 1176

Note that the automatic

picker results in velocities
that seem to better follow
the structure and show the
expected low velocity prior
to the Ordovician as well as
that prior to the Silurian
Az = 1120 Az = 1570
 Pre-stack
Data Elliptical Inversion
Validate Field
Geometry for
TILEs Flowchart
Adequate Generation
Offset and Azimuth
Full Azimuth
PSTM Velocity
Field

Azimuth
Binning

Azimuth 220 Azimuth 670 Azimuth 1120 Azimuth 1570

Gather Gather Gather Gather

Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning Conditioning

Automatic Automatic Automatic Automatic

Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity
Picking Picking Picking Picking

Convert to Convert to Convert to Convert to

Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel. Interval Vel.
Condition Condition Condition Condition

Elliptical Inversion
 Petroceltic
Isarene 3D
Inline 1176 Elliptical Inversion
From Interval Velocities

Vint Input VMin VMax Azimuth Anisotropy C Coefficient

 N
Petroceltic 22o
Isarene 3D - Attributes
Kneg and Anisotropy : Extract Top Ordovician +0

1300

1200

1100

1000

900

800

700

600

Kneg Merge of Anisotropy and Kneg Anisotropy

527

1300

1200

1100

1000

900

800

700

600

Kneg Merge of Azimuth and Kneg Azimuth

527
 Petroceltic - Isarene 3D

Inline 1196
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 Summary and Conclusions
Modeling

•Elliptical Inversion of data at well log resolution

•Four pseudo-shear wave sonic logs are modeled

•Recording azimuths (γ) = 0o, 45o, 90o and 135o
•Azimuth of semi-major axis (θ) = 110o

•The modeled logs are Elliptically Inverted and the

results match the expected (known) solution with
correlation coefficient = 1.0; thus validating the inversion
algorithm
 Summary and Conclusions
Modeling
•Synthetic Seismograms and Elliptical Inversion on
AVO gradient

•The pseudo S-wave sonic logs are used, along with P-

wave and density logs, to generate pre-stack synthetic
seismograms from which AVO attributes are computed

•The four AVO gradient sections obtained (0o, 45o, 90o

and 135o) are Elliptically Inverted
•Results are not intuitively interpretable
•May help reduce risk in fracture identification
provided that a modeling study is available
•Resultant anisotropy values are not physically
possible
 Summary and Conclusions
Modeling

•Synthetic Seismograms and Elliptical Inversion on

AVO gradient (continued)

•Results have a 90o ambiguity; that is, equivalent results

are obtained for semi-major axes orientations of (n+90)o
where n is the orientation to the semi-major axis.
 Summary and Conclusions
Modeling

•Pre-stack Inversion and Elliptical Inversion on S-wave

Impedances

•P- and S-wave impedances are computed from the pre-stack

synthetic seismograms through simultaneous inversion

•The resultant impedances in four azimuths of observation (γ = 0o,

45o, 90o and 135o) are Elliptically Inverted

•Resultant elliptical attributes match the expected (known) result

within the limitations of the reduced bandwidth

•No ambiguity is observed in the results