Anisotropic permeability in fractured reservoirs from frequency‐dependent seismic Amplitude Versus Angle and Azimuth data

Attempts have previously been made to predict anisotropic permeability in fractured reservoirs from seismic Amplitude Versus Angle and Azimuth data on the basis of a consistent permeability‐stiffness model and the anisotropic Gassmann relations of Brown and Korringa. However, these attempts were not very successful, mainly because the effective stiffness tensor of a fractured porous medium under saturated (drained) conditions is much less sensitive to the aperture of the fractures than the corresponding permeability tensor. We here show that one can obtain information about the fracture aperture as well as the fracture density and orientation (which determines the effective permeability) from frequency‐dependent seismic Amplitude Versus Angle and Azimuth data. Our workflow is based on a unified stiffness‐permeability model, which takes into account seismic attenuation by wave‐induced fluid flow. Synthetic seismic Amplitude Versus Angle and Azimuth data are generated by using a combination of a dynamic effective medium theory with Rüger's approximations for PP reflection coefficients in Horizontally Transversely Isotropic media. A Monte Carlo method is used to perform a Bayesian inversion of these synthetic seismic Amplitude Versus Angle and Azimuth data with respect to the parameters of the fractures. An effective permeability model is then used to construct the corresponding probability density functions for the different components of the effective permeability constants. The results suggest that an improved characterization of fractured reservoirs can indeed be obtained from frequency‐dependent seismic Amplitude Versus Angle and Azimuth data, provided that a dynamic effective medium model is used in the inversion process and a priori information about the fracture length is available.     

Seismic characterization of reservoirs containing multiple fracture sets

Natural fractures in reservoirs play an important role in determining fluid flow during production and knowledge of the orientation and density of fractures is required to optimize production. Variations in reflection amplitude versus offset (AVO) are sensitive to the presence of fractures but current models used to invert the seismic response often make simplified assumptions that prevent fractured reservoirs from being characterized correctly. For example, many models assume a single set of perfectly aligned fractures, whereas most reservoirs contain several fracture sets with variable orientation within a given fracture set. In addition, many authors only consider the azimuthal variation in the small offset amplitude versus offset and azimuth response (the variation in AVO gradient with azimuth), while the effect of fractures on amplitude versus offset and azimuth increases with increasing offset. In this paper, the variation in the reflection coefficient of seismic P -waves as a function of azimuth and offset due to the presence of multiple sets of fractures with variable orientation within any fracture set is used to determine the components of a second-rank fracture compliance tensor  α _ij   . The variation in the trace of this tensor as a function of position in the reservoir can be used to estimate the variation in fracture density with position in the reservoir and may be used to choose the location of infill wells in the field. The principal axes of  α _ij   reveal the most compliant direction within the reservoir and may be used to optimize the trajectory of deviated wells. The determination of the principal axes of  α _ij   requires wide azimuth acquisition and the use of the small-offset amplitude versus offset and azimuth (the azimuthal variation of the AVO gradient) may give misleading results.     

Seismic anisotropy and velocity structure beneath the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula

Travel times of 11,612 Pn arrivals collected from 7675 earthquakes are inverted to image the uppermost mantle velocity and anisotropy structure beneath the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula and surrounding regions. Pn phases are routinely identified and picked for epicentral distances from 200 to 1200 km. The method used in this study allows simultaneous imaging of variations of Pn velocity and anisotropy. The results show an average uppermost mantle velocity beneath the study area of 8.0 km/s. The peninsular area covered by the Iberian massif is characterized by high Pn velocity, as expected in tectonically stable regions, indicating areas of the Hercynian belt that have not recently been reactivated. The margins of the Iberian Peninsula have undergone a great number of recent tectonic events and are characterized by a pronouncedly low Pn velocity, as is common in areas greatly affected by recent tectonic and magmatic activity. Our model indicates that the Betic crustal root might be underlined by a negative anomaly beneath the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. In the Atlantic Ocean, we find a sharp variation in the uppermost mantle velocities that coincides with the structural complexity of the European and African plate boundary in the Gulf of Cadiz. Our results show a very pronounced low-velocity anomaly offshore from Cape San Vicente whereas high velocities are distributed along the coast in the Gulf of Cadiz. In the Alboran Sea and northern Morocco, the direction of the fastest Pn velocity found is almost parallel to the Africa–Eurasia plate convergence vector (northwest–southeast) whereas to the north, this direction is almost parallel to the main trend of the Betic Cordillera, i.e. east–west in its central part and north–south in the curvature of the Arc of Gibraltar. This suggests that a significant portion of the uppermost mantle has been involved in the orogenic deformation that produced the arcuate structure of the Betic Cordillera. However, we assume that the Neogene extension had no major influence on a lithospheric scale in the Alboran Sea. Our results also show a quite complex pattern of anisotropy in the southwest Iberian lithospheric mantle since the relationship between the direction of fastest Pn velocity and major Hercynian tectonic trends cannot be directly established.     

地震各向异性——多组裂隙对横波偏振的影响

通过对多分量地震资料的分析,我们发现随着频率的增加横波分裂时差减小.对于深部接收的VSP数据来说快横波的偏振方向保持不变,而对于浅层接收的VSP数据来说偏振方向却存在一个最大可以达到20°的旋转.尽管多尺度随机分布微裂隙岩石物理模型已经成功地模拟并解释了横波分裂时差随频率变化的现象,却不能解释与频率相关的横波分裂.据推测,如果微裂隙的排列方向和大裂隙的排列方向不同,利用低频信息获得的偏振方向将指示裂隙主方向,而利用高频信息获得的偏振方向则指示微裂隙方向.在背景多孔隙介质中存在多组裂隙的情况下,推导出垂直入射条件下横波偏振方向的解析式,给出了系统研究横波在介质中传播的方法.研究结果表明,横波偏振方向会随着频率的变化而变化,并且在入射方位、角度一定的条件下,是裂隙方位和密度的函数,这些认识可能有助于揭示观测到的、依赖频率变化的横波偏振现象.     

多组垂直裂缝诱导各向异性的HTI近似及其特征分析

在裂缝诱导各向异性理论研究中通常使用等效HTI介质来近似多组裂缝所引起的综合效应.由于构造运动的复杂性,多组裂缝普遍存在于地壳与油气储层中.为了研究多组裂缝的地震属性特征,分析常用的等效HTI模型对于多组裂缝近似精度及附加裂缝对介质属性特征的影响,本文利用线性滑移模型进行了多组垂直裂缝的单斜各向异性等效介质理论计算,并利用空间搜索方法求取与其最为接近的HTI介质各向异性弹性参数.重点研究了在两种各向异性介质中纵波速度、快慢横波速度和极化特征及其差异,量化分析附加裂缝对于地震属性如速度、极化方向和走时等的影响,研究对附加裂缝敏感的地震属性.此研究结果和方法为进一步研究多组裂缝的反演及识别方法提供基础,同时对于将高阶对称性各向异性介质中已存在的计算方法应用于低阶对称性时的适用程度、精度分析及相关方法研究具有重要作用.

     

Characterizing production‐induced anisotropy of fractured reservoirs having multiple fracture sets

Since natural fractures in petroleum reservoirs play an important role in determining fluid flow during production, knowledge of the orientation and density of fractures is required to optimize production. This paper outlines the underlying theory and implementation of a fast and efficient algorithm for upscaling a Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) to predict the fluid flow, elastic and seismic properties of fractured rocks. Potential applications for this approach are numerous and include the prediction of fluid flow, elastic and seismic properties for fractured reservoirs, model‐based inversion of seismic Amplitude Versus Offset and Azimuth (AVOA) data and the optimal placement and orientation of infill wells to maximize production. Given that a single fracture network may comprise hundreds of thousands of individual fractures, the sheer size of typical DFNs has tended to limit their practical applications. This paper demonstrates that with efficient algorithms, the utility of Discrete Fracture Networks can be extended far beyond mere visualization.     

基于方位各向异性弹性阻抗的裂缝岩石物理参数反演方法研究

裂缝储层岩石物理参数的准确获得对地下裂缝预测具有重要意义,而叠前地震反演是获得裂缝岩石物理参数的有效手段.本文从裂缝岩石物理等效模型的构建出发,从测井数据上估测了裂缝岩石物理参数,通过推导含裂缝岩石物理参数的方位各向异性弹性阻抗公式,探讨了基于方位各向异性弹性阻抗的裂缝岩石物理参数地震反演方法.实际工区地震数据应用表明,基于方位各向异性弹性阻抗的裂缝岩石物理参数反演方法合理、可靠,可以降低裂缝岩石物理参数估测的不确定性,为地下裂缝预测提供有力的依据.     

The attenuation anisotropy of mudstones and shales in subsurface formations

The energy of elastic waves attenuates graduallywhen propagating in anelastic media. The absorptionof P- and S-waves in rocks strongly depends on rocks’physical properties and saturation conditions. With thechange of physical conditions of rocks, the attenuationof wave energy is more sensitive than the change of itsvelocity, so it carries more information about therock’s physical property compared with the latter.Hauge et al.[1―3] determined the lithology of subsur-face formations by their…     

Seismic amplitude inversion for the transversely isotropic media with vertical axis of symmetry

Transverse isotropy with a vertical axis of symmetry is a common form of anisotropy in sedimentary basins, and it has a significant influence on the seismic amplitude variation with offset. Although exact solutions and approximations of the PP-wave reflection coefficient for the transversely isotropic media with vertical axis of symmetry have been explicitly studied, it is difficult to apply these equations to amplitude inversion, because more than three parameters need to be estimated, and such an inverse problem is highly ill-posed. In this paper, we propose a seismic amplitude inversion method for the transversely isotropic media with a vertical axis of symmetry based on a modified approximation of the reflection coefficient. This new approximation consists of only three model parameters: attribute A, the impedance (vertical phase velocity multiplied by bulk density); attribute B, shear modulus proportional to an anellipticity parameter (Thomsen's parameter ε−δ); and attribute C, the approximate horizontal P-wave phase velocity, which can be well estimated by using a Bayesian-framework-based inversion method. Using numerical tests we show that the derived approximation has similar accuracy to the existing linear approximation and much higher accuracy than isotropic approximations, especially at large angles of incidence and for strong anisotropy. The new inversion method is validated by using both synthetic data and field seismic data. We show that the inverted attributes are robust for shale-gas reservoir characterization: the shale formation can be discriminated from surrounding formations by using the crossplot of the attributes A and C, and then the gas-bearing shale can be identified through the combination of the attributes A and B. We then propose a rock-physics-based method and a stepwise-inversion-based method to estimate the P-wave anisotropy parameter (Thomsen's parameter ε). The latter is more suitable when subsurface media are strongly heterogeneous. The stepwise inversion produces a stable and accurate Thomsen's parameter ε, which is proved by using both synthetic and field data.     

含流体复杂孔隙介质地震波衰减与频散

含流体孔隙介质中地震波的速度频散和衰减在指导复杂储层含油气性识别领域具有重要意义.本文构建了包含微观挤喷流与介观层间流影响的跨尺度模型, 并使用求解介质等效模量的方式得到了模型中地震波的频散速度与衰减因子, 克服了前人在高频段计算结果出现异常值以及不同尺度衰减峰无法分离的缺陷.在该双尺度模型的基础上, 本文又综合考虑宏观尺度Biot流, 将三种地震波衰减理论耦合, 建立了相对统一的三尺度地震波衰减岩石物理模型.在Biot理论框架下, 分析了非均匀性流体、孔裂隙结构、微观挤喷流以及介观层间流对流体压力与弹性模量的影响, 得到了该三尺度模型中地震波的波动方程, 并求解得到了相应的地震波衰减与频散曲线, 分析了不同介质参数对衰减与频散曲线的影响.我们推导了在该模型上覆均匀各向同性介质情况下, 分界面处各类极性波的反射、透射系数特征方程, 并得到了随频率以及入射角变化的反射、透射系数三维曲面.

     

基于编码解码思想的鬼波预测与压制方法

高分辨率的宽带地震勘探技术是最近几年海上油气地震勘探的热点问题,鬼波压制是其中的核心议题.石油工业界,除了提出各种压制鬼波的采集方式外,资料处理过程中压制鬼波的方法也在不断地推陈出新.源、检鬼波的存在使得反射子波的有效频带变窄,成像分辨率降低,且干扰后续的自由表面多次波压制、FWI 等.不同于常规的鬼波压制模型,本文基...     

多测线变偏移距VSP地震各向异性反演

本文从一般弱各向异性介质参数反演中得到了使用两条相互正交的变偏VSP测线计算弱各向异性(WA)参数的反演公式. 如果仅仅使用qP波, 则可以确定9个独立的WA参数, 这9个WA参数可以完全地描述井中接收点在两个剖面内介质的各向异性性质. 通过对走时曲线进行最小二乘条件下的三次样条光滑, 可以获得慢度矢量的垂直分量和水平分量. 如果介质是横向非均匀介质, 则水平分量仅仅被用作反演时的约束条件. 为了获得偏振矢量, 本文引入质心计算方法, 该方法计算简单、 稳定, 而且不存在解的奇异问题. 在寻找与一般各向异性介质最接近的高对称性正交各向异性介质和TTI各向异性介质时, 使用qP波各向异性坐标变换方法和最小二乘求解方法, 得到了与一般各向异性介质最接近的正交各向异性和TTI各向异性参数及其对称轴方向参数的计算公式. 使用这些方法, 对瓜哇海地区布设的两条相互正交的变偏VSP测线数据进行各向异性反演, 获得了井中10个接收点处介质的WA参数. 数值计算和实际资料反演表明, 本文所使用的反演方法能够准确地得到VSP井中接收点处介质的WA参数, 这是地震勘探中研究地壳介质各向异性性质最直接和最可靠的方法.      

A strategy for automated analysis of passive microseismic data to image seismic anisotropy and fracture characteristics

Monitoring of induced seismicity is gaining importance in a broad range of industrial operations from hydrocarbon reservoirs to mining to geothermal fields. Such passive seismic monitoring mainly aims at identifying fractures, which is of special interest for safety and productivity reasons. By analysing shear‐wave splitting it is possible to determine the anisotropy of the rock, which may be caused by sedimentary layering and/or aligned fractures, which in turn offers insight into the state of stress in the reservoir. We present a workflow strategy for automatic and effective processing of passive microseismic data sets, which are ever increasing in size. The automation provides an objective quality control of the shear‐wave splitting measurements and is based on characteristic differences between the two independent eigenvalue and cross‐correlation splitting techniques. These differences are summarized in a quality index for each measurement, allowing identification of an appropriate quality threshold. Measurements above this threshold are considered to be of good quality and are used in further interpretation. We suggest an automated inversion scheme using rock physics theory to test for best correlation of the data with various combinations of fracture density, its strike and the background anisotropy. This fully automatic workflow is then tested on a synthetic and a real microseismic data set.     

基于地震剖面瞬时峰值能量频率的衰减分析与气藏预测方法

由于流体本身的粘滞性和摩擦性,使得地震波在含油气地层中传播时衰减形成低频阴影.通过对叠后地震资料做时频分解,分析地层衰减特征,是当前除了AVO技术之外,比较流行的直接识别流体和气藏的技术.本文基于波动方程正演,模拟了地震波对含油气地层的响应.然后采用连续小波变换分析不同尺度剖面的瞬时能量特征,提取分频剖面上每一个点的峰值能量对应的频率,得到瞬时峰值能量频率剖面.通过分析瞬时峰值能量频率剖面,分析了地震波在地下介质中传播时的衰减特征.最后应用此方法对实际地震剖面进行了分析,验证了其有效性.     

Observation and analysis of frequency-dependent anisotropy from a multicomponent VSP at Bluebell-Altamont field, Utah

In this paper, we present results from the analysis of a multicomponent VSP from a fractured gas reservoir in the Bluebell-Altamont Field, Utah. Our analysis is focused on frequency-dependent anisotropy. The four-component shear-wave data are first band-pass filtered into different frequency bands and then rotated to the natural coordinates so that the fast and slow shear-waves are effectively separated. We find that the polarisations of the fast shear-waves are almost constant over the whole depth interval, and show no apparent variation with frequency. In contrast, the time delays between the split shear-waves decrease as the frequency increases. A linear regression is then applied to fit the time-delay variations in the target and we find that the gradients of linear fits to time delays show a decrease as frequency increases. Finally, we apply a time-frequency analysis method based on the wavelet transform with a Morlet wavelet to the data. The variation of shear-wave time delays with frequency is highlighted in the time-delay and frequency spectra. We also discuss two mechanisms giving rise to dispersion and frequency-dependent anisotropy, which are likely to explain the observation. These are scattering of seismic waves by preferentially aligned inhomogeneneities, such as fractures or fine layers, and fluid flow in porous rocks with micro-cracks and macro-fractures.     

Rock-mass characterization using intrinsic and scattering attenuation estimates at frequencies from 400 to 1600 Hz

Intrinsic and scatteringS-wave quality factors (Q ) were estimated using the Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis (MLTWA) for microseismic events (M<–1) with source-sensor distances of 45 to 120 m, associated with an excavation at 630 m depth in Strathcona Mine, Sudbury, Canada. Additional information on the rock mass was provided by underground structural mapping data. IntrinsicQ values, at 800 Hz, were on the order of 140, similar to quality factor values obtained in previous studies using Spectral Decay and Coda-Q methods (120 to 170). The scattering quality factor at this frequency was about 520. An observed frequency dependence of the scattering attenuation suggested that a decrease in the density of scatterers, with scale lengths on the order of 2 m, exists at the site. Characteristic fracture scale lengths were considered to range from 4 to 6 m as identified in the mapping data. These observations were supported by the increase in scattering found for seismic waves with frequencies less than 1000 Hz. By assuming that the identified scatters are characteristic faults, these scatterers can then be considered to increase nonsimilar behavior in source scaling. Overall, our results suggest that MLTWA provides a practical method for remotely characterizing the quality of a rock mass when visual observations are not attainable.     

转换波方位各向异性裂缝检测技术研究及应用

HTI裂缝各向异性介质中,转换波随方位角的变化比较复杂,目前还没有解析公式可以表达其变化特征,只能通过物理实验或数值模拟来分析其应用的可能性.数值模拟结果表明,转换波在裂缝各向异性介质中传播时,其R分量和T分量的振幅属性都具有明显的方位各向异性特征,R分量振幅方位各向异性拟合椭圆的长轴方向指示裂缝方位,这与纵波方位各向异性特征相似;根据P波AVAZ方位各向异性分析原理,对转换波R分量振幅方位各向异性曲线进行方位椭圆拟合,寻找椭圆的长轴方向,即裂缝主方位,再由P波AVAZ技术中振幅响应与炮检方向和裂缝走向之间的夹角关系式得到裂缝的发育密度,从而构建转换波方位各向异性AVAZ裂缝检测技术.该技术已用于川西新场气田某区块的裂缝储层预测,取得了较好的应用效果.     

Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo inversion for anisotropy of PP- and PS-wave in weakly anisotropic and heterogeneous media

A single set of vertically aligned cracks embedded in a purely isotropic background may be considered as a long-wavelength effective transversely isotropy (HTI) medium with a horizontal symmetry axis. The crack-induced HTI anisotropy can be characterized by the weakly anisotropic parameters introduced by Thomsen. The seismic scattering theory can be utilized for the inversion for the anisotropic parameters in weakly anisotropic and heterogeneous HTI media. Based on the seismic scattering theory, we first derived the linearized PP- and PS-wave reflection coefficients in terms of P- and S-wave impedances, density as well as three anisotropic parameters in HTI media. Then, we proposed a novel Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo inversion method of PP- and PS-wave for six elastic and anisotropic parameters directly. Tests on synthetic azimuthal seismic data contaminated by random errors demonstrated that this method appears more accurate, anti-noise and stable owing to the usage of the constrained PS-wave compared with the standards inversion scheme taking only the PP-wave into account.     

煤样的超声速度和衰减各向异性测试实例

我们利用脉冲传输技术对某一煤层采集的岩样,加工成两类模型（22个8面体和两个20面柱体样品）做超声P波和S波测试.测试分析结果表明：煤样中定向排列的裂隙存在产生明显的速度各向异性、横波分裂和衰减各向异性.同时还发现纵波的动力学特征变化比运动学特征更明显,纵波衰减随裂隙方位的变化明显大于横波.这为利用纵波属性的变化进行裂隙检测和预测提供可靠实验依据.     

海洋含水合物沉积层的速度频散与衰减特征分析

随着水合物含量的增加,往往会引起纵、横波速度的增加,同时也会引起衰减的变化.针对含水合物沉积层的速度频散与衰减特征分析,有助于水合物含量的估计.本文以有效介质理论模型（EMT）为基础,研究了海洋未固结含水合物沉积层的纵、横波速度的非线性变化趋势.同时采用BISQ模型替代有效介质模型中的Gassmann方程,具体分析了全频带范围内海洋含水合物沉积层的速度频散与衰减特征.采用该模型,速度与衰减均随着水合物含量的增加而增加,且岩石孔隙度与泥质含量对衰减系数的影响较小.针对大洋钻探计划（ODP）164航次的实际数据,运用该模型方程计算采用声波测井数据（20 kHz）与VSP数据（100 Hz）,分别获取了水合物稳定带的饱和度数据,平均在5%～7%之间,由于速度频散的影响,VSP估算结果要弱低于声波测井估算数据,均与实测保压取芯的甲烷含量数据、他人研究成果以及神经网络趋势预测结果均有着较好的一致性.对南海神狐海域三口钻位开展了水合物含量预测,与保压取芯结果有着较好的吻合关系.同时基于层剥离法提取该区域某地震测线BSR层的等效Q值,采用本文方法估算了该区域的等效天然气水合物含量15%～30%.数值模拟与实际应用结果表明：含水合物沉积层的速度频散与衰减特征均随着水合物含量的变化而变化,联合利用这一些变化特征,有助于天然气水合物含量的估计.