Composite Seismic Trace Generation for Anisotropy Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seismic inversion methods struggle to accurately predict subsurface rock properties in fractured media due to fracture-induced anisotropy, which complicates the interpretation of converted-wave seismic data and makes traditional inversion schemes intractable, especially for azimuthally anisotropic media.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to generate composite seismic traces that are free from the effects of subsurface anisotropy by combining PS1 and PS2 modes using rotation processes, allowing for isotropic inversion to determine subsurface rock properties, thereby overcoming the challenges posed by anisotropy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional seismic inversion schemes are used on converted-wave data in fractured media, then the inversion process becomes intractable, but the accuracy of subsurface rock property prediction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the anisotropic component from the seismic data by generating composite traces that eliminate fracture-induced anisotropy effects. This allows the use of simpler isotropic inversion schemes while preserving the essential subsurface property information, resolving the contradiction between inversion tractability and prediction accuracy.
2Device complexity
If PS1 and PS2 modes are processed separately in HTI media, then wave propagation complexity increases, but the interpretation of seismic amplitudes becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separate PS1 and PS2 mode processing into a unified composite trace generation approach. By combining the modes and removing anisotropic effects, the method simplifies the overall processing framework while making seismic amplitude interpretation more straightforward, effectively resolving the contradiction between model complexity and interpretability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a system and method for inferring one or more physical property parameters of a subsurface media by inverting converted wave data acquired during a seismic survey. Composite seismic traces are generated at a plurality of survey azimuths (step 609). These composite traces are composed such that their amplitudes are free of effects of subsurface anisotropy. At least one of the generated composite seismic traces is then inverted by isotropic inversion to determine a property parameter of the subsurface media (step 623).