Seismic Rock Fabric Attribute for Fracture Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seismic technologies face challenges in accurately mapping and understanding the rock fabric and fracture networks in shale reservoirs, which are crucial for effective hydraulic fracturing, due to limitations in 3D reflection seismic resolution and integration of passive seismic data.
Innovation Solution
Integrating 3D reflection seismic data with microseismic information to create a new seismic attribute that captures rock fabric properties, allowing for the correlation of rock fabric with microseismic events, seismic moments, P/SH ratios, and tectonic b-values, and using this attribute to interpret and manage hydraulic fracturing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If 3D reflection seismic data is used to map rock fabric, then subsurface strata depth and orientation can be determined, but the resolution is insufficient to accurately capture small scale discontinuities and fault networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines 3D reflection seismic data with passive microseismic monitoring data to create a hybrid imaging system. The active seismic provides structural framework while passive microseismic events capture fault activation and rock fabric characteristics, together resolving the resolution limitation of individual methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new seismic attribute as an intermediary that quantifies rock fabric properties by analyzing the statistical distribution and characteristics of microseismic events. This attribute serves as a mediator that translates microseismic data into interpretable rock fabric information that can be integrated with reflection seismic data
2Loss of information
If passive seismic monitoring is used to detect microseismic events, then fault activation and rock fabric information can be obtained, but the data cannot be directly correlated with active seismic reflection data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms microseismic event data into a new seismic attribute that describes rock fabric properties. This parameter transformation allows correlation between passive microseismic observations and active reflection seismic data by expressing both in terms of rock fabric characteristics rather than raw event catalogs
3Productivity
If hydraulic fracturing is performed without detailed knowledge of rock fabric and fault networks, then treatment can proceed, but pre-existing faults may guide fractures to water-bearing zones causing undesired reservoir stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies rock fabric mapping and fault network characterization through integrated seismic analysis before hydraulic fracturing operations. This preliminary characterization identifies zones where faults may guide fractures, allowing treatment design to avoid or adjust for these problematic areas before injection begins
Data Source
AI summary
A method for processing seismic data is provided, in the method a new attribute indicating rock fabric properties of a subterranean section of the earth is processed from reflection seismic data obtained from the subterranean section of the earth. The processed rock fabric attribute may be used to determine properties of and/or generate an image of the subterranean section of the earth.