Investigation of fractured carbonate reservoirs by applying shear-wave splitting concept

Abstract

In this study, fracture orientations in carbonate reservoirs were determined using a multicomponent velocity analysis based on shear wave splitting. The analysis is based on the estimated velocities of large seismic events with different polarizations. In a fractured zone with a dominant orientation, weak amplitude split shear events, including shear noise, result in shear waves that are polarized toward the symmetry and anisotropy axes and propagate with a common fast and slow velocity, respectively. Thus, a velocity stack should show high coherency anomalies in directions parallel and orthogonal to the fracture strike. Furthermore, because the analysis is applied locally at a specific depth range, it is less susceptible to the effects of overburden anisotropy and noise. The dominant fracture orientations from carbonate reservoirs of four oilfields were compared to those interpreted from fullbore microimager and core data. Fractures in two offshore reservoirs strike NNE-SSW and NW-SE, which are related to Zagros stress. Fractures in two onshore reservoir strikes NE-SW, while in deeper onshore reservoir fractures are aligned with N-S direction. The findings of this study are promising, particularly for the fractured reservoirs especially those located in Abu Dhabi, which are characterized by high heterogeneity and complex fracture network related to complex tectonic history. In order to obtain geometrical parameters of fractures at seismic scale, it is recommended to implement the analysis adapted in this study after acquiring three component zero-offset vertical seismic profiling.

Document Type: Original article

Cited as: Diaz-Acosta, A., Bouchaala, F., Kishida, T., Jouini, M. S., Ali, M. Y. Investigation of fractured carbonate reservoirs by applying shear-wave splitting concept. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 7(2): 99-110. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2023.02.04

References

Ali, M. Y., Aidarbayev, S., Searle, M. P., et al. Subsidence history and seismic stratigraphy of the western musandam peninsula, oman-united arab emirates mountains. Tectonics, 2018, 37(1): 154-181.

Ali, M. Y., Bouchaala, F., Bouzidi, Y., et al. Integrated fracture characterization of thamama reservoirs in Abu Dhabi oil field, United Arab Emirates. SPE Reservoir Evaluation and Engineering, 2021, 24(4): 708-720.

Ali, M. Y., Sirat, M., Small, J. Geophysical investigation of Al Jaww Plain, eastern Abu Dhabi: Implications for structure and evolution of the frontal fold belts of the Oman Mountains. GeoArabia, 2008, 13(2): 91-118.

Ali, M. Y., Watts, A. B., Searle, M. P. Seismic stratigraphy and subsidence history of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rifted margin and overlying foreland basins, in Lithosphere Dynamics and Sedimentary Basins: The Arabian Plate and Analogues, edited by K. Al Hosani, F. Roure, R. Ellison, et al., Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 127-143, 2013.

Bakulin, A., Grechka, V., Tsvankin, I. Estimation of fracture parameters from reflection seismic data-Part I: HTI model due to a single fracture set. Geophysics, 2000, 65(6): 1788-1802.

Bale, R., Gratacos, B., Mattocks, B., et al. Shear wave splitting applications for fracture analysis and improved imaging: Some onshore examples. First Break, 2009, 27(9): 32448. Bohlen, T. Parallel 3-D viscoelastic finite-difference seismic modelling. Computers & Geosciences, 2002, 28(8), 887-899.

Bouchaala, F., Ali, M. Y., Matsushima, J. Detailed study of seismic wave attenuation from four oilfields in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 2018, 15(1): 106-120.

Bouchaala, F., Ali, M. Y., Matsushima, J., et al. Azimuthal investigation of compressional seismic-wave attenuation in a fractured reservoir. Geophysics, 2019, 84(6): B437-B446.

Bouchaala, F., Guennou, C. Estimation of viscoelastic attenuation of real seismic data by use of ray tracing software: Application to the detection of gas hydrates and free gas. Comptes Rendus Géoscience, 2012, 344(2): 57-66.

Chopra, S., Marfurt, K. Curvature attribute applications to 3D surface seismic data. The Leading Edge, 2007, 26(4): 404-414.

Crampin, S., Peacock, S. A review of the current understanding of seismic shear-wave splitting in the earth’s crust and common fallacies in interpretation. Wave Motion, 2008, 45(6): 675-722.

Ding, P., Wang, D., Li, X. An experimental study on scale-dependent velocity and anisotropy in fractured media based on artificial rocks with controlled fracture geometries. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2020, 53(7): 3149-3159.

Ding, P., Wei, J., Di, B., et al. Observation and theoretical calibration of the fluid flow mechanism of artificial porous rocks with various size fractures. Geophysical Prospecting, 2021, 69(6): 1235-1247.

Edgell, H. S. Basement tectonics of saudi arabia as related to oil field structures, in Basement Tectonics 9, edited by M. J. Rickard, H. J. Harrington, P. R. Williams, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 169-193, 1992.

Gao, D., Di, H. Extreme curvature and extreme flexure analy sis for fracture characterization from 3D seismic data: New analytical algorithms and geologic implications. Geophysics, 2015, 80(2): IM11-IM20.

Hale, D. Methods to compute fault images, extract fault surfaces, and estimate fault throws from 3D seismic images. Geophysics, 2013, 78(2): O33-O43.

Jaglan, H., Qayyum, F., Hélène, H. Unconventional seismic attributes for fracture characterization. First Break, 2015, 33(3): 79520.

Johnson, C., Hauge, T., Al-Menhali, S., et al. Structural styles and tectonic evolution of onshore and offshore Abu Dhabi, UAE. Paper IPTC 10646 Presented at International Petroleum Technology Conference, Doha, Qatar, 21-23 November, 2005.

Landa, E., Keydar, S., Kravtcov, A. Determination of a shallow velocity-depth model from seismic refraction data by coherence inversion. Geophysical Prospecting, 1995, 43(2): 177-190.

Li, X., Ali, S. 3dvsp processing report zakum development compnay (zadco). Schlumberger SIS-Data Services, 2016.

Mandal, A., Srivastava, E. Enhanced structural interpretation from 3D seismic data using hybrid attributes: New insights into fault visualization and displacement in Cretaceous formations of the Scotian Basin, offshore Nova Scotia. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 2018, 89(2): 464-478.

Marfurt, K. J., Kirlin, R. L., Farmer, S. L., et al. 3-D seismic attributes using a semblance-based coherency algorithm. Geophysics, 1998, 63(4): 1150-1165.

Matsushima, J., Ali, M. Y., Bouchaala, F. A novel method for separating intrinsic and scattering attenuation for zerooffset vertical seismic profiling data. Geophysical Journal International, 2017, 211(3): 1655-1668.

Miyazawa, M., Snieder, R., Venkataraman, A. Application of seismic interferometry to extract P-and S-wave propagation and observation of shear-wave splitting from noise data at Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada. Geophysics, 2008, 73(4): D35-D40.

Muttoni, G., Gaetani, M., Kent, D. V., et al. Opening of the Neo-Tethys Ocean and the Pangea B to Pangea A transformation during the Permian. GeoArabia, 2009, 14(4): 17-48.

Noufal, A. Characteristics of salt-related faults in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Paper SPE 202605 Presented at Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 9-12 November, 2020.

Patton, T., O’connor, S. Cretaceous flexural history of northern Oman Mountain foredeep, United Arab Emirates. AAPG Bulletin, 1988, 72(7): 797-809.

Pevzner, R., Gurevich, B., Urosevic, M. Estimation of azimuthal anisotropy from vsp data using multicomponent S-wave velocity analysis. Geophysics, 2011, 76(5): D1-D9.

Richard, P., Zampetti, V., Volery, C., et al. Abu Dhabi structural evolution and its implications for exploration. Paper SPE 188973 Presented at Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 13-16 November, 2017.

Salahuddin, A. A., Qureshi, Z. U., Bandyopadhyay, I., et al. Utilization of geosciences, geostatistics, and fluid flow simulations to evaluate well placement sensitivity. Paper SPE 186076 Presented at SPE Reservoir Characterisation and Simulation Conference and Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8-10 May, 2017.

Searle, M. Thrust tectonics of the Dibba zone and the structural evolution of the Arabian continental margin along the Musandam mountains (Oman and United Arab Emirates). Journal of the Geological Society, 1988, 145(1): 43-53.

Searle, M. P. Structural geometry, style and timing of deformation in the Hawasina Window, Al Jabal al Akhdar and Saih Hatat culminations, Oman Mountains. GeoArabia, 2007, 12(2): 99-130.

Searle, M. P., Cherry, A. G., Ali, M. Y., et al. Tectonics of the Musandam Peninsula and northern Oman Mountains: From ophiolite obduction to continental collision. GeoArabia, 2014, 19(2): 135-174.

Simm, R., Bacon, M. Seismic Amplitude: An Interpreter’s Handbook. Cambridg, UK, Cambridge University Press, 2014.

Sirat, M. Regional stress rotation in arabia; implications for hydrocarbon E&P in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Paper SPE 175604 Presented at SPE Reservoir Characterisation and Simulation Conference and Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 14-16 September, 2015.

Sirat, M., Salman, S., Bellah, S. Fracturing mechanism and fracture systems analysis of carbonate reservoir from Abu Dhabi, UAE. Paper SPE 111397 Presented at SPE/EAGE Reservoir Characterization and Simulation Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 28-31 October, 2007.

Skeith, G., Obara, T., El-Awawdeh, R., et al. Improved fracture characterization by utilizing seismic-derived attributes including anisotropy and diffraction imaging in a giant offshore carbonate field, UAE. Paper SPE 177597 Presented at Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 9-12 November, 2015.

Takougang, E. M. T., Ali, M. Y., Bouzidi, Y., et al. Characterization of a carbonate reservoir using elastic fullwaveform inversion of vertical seismic profile data. Geophysical Prospecting, 2020, 68(6): 1944-1957.

Tsuji, T., Hino, R., Sanada, Y., et al. In situ stress state from walkaround VSP anisotropy in the kumano basin southeast of the Kii Peninsula, Japan. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 2011, 12(9): Q0AD19.

WiMann, H., Rathjens, C., Kossmat, F. 1. Beiträge zur Tektonik Arabiens. Geologische Rundschau, 1943, 33(4-6): 221-353.

Zhao, L., Yao, Q., Han, D., et al. Characterizing the effect of elastic interactions on the effective elastic properties of porous, cracked rocks. Geophysical Prospecting, 2016, 64(1): 157-169.