Seismic Character of a Fractured Reservoir: A Physical Model Study

Robert W. Wiley¹*, Byron Golden², Peter Wilson¹, and Scott Peters^1
1Apex Spectral Technology, USA
²Halliburton, USA
*[email protected]

We designed a physical model to study the effect of a swarm of vertical fractures on seismic data. The physical model was constructed by placing several glass slide covers between two large glass blocks. This was then embedded in resin to represent the bounding lithologic layers above and below the fractured zone. The glass slide covers were approximately 0.5 mm in thickness and adequately represented fractures when scaled. 3-D seismic data was collected over this model using high-frequency transducers with a variety of offsets. By comparing the amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) response over the glass blocks with the AVO response over the fractures, we determined the variations in AVO due to the fractures. We were also able to analyze spectral variations between the fractures and the unfractured block. In addition, we determined spectral variations with offset of the fractured portion of the model. These results will enable the explorationist to better determine the location and orientation of fractured reservoirs.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90077©2008 GEO 2008 Middle East Conference and Exhibition, Manama, Bahrain