Spatial Reservoir Localization Using Seismic Emission

Alexander P. Zhukov*, Mikhail B. Shneerson, Konstantin I. Loginov, and Valeria E. Shulakova
Geophysical Data Systems, Russia
*[email protected]

All geological media are active seismic systems that, in themselves, generate microseisms. Microseismic energy generation is generally disregarded in most theories, but not in seismology and microseismic studies. In particular, seismic tomography can be used to model noisy objects (microseisms) localized in an half-space model of the Earth, including hydrocarbon reservoirs. We have conducted experiments, using three-components accelerometers, to investigate natural seismic-acoustic emission (SAE) with a view to applications to hydrocarbon reservoirs. The goals of the experiments were to investigate the SAE’s character, its frequency content and distribution for all three components along test lines. The final objective was to develop a special technology for the spatial localization of the reservoir and the definition of its parameters. We found that the SAE activity of the vertical and horizontal components along the test lines correlated with the location of the hydrocarbon reservoir. There were some different frequency ranges in the amplitude spectrum of the SAE, which relate to different noise sources; these difference may be due to the origin or location of the sources. The data analysis showed that special processing based on the principles of seismic tomography may be used to localize the areas of possible reservoir development. The analysis also identified interstitial zones below the mapped reservoir zone, which may be fault-related, oil-migration pathways. We also found that it is possible to use industry vibroseis data and standard technologies for tomographic analysis of the SAE.

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