Methods of fracture prediction from seismic data: current state

Abstract

Information about fractures plays a significant role when dealing with the exploration and production of hydrocarbons accumulated in tight rocks with low porosity and permeability. Seismic data, which has already proven to be a valuable tool for the lithology and properties prediction in conventional reservoirs, can also be used to determine zones of fracture location.

Aim. The relevance of the problem of fracture prediction is determined by the growing attention to unconventional reservoirs and associated hydrocarbons as a mean of replenishment of the resource base. Therefore, it is important to outline the set of tools available to seismic interpreters for studying fractures and to propose a methodology for their use.

Materials and methods. In this paper, we present a study of the opportunities provided by seismic data in terms of predicting azimuthal anisotropy and fracturing. Particularly, we suggest a review of the geometric attributes of the wave field, the anisotropy parameters of the amplitude vs. azimuth vs. angle variation, and the characteristics of the diffraction imaging. Our investigation is supported by examples of the real data interpretation implementing wide-azimuth 3D seismic surveys with supposedly fractured target intervals located in both clastic and carbonate environments.

Results. As a result, several approaches for combining the attributes of fractures of various nature are proposed, as well as criteria for the applicability of seismic data for predicting the presence and parameters of fractures.

Conclusion. We show that if a number of requirements for the acquisition and processing of seismic data are met, it can be successfully used to identify zones of fracture development and assess their orientation.