Fracture permeability estimation using seismic attenuation

• Antragsteller: Dr. Tobias Müller
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Physik des Erdkörpers
• Förderung: Förderung von 2006 bis 2009
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 24470300

• Erstellungsjahr: 2008

Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse

Naturally fractured reservoirs have attracted an increased interest of exploration and production geophysics in recent years. In many instances, natural fractures control the permeability of the reservoir, and hence the ability to find and characterize fractured areas ofthe reservoir represents a major challenge for seismic investigations. Natural fractures influence the permeability of the reservoir; therefore the ability to find and characterize fractured areas ofthe reservoir represents a major challenge for modem seismic investigations. The main result of this project is a theoretical model for the complete description of the effective elastic properties and a method for estimation of fracture permeability. The model is based on Blot's theory of poroelasticity and fractures are modeled as highly compliant heterogeneities. Applying methods for the wave propagation in heterogeneous porous materials, attenuation and dispersion, caused by wave-induced fluid flow between pores and fractures has been quantified. We used our results in order to model the P-wave dispersion behavior in a limestone reservoir and gave estimates of fracture spacing and background permeability. Currently we are testing our methodology on further data sets in cooperation with an oil company. We believe that the outcome of this project can help in planning and decision making in drilling, which is one of the most expensive parts of water and hydrocarbon exploration.

Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)

• 2006, Attenuation and dispersion of P-waves in porous rocks with planar fractures: Comparison of theory and numerical simulations. Geophysics, N41N45
  Lambert, G. Gurevich, G., Brajanovski, M.
  
• 2006, Characteristic frequencies of seismic attenuation due to wave-induced flow in fractured porous media, Geophys. J. Int., 574-578
  Brajanovski, M., Müller, T.M., Gurevich, B.
  
• 2006, Cross-over frequencies of seismic attenuation in fractured porous rocks, 76th Ann. Mtg. Society of Exploration Geophysicists, New Orleans, Extended Abstracts, RC PI .1
  Brajanovski, M., Müller, T.M., Gurevich, B.
  
• 2006, Fracture related cross-over frequencies of seismic attenuation in porous rocks, 68th EAGE Conference, Vienna, Extended Abstracts, PI43
  Brajanovski, M., Müller, T.M., Gurevich, B.
  
• 2006, Seismic attenuation due to wave-induced flow: Why Q in random structures scales differently, Geophys. Res. Lett., , L16305
  Müller, T.M., and Rothert, E.
  
• 2007, A rock physics model for fractured and patchy-saturated reservoirs, EAGE/SEG 2007 Research Workshop on Fractured Reservoirs, Integrating Geoscience for Fractured Reservoirs Description, Extended Abstracts, 1-4
  Brajanovski, M., Müller, T.M., Parra, J.O.
  
• 2007, Characterization of fractured reservoirs using seismic wave attenuation, 69th EAGE Conference, London, Extended Abstracts, P307
  Brajanovski, M., Müller, T.M.
  
• 2007, Fluid substitution, dispersion and attenuation in fractured and porous reservoirs - insights from new rock physics models. The Leading Edge, 1162-1168
  Gurevich, B., Galvin, R. J., Brajanovski, M. Müller, T.M., Lambert, G.
  
• 2007, Strong dispersion and attenuation of P-waves in a partially saturated fractured reservoir, 77th Ann. Mtg. Society of Exploration Geophysicists, San Antonio, Extended Abstracts, RC2.1
  Brajanovski, M, Müller, T.M., Parra, J.O.