Modelling and analysis of attenuation anisotropy in multi-azimuth VSP data from the Clair field

• Published in: Geophysical Prospecting Vol. 55; no. 5; pp. 627 - 642
• Main Authors: Maultzsch, Sonja, Chapman, Mark, Liu, Enru, Li, Xiang-Yang
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2007; Blackwell
• Subjects: Applied geophysics; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Internal geophysics; fracturing; models; hydrocarbons; anisotropy; strike; prediction; reservoirs; P-waves; fractures; direction
• ISSN: 0016-8025; 1365-2478
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2478.2007.00645.x

ABSTRACT Anisotropic variations in attenuation are of interest since they can give information on the fracture system and may be more amenable to measurement than absolute attenuation values. We examine methods for detecting changes in relative attenuation with azimuth from VSP data, and validate the techniques on synthetic data. Analysis of a multi‐azimuth walkaway VSP data set from a fractured hydrocarbon reservoir indicates that such azimuthal variations in P‐wave attenuation are observable. The effects are localized in the reservoir, and analysis allows the prediction of a fracture strike direction, which agrees with geological information. The observed effects can be modelled under reasonable assumptions, which suggests the validity of the link between the anisotropic attenuation and the fracturing.