Fractured Reservoirs Imaging Solutions

Naturally-fractured reservoirs are an important component of the global hydrocarbon reserve and production base. In many parts of the world, including the Middle East and Mexico, fractured reservoirs account for the bulk of production. In other areas, such as the Rockies of North America, low permeability formations that were once considered unconventional hydrocarbon resources are now quickly becoming mainstream.

Challenges

A key part of fractured reservoir characterization is making high-quality measurements of anisotropy, which indirectly indicates fracture orientation and intensity. In a vertically fractured zone, AVO response will vary with azimuth. The largest variation will occur between AVO responses parallel and perpendicular to the dominant fracturing direction.

In order to measure this anisotropy and properly characterize fractured reservoirs, geophysicists must ensure the following:

• Surveys are designed with long offsets, wide azimuths, and high station density to ensure the subsurface is adequately sampled in all directions
• Seismic data is recorded using high-fidelity, 3-C sensors that capture broadband P-wave and S-wave data (especially at lower frequencies)
• Processing workflows account for P-wave Vfast and Vslow magnitudes and directions, shear wave splitting, and azimuthally-varying AVO
• All available seismic, engineering, and geologic data is integrated to relate seismic attributes to reservoir fracturing, and to tie reservoir fracture models to actual production

Solutions

Combinations of innovative field acquisition technologies and processing techniques are necessary to solve fractured reservoir imaging challenges. ION offers the broadest range of technologies and services for the most complex imaging requirements:

• Advanced survey design and planning services for wide-azimuth, 3-C (multicomponent) acquisition
• Award-winning, full-wave VectorSeis sensors
• Industry-recognized data processing techniques, like AZIM, that address complex imaging challenges unique to fractured reservoirs
• Services and software for reconciling seismic data and attributes with reservoir, production, and geological information that generates fracture properties for reservoir models