Fractures extraction and associated intensity maps from 3D VSP data

Summary

Fractures and faults were extracted from a reverse time migrated 3D Vertical Seismic Profile (VSP) data acquired over a carbonate reservoir offshore Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. A specific workflow was used for the extraction of fractures and faults. The workflow was based on data preconditioning (i.e. noise attenuation), semblance based seismic attributes, binary filtering, and clustering. A complex network of fractures was extracted. The dominant strike direction of the extracted fractures showed a good correlation with the dominant strike direction of interpreted fractures from FMI (Fullbore Formation Microimager) and core data at three reservoir zones. A known fault in the area was also detected. The extracted fracture network was then used to compute fracture intensity maps. Fracture intensity maps give indications of zones with high fracturing that may be associated with greater porosity and permeability.

• fractures
• faults
• VSP
• attribute
• workflow