Integrated Microseismic and 3D Seismic
Interpretations
Proposal submitted through the Environmentally Friendly
Drilling Systems Program East Center at WVU
(Doug Patchen, Center Director)
Tom Wilson
Department of Geology and Geography
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
General objectives of the project
1) Develop a 3D seismic interpretation of an active Marcellus
shale gas development area;
2) Incorporate available geophysical logs and subsurface data into
the geophysical characterization and subsurface interpretation;
3) Position microseismic events in the subsurface stratigraphic
framework and 3D seismic interpretation;
4) Evaluate relationship between seismic scale fault networks,
other seismic attributes and microseismic distribution;
5) Create a workflow you can use and modify for decision making
on placement of future laterals.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Task 1.0 3D seismic analysis
Subtask 1.1 Database creation. Bring data sets including 3D seismic and
well log data together in a common interpretation and computational
platform.
Subtask 1.2 Calculate synthetic seismic response, integrate well log data
into seismic and develop a velocity function.
Subtask 1.3 Conduct basic interpretation of 3D seismic.
Subtask 1.4 Convert 3D seismic to depth and accurately position laterals
& microseismic events in the depth volume.
Subtask 1.5 Develop/test various 3D seismic discontinuity detection
workflows to enhance seismic features that may influence fracability
Use microseismic response for validation/calibration.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Post-stack processing will be conducted in time and depth
domains. Accurate depth conversion is necessary. Already exist?
Use synthetic seismogram to tie well log data into seismic &
develop velocity function.
Microseismic velocity function may be used to improve seismic
event tie for depth conversion.
The Burley #1 well (a “nearby” deep well) provides some
regional control on deeper velocity distribution.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Pre & post stack depth migrations are only as
good as the velocity function
The data collected over
this WV site had obvious
anomalies associated with
an incorrect elevation
correction velocity.
In this case the elevation
correction velocity was
much to low. With the
datum above the valleys,
seismic events across
valleys were associated
with time-structural low in
areas of subsurface
structural high.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Basic workflow
Post-stack processing workflows will be
developed to meet the needs of this area and
the unique properties of this reservoir
interval.
Discontinuities will be extracted in time and
depth domain for comparison. Other attribute
workflows will be developed and evaluated
in the context of microseismic responses.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Task 1.0 3D seismic analysis (continued)
Subtask 1.6 Conduct orientation analysis of extracted
discontinuities
Subtask 1.7 Develop composite fracture distribution and
intensity drivers using seismic discontinuities and other
seismic attributes
Subtask 1.8 Develop model discrete fracture network
Subtask 1.9 Compute porosity and permeability
distributions in the DFN
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Orientations of seismic discontinuities.
How do they fit in the context of regional structure/tectonic history?
anomalous trend
Less pervasive
J2 trend
~ J1 trend
~ SHmax trend
FMI logged
fractures in the
Oriskany Ss.
Aarre et al., 2012
Optimal Lateral
Orientation
Analysis of seismic discontinuity trends in Marshal Co., for
example, reveals both expected and anomalous trends.
What does the microseismic reveal?
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Composite fracture driver: derived from
discontinuity and max curvature normal to SHmax
Upscaled
driver
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
DFN
seal
Fracture
(multilayer)
perm Ki
kj and cumulative kj through a portion of the seal
Hmax
kj perm
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Integrated kj perm
Task 2.0 Microseismic evaluation
Subtask 2.1 Bring microseismic data into the database
Subtask 2.2 Examine microseismic for presence of
master fracture zones (what does the distribution of
microseismic events tell us?)
Subtask 2.3 Integrate microseismic into Task 1 efforts
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Microseismic display and integration capabilities
Petrel/Nemo
time
magnitude
Main
event
Early
event
Uncertainty
ellipsoid
and BB
diagram
Late
event
Sonic s/ft
Sonic s/ft
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Evaluating shale production within the context
of microseismic response
Not stress directions but orientations
of probable fractures in these areas.
Fan et al., 2010
Toelle, 2012
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Project schedule
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Recent publications on related work
Journal Papers
Oudinot, A., Koperna, G., Philip, Z., Liu, N., Heath, J., Wells, A., Young, G., and Wilson, T., 2011, CO2 injection performance in the Fruitland coal
fairway, San Juan Basin: Results of a Field Pilot: Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE 127073, 864-979.
Wilson, T., Wells, A., Peters, D., Mioduchowski, A., Martinez, G., Koperna, G., Akwari, B., and Heath, J., 2012a, Fracture and 3D Seismic
Interpretations of the Fruitland Coal, San Juan Basin: Implications for CO2 Retention and Tracer Movement: International Journal of Coal
Geology, 99, pp. 35-53. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166516212000432.
Wilson, T., Siriwardane, H., Zhu, L., Bajura, R., Winschel, R., Locke, J., Bennett, J., 2012b, Fracture model of the Upper Freeport coal: Marshall
County West Virginia pilot ECBMR and CO2 sequestration site: International Journal of Coal Geology 13p.,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2012.05.005.
Weber, M., Wilson, T., Akwari, B., Wells, A., and Koperna, G., 2012. Impact of geological complexity of the Fruitland Formation on combined CO2
enhanced recovery/sequestration at San Juan Basin pilot site. International Journal of Coal Geology, 104, pp 46-58. See
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2012.09.011, T. Wilson corresponding author.
Wells, A., Diehl, J., Strazisar, B., Wilson, T., Stanko, D., in press, Atmospheric and soil-gas monitoring for surface leakage at the San Juan Basin
CO2 pilot test site at Pump Canyon New Mexico, using perfluorocarbon tracers, CO2 soil-gas flux and soil-gas hydrocarbons. International
Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 28p.
Procedings
Wilson, T., Weber, M., Bennett, J., Wells, A., Siriwardane, H., Akwari, B., Koperna, G., 2012. Fracture Model, Ground Displacements and Tracer
Observations: Fruitland Coals, San Juan Basin, New Mexico, CO2 Pilot Test: Proceedings of the International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 13p.
Meeting presentation
Wilson, T., Smith, V., Brown, A., Gao, D., 2012. Modeling discrete fracture networks in the Tensleep Sandstone: Teapot Dome, Wyoming: AAPG
Search and Discovery Article #50658, 4p.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
References cited
Aare, V., Astratti, D, Dayni, T., Mahmoud, S., Clark, A., Stellas, M., Stringer, J., Toelle, B., Vejbaek, O., and White, G., 2012,
Seismic detection of subtle faults and fractures: Oilfield Review, 28-43.
Rich, J. P., and Ammerman, M., 2010, Unconventional geophysics for unconventional plays; SPE 13179, SPE unconventional gas
conference Pittsburgh, PA.
Fan, L., Thompson, J., and Robinson, J., 2010, Understanding gas production mechanisms and effectiveness of well stimulation in
the Haynesville Shale through reservoir simulation; CSUG/SPE 136696, Canadian unconventional resources and international
petroleum conference , Calgary, Canada.
Toelle, B., 2012, Shale plays evaluation – finding production sweet spots: Schlumberger NeXT course, Houston, TX.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography