Method for determining discrete fracture networks from passive seismic signals and its application to subsurface reservoir simulation
US8902710B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2210/123
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for mapping a fracture network that includes determining a source of at least one seismic event from features in recorded seismic signals exceeding a selected amplitude (“visible seismic event”). The signals are generated by a plurality of seismic receivers disposed proximate a volume of subsurface to be evaluated. The signals are electrical or optical and represent seismic amplitude. A source mechanism of the at least one visible seismic event is determined. A fracture size and orientation are determined from the source mechanism. Seismic events are determined from the signals from features less than the selected amplitude (“invisible seismic events”) using a stacking procedure. A source mechanism for the invisible seismic events is determined by matched filtering. At least one fracture is defined from the invisible seismic events. A fracture network model is generated by combining the fracture determined from the visible seismic event with the fracture determined from the invisible seismic events.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.