Abstract
This paper presents the theory which describes how the lateral correlation of vertical displacement is influenced by multiple scattering of seismic waves caused by the presence of fluid-filled fractures, along with an observational methodology to show how to extract fracture-related quantities (e.g. fracture porosity, degree of anisotropy of the fractures, change in orientation of the fractures, density of fluid filling the fractures) from seismic data using the theoretical development as an underpinning framework. A simple physical picture is given of the basic process, as well as some rough order of magnitude estimates to show that the parameters quantifying the size of the multiple scattering fall squarely in the seismic regime.
These calculations serve to create a basis to determine, by seismic means ahead of the drill, (1) the degree of fracturing of reservoir rocks (such as the Monterey shale), and (2) the type of fluid filling the fractures.
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Lerche, I. Multiple scattering of seismic waves in fractured media: Crosscorrelation as a probe of fracture intensity. PAGEOPH 123, 503–542 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877451
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877451