Comparison Of Scattered Energy Using Point Scatterers Versus Full 3D Finite Difference Modeling

Abstract

We present results of 3D numerical modeling using a series of simple point scatterers to create synthetic seismic shot records collected over regular, discrete, vertical fracture systems. The background medium is taken to be constant velocity. The model contains a series of point scatterers delineating the top tip and bottom tip of each vertical fracture. We use these results to gain an understanding of some of the features seen in full 3D elastic modeling of vertical fractures. We compare our results to those of Willis et al (2003) and Willis et al (2004) for their 5 layer model with 50m spacing between discrete, vertical fractures. Our modeling shows that a series of back scattered events with both positive and negative moveouts are observed when the shot record is oriented normal to the direction of fracturing. When the shot record is both located in the middle of the fractured zone and is oriented normal to the direction of fracturing, a complicated series of beating is observed in the back scattered energy. When the shot record is oriented parallel to the fracturing, ringing wavetrains are observed which moveouts similar to reflections from many horizontal layers. The point scattering models are, in general, very consistent with the full 3D elastic modeling results.