Fracture Density Estimation Using Spectral Analysis of Reservoir Reflections: A Numerical Modeling Approach
Author(s)
Pearce, Fred
Burns, Daniel R.
Rao, Rama V. N.
Willis, Mark E.
Byun, Joongmoo
Date Issued
2003
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laboratory
Series/Report no.
Earth Resources Laboratory Industry Consortia Annual Report;2003-07
Abstract
We use a 3-D finite difference numerical model to generate synthetic seismograms from a simple fractured reservoir
containing evenly spaced, discrete, vertical fractures. The fractures are represented using a single column of
anisotropic grid points. Analysis of seismic amplitudes and spectral characteristics were carried out on the top and
base reservoir reflections as well as scattered wave coda for models with fracture spacing ranging from 0.01 to 0.1
fractures/m. Results show that the bulk scattered wave energy contained in a common shot gather increases greatly
when the fracture spacing is greater than about 1/4 wavelength. Wavenumber spectra for integrated amplitude
versus offset from a time window containing the base reservoir reflector show spectral peaks corresponding to the
fracture spacing.
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