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Gas sand distribution prediction by prestack elastic inversion based on rock physics modeling and analysis

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Abstract

Seismic inversion is one of the most widely used technologies for reservoir prediction. Many good results have been obtained but sometimes it fails to differentiate the lithologies and identify the fluids. However, seismic prestack elastic inversion based on rock physics modeling and analysis introduced in this paper is a significant method that can help seismic inversion and interpretation reach a new quantitative (or semi-quantitative) level from traditional qualitative interpretation. By doing rock physics modeling and forward perturbation analysis, we can quantitatively analyze the essential relationships between rock properties and seismic responses and try to find the sensitive elastic properties to the lithology, porosity, fluid type, and reservoir saturation. Finally, standard rock physics templates (RPT) can be built for specific reservoirs to guide seismic inversion interpretation results for reservoir characterization and fluids identification purpose. The gas sand distribution results of the case study in this paper proves that this method has unparalleled advantages over traditional post-stack methods, by which we can perform reservoir characterization and seismic data interpretation more quantitatively and efficiently.

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He Fu-Bang is studying on her PhD degree at China University of Geosciences (Beijing). She graduated from China University of Petroleum (Beijing) in 2004 where she received her Master’s degree majoring in geophysical prospecting (2004). Currently, her research mainly focuses on seismic rock physics, prestack seismic data inversion, and reservoir prediction.

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He, FB., You, J. & Chen, KY. Gas sand distribution prediction by prestack elastic inversion based on rock physics modeling and analysis. Appl. Geophys. 8, 197–205 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-011-0285-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-011-0285-1

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