Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fracture identification based on remote detection acoustic reflection logging

  • Published:
Applied Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fracture identification is important for the evaluation of carbonate reservoirs. However, conventional logging equipment has small depth of investigation and cannot detect rock fractures more than three meters away from the borehole. Remote acoustic logging uses phase-controlled array-transmitting and long sound probes that increase the depth of investigation. The interpretation of logging data with respect to fractures is typically guided by practical experience rather than theory and is often ambiguous. We use remote acoustic reflection logging data and high-order finite-difference approximations in the forward modeling and prestack reverse-time migration to image fractures. First, we perform forward modeling of the fracture responses as a function of the fracture–borehole wall distance, aperture, and dip angle. Second, we extract the energy intensity within the imaging area to determine whether the fracture can be identified as the formation velocity is varied. Finally, we evaluate the effect of the fracture–borehole distance, fracture aperture, and dip angle on fracture identification.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baysal, E., Dan, D. K., and Sherwood, J. W. C., 1983, Reverse time migration: Geophysics, 48(11), 1514–1524.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baysal, E., Kosloff, D. D., and Sherwood, J. W. C., 1994, A two-way nonreflecting wave equation: Geophysics, 49(2), 132–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berenger, J., P., 1994, A perfectly matched layer for the absorption of electromagnetic waves: Journal of Computational Physics, 114(2), 185–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chabot, L., Henley, D. C., and Brown, R. J., et al., 2001, Single-well imaging using the full waveform of an acoustic sonic: 71th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 20(1), 420–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chabot, L., Henley, D. C., and Brown, R. J., et al., 2002, Single-well seismic imaging using full waveform sonic data, An update: 72th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 21(1), 368–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chai, X. Y., Zhang, W. R., and Wang, G. Q., et al., 2009, Application of remote exploration acoustic reflection imaging logging technique in fractured reservoir: Well Logging Technology (in Chinese), 33(6), 539–543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, W. F., and Mcmechan, G. A., 1986, Reverse time migration of offset vertical seismic profiling data using the excitation time imaging condition: Geophysics, 51(1), 67–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, W. F., and Mcmechan, G. A., 1987, Elastic reverse time migration: Geophysics, 52(10), 1365–1375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, W. F., and Mcmechan, G. A., 1990, 3-D acoustic prestack reverse time migration: Geophysical Prospecting, 38(7), 737–755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, W. F., and Mcmechan, G. A., 1994, 3-D elastic prestack reverse time depth migration: Geophysics, 1994, 59(4), 597–609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chattopadhyay, S., and Mcmechan, G. A., 2008, Imaging conditions for prestack reverse time migration: Geophysics, 73(3), S81–S89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Che, X. H., and Qiao, W. X., 2003, The equivalent phased receiver array and its application in processing of acoustic logging waveforms: Well Logging Technology (in Chinese), 27(1), 23–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong, H., He, X., Chen, H., and Wang, X. M., 2015, Eliminating the azimuth ambiguity in single-well imaging using 3C sonic data: Geophysics, 80(1), A13–A17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, S. J., Li, Z. C., Sun, X. D., et al., 2008, Post-stack reverse time migration using a finite difference method based on triangular grids: Applied Geophysics, 5(2), 115–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, Z. B., and Li, Z. C., 2014, True-amplitude imaging based on least-squares reverse time migration: Oil Geophysical Prospecting (in Chinese), 49(1), 120.

    Google Scholar 

  • He, F. J., 2005, The study on the simulation of the borehole acoustic reflection imaging logging tool and it’s waveform processing method: PhD thesis, China University of Petroleum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemon, C., 1978, Equations d’onde et modeles: Geophysical Prospecting, 26(4), 790–821.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hornby, B. E., 1989, Imaging of near-borehole structure using full-waveform sonic data: Geophysics, 54(6), 747–757.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, W., and Cheng, J. B., 2012, Pseudo-acoustic wave equations for reverse-time migration in TImedia: Chinese Journal Geophysics, 55(3), 1033–1045.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, C., Yue, W., He, Y., and Guo, R., 2014, Elastic wave reverse time migration for directional dipole reflection imaging: 82th Annual International Meeting, SEG Expanded Abstracts 2014, 638–642.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, C., Yue, W. Z., and Jin, H. L., et al., 2013, Progresses of data processing methods for acoustic reflection imaging logging: Well Logging Technology (in Chinese), 37(1), 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, N., Xiao, C. W., and Wu, L. H., et al., 2014, The innovation and development of log evaluation for complex carbonate reservoir in china: Well Logging Technology (in Chinese), 38(01), 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, S. A., 1984, Principles of reverse time migration: Geophysics, 49(5), 581–583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy, B. C., and Esmersoy, C., 1986, Variable background born inversion by wave field back propagation: Journal on Applied Mathematics, 48(4), 952–972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaelin, B., and Guitton, A., 2006, Imaging condition for reverse time migration: 76th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 25(1), 2594–2598.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulder, W. A., and Plessix, R., 2003, One-way and twoway wave equation migration: 73th Annual International Meeting, SEG Expanded Abstracts 69(6), 2452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, R., and McMechan, G. A., 1986, Prestack reverse time migration for elastic waves with application to synthetic offset vertical seismic profiles: Proceedings of the IEEE, 74(3, 457–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, R., and Wang, A., 2001, Scalar reverse time depth migration of elastic seismic data: Geophysics, 66(5), 1519–1527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, Y. D., Wei, Z. T., and Tang, X. M., 2014, Validation method of dipole acoustic reflection imaging from the adjacent borehole reflection: Applied Acoustics, 33(1), 29–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, X. M., and Patterson, D., 2009, Shear-wave imaging using cross-dipole acoustic logging tool: 79th Annual International Meeting, SEG Expanded Abstracts, 28(1), 421–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, X. M., Wei, Z., Su, Y. D., et al., 2013, A Review on the progress and application of dipole acoustic reflection imaging technology: Well Logging Technology (in Chinese), 37(4), 333–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, X. M., Zheng, Y., and Patterson, D., 2006, Processing acoustic logging data to image near-borehole geological structures: 76th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 25(1), 339–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, G. Q., Liu, J. D., and Wen, D. J., et al., 2014, Carbonate reservoir productivity forecasting technology based on distance detection acoustic logging tool: Well Logging Technology (in Chinese), 38(6),745–748.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, N. X., Su, H., and Liu, W. M., et al., 1998, Analysis of reflection image in sonic full waveform logging: Well Logging Technology (in Chinese), 25(1), 339–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S. D., 2003, Absorbing boundary condition for acoustic wave equation by perfectly matched layer: Oil Geophysical Prospecting (in Chinese), 38(1), 31–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei, Z. T., Tang, X. M., and Su, Y. D., et al., 2013, A new acoustic remote sensing method utilizing borehole lowfrequency dipole shear wave: Geophysics (in Chinese), 56(10), 3572–3580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei, Z. T., Tang, X. M., and Zhuang, C. X., 2013, Fardetecting logging by oriented dipole P-wave in an acoustically slow formation. Acta Petrolei Sinica (in Chinese), 34(5), 905–913.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitmore, N. D., 1983, Iterative depth imaging by backward time propagation: 58th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 2(5), 646.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, C. W., Li, J. X., and Wu, X. N., et al., 2014, Splitstep Fourier migration in remote exploration acoustic reflection imaging logging: Well Logging Technology (in Chinese), 38(2), 174–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoon, K., Marfurt, K. J., Houston, U., et al., 2004, Challenges in reverse time migration: 74th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 1057–1060.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang, C. X., Yan, F., and Sun, Z. F., et al., 2014, Data processing and applications of dipole shear-wave imaging logging: Well Logging Technology (in Chinese), 38(3), 330–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C. Y., Li, Z. C., and Sun, X. D., 2010, Review on the technology of reverse time migration: Progress of Exploration Geophysics, (05), 309–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, J., and Lines, L., 1994, Imaging of complex subsurface structures by VSP migration: Canadian Journal of Exploration Geophysics, 30(1), 73–83.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing, 100083, China

    Gong Zhang, Ning Li, Hong-Wei Guo, Hong-Liang Wu & Chao Luo

  2. School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Gong Zhang

  3. Yangtze University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430100, China

    Ning Li

Authors
  1. Gong Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ning Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hong-Wei Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hong-Liang Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chao Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ning Li.

Additional information

The Study work is supported by National Petroleum Major Project (Grant No. 2011ZX05020-008).

Zhang Gong, received his M.Eng. in 2013 from Yangtze University. He is currently a Ph.D. student at Peking University and the Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (RIPED), CNPC. His main research interests are well logging data processing and software development.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, G., Li, N., Guo, HW. et al. Fracture identification based on remote detection acoustic reflection logging. Appl. Geophys. 12, 473–481 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-015-0522-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-015-0522-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation