Evaluating Prospects from P-Wave Seismic Data Using S-Wave Vertical Shear Profile Data
OwnerAlan J. Foleyinventor
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for evaluating potential hydrocarbon prospect locations within a subsurface formation. First and second opposite polarity directional seismic signals are propagated from a seismic source through the subsurface formation and recorded. A pure shear wave record is derived from the recorded signals and compared to a compression wave record for at least one potential hydrocarbon reservoir location within the formation.
Claims16
A method of evaluating potential hydrocarbon prospect locations within a subsurface formation comprising the steps of:
- propagating a first directional seismic signal from a shear wave seismic source through the subsurface formation;
- propagating a second directional seismic signal from a shear wave seismic source through the subsurface formation, the second direction seismic signal being of opposite polarity from the first directional seismic signal;
- recording the first and second directional shear wave seismic signals;
- and
- deriving a pure shear wave two-way time record from the first and second directional seismic signals;
- and
- comparing the pure shear wave record for the first and second directional seismic signals to a compression wave record for the first and second directional seismic signals for a potential hydrocarbon reservoir location within the formation.
A method of evaluating potential hydrocarbon prospect locations within a subsurface formation, the method comprising the steps of:
- recording first and second opposite directional seismic signals that are propagated through the subsurface formation;
- deriving a pure shear wave recording from the first and second directional seismic signals;
- identifying potential prospect locations having positive P-wave response within the formation;
- and
- determining which of the potential prospect locations having positive P-wave response also have positive S-wave response using the pure shear wave recording.
A system for evaluating potential hydrocarbon prospects in a subsurface formation, the system comprising:
- a seismic signal generator to propagate through the subsurface formation a first directional seismic signal and a second directional seismic signal that is of opposite polarity from the first directional seismic signal;
- a recorder for recording the first and second directional seismic signals;
- a means for processing the first and second directional seismic signals to extract a pure shear wave record from the first and second directional seismic signals;
- and
- a means for comparing the pure shear wave record to a compression wave record for a potential hydrocarbon reservoir location within the formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.