Determining vertical fractures in a stratum using scattered vertical and horizontal shear modes
AssigneeBoard of Regents for the University of Texas System
InventorsBob Hardage, Robert J. Graebner
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system for, and method of determining vertical fractures in a stratum using scattered horizontal shear and vertical shear modes. The method may include segregating first order horizontal and vertical shear modes of a seismic energy wave into second order horizontal and vertical shear modes, defining a seismic energy wave corridor along a radial path between a seismic energy source and seismic receivers, and gathering seismic data received by the seismic receivers within the corridor, the data including the second order horizontal and vertical shear modes.
Claims27
A method of determining vertical fractures in a stratum using scattered horizontal shear and vertical shear modes, comprising:
- segregating first order horizontal and vertical shear modes of a seismic energy wave into second order horizontal and vertical shear modes;
- defining a seismic energy wave corridor along a radial path between a seismic energy source and seismic receivers;
- and
- gathering seismic data received by said seismic receivers within said corridor, said data including said second order horizontal and vertical shear modes.
A system for determining anisotropy in a stratum using scattered horizontal shear and vertical shear modes, comprising:
- a seismic energy source;
- reflected seismic energy wave reflected from a subsurface interface and having horizontal shear energy and vertical shear energy associated therewith;
- and
- first and second seismic energy receivers, wherein said first seismic energy receiver is aligned radially with said seismic energy source and wherein said second seismic energy receiver is aligned substantially transverse with said seismic energy source;
- a seismic energy wave corridor extending along a radial path between said seismic energy source and said first seismic energy receiver;
- seismic data received by said first and second seismic receivers within said corridor, said data including vertical and horizontal shear components;
- and
- first order horizontal and vertical shear modes of a seismic energy wave segregated into second order horizontal and vertical shear modes vertical and horizontal shear component data.
A method of exploring a subterranean feature with seismic energy, comprising:
- generating a seismic energy wave toward a subterranean feature;
- reflecting said seismic energy from said subterranean feature to produce a reflected seismic energy wave having vertical and horizontal shear energy associated therewith;
- segregating first order horizontal and vertical shear modes of a seismic energy wave into second order horizontal and vertical shear modes;
- determining a seismic energy wave corridor along a radial path between said seismic energy source and said seismic receiver;
- and
- gathering seismic data received by said seismic receivers within said corridor, said data including horizontal and vertical shear components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.