Jamie Rich

Fracture Characterization Through the Use of Azimuthally Sectored Attribute Volumes

Azimuthal volumes have often been looked at in conjunction with velocity anisotropy to determine the strike of fractures or maximum stress direction. Due to variations in the directions of fractures, attributes calculated on azimuthal volumes may also provide insight into the strike and dip, location, and spatial variation of the fractures. In particular, attributes highlighting the differences in frequency, time, and amplitude can effectively isolate areas of fractures (Tod et al 2007). If these seismic experiments can detect naturally-occurring fractures in reservoirs then why not use the same principles to detect hydraulicallyinduced fractures? The techniques discussed in this paper will show how these azimuthally sectored volumes and their attributes can be used to map the hydraulicallyinduced fractures in the Barnett Shale in the Ft. Worth Basin. Areas of pre-existing hydraulic fractures are typically avoided because of the potential interference with other wells in the area. We demonstrate how prior geologic knowledge of areas of hydraulically-induced fractures will be used in conjunction with the azimuthal volumes in order to effectively map the fractures.