AASPI

2015 Workplan for VVAz Analysis

of Prestack Migrated Data

Jie Qi and Kurt J. Marfurt

(The University of Oklahoma)
 AASPI

Outline
Introduction
Motivation
Challenge
Methodology
VVAz
AVAz
Azimuthal crosscorrelation
Application
Geology background
Azimuthal attributes
Conclusion

2
Motivation

Azimuthally limited or vector-tile gathers are part of the wide-

azimuth processing workflow

Can we implement interpretation tools to provide residual

AVAz analysis capabilities?

If the data were migrated using isotropic velocities, these

residuals are a measure of VVAz

The application of such a tool would increase vertical

resolution and precondition the data for subsequent AVAz
analysis
3
Horizontal Transverse Isotropy (HTI) medium

(Left): No HTI anisotropy results in equal travel time paths in all

azimuths;

(Right): In an HTI anisotropic media with aligned vertical

fractures the travel time is azimuth dependent and is not equal in
all directions. 4
(Courtesy of Close et. al., 2010)
Shear wave spitting in anisotropic medium

3-C
Receiver

5
(Courtesy ofEd Garnero)
Fracture: Woodford Marcellus
shale Shale

A key factor in the optimization of reservoir production

High natural fractures high production
Helps to identify sweet spots

Anisotropic properties: intensity and orientation

Anisotropy analysis: amplitude and velocity

6
(Photos courtesy of Brian Cardott)
 AASPI

Outline
Introduction
Motivation
Challenge
Methodology
VVAz
AVAz
Azimuthal crosscorrelation
Application
Geology background
Azimuthal attributes
Conclusion

7
 Velocity vs. Azimuth (VVAz)
Advantages
Easy to generate azimuthally-binned data
Computation is fast and simple, providing a level of confidence
Requires phase- but not amplitude-preservation
Disadvantages
Suffers from vertical resolution problems associated with Dixs equation

Amplitude vs. Azimuth (AVAz)

Advantages
Easy to generate azimuthally-binned data
Computation is fast and simple, providing a level of confidence
Computations are volumetric within the (properly registered) zone of interest
Disadvantages
Requires amplitude-preserving processing and migration (AVAz)

8
Velocity variation with angle and azimuth
(VVAZ)
Vint()=V0+cos[2(- sym)]
If is zero, it becomes interval velocity.
N

N
sy
sym

9
Amplitude vs. Offset (AVO)
R(,)=A+{Biso }sin2

Amplitude vs. Azimuth (AVAz)

R(,)=A+{Biso+Banisocos[2(- sym)]}sin2
N

N
sym

10
(Rueger, 1996)
Workflows

Conventional VVAz:
Generate long-offset sectors or tiles at different azimuths (unmigrated)
At discrete picked horizons, compute VRMS as a function of azimuth,
Compute interval velocities Vint() using Dixs equation
Fit a sinusoidal curve to Vint() to obtain the magnitude and azimuth of
anisotropy

AVAz:
Generate long-offset sectors or tiles at different azimuths (migrated)
Pick discrete upper and lower horizons and generate either flattened or stratal
slices throughout the volumetric zone of interest
At every time or depth sample, fit a sinusoid to the amplitude as a function of
azimuth
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Residual VVAz Workflow
Prestack
Shot Time
gathers migration
VVAz
Anisotrop
Migrated
y
gathers

Dynamic
alignment
Azim
Azim 1 Azim 2 Structure
8
gather gather oriented
gathe
s s filter
rs

AVAz
anisotropy
Baniso, aniso

12
Dynamic alignment
Correlate adjacent azimuths
Find and value of highest correlation coefficient
Autocorrelate & crosscorrelate

Azim 1 Azim 2 Azim 8

Time

13
Dynamic alignment
Least-squares fit to find aniso and sym

Vint()=V0+cos[2(- sym)]
V0 +

V0+cos[2(- sym)]

sym

aniso

V0 iso

V0 -
Azimuth,
14
(Modified from Roende et al., 2008)
Dynamic alignment
Stretch and squeeze data to provide flattened events
aniso and sym

Isotropic Layer 1

High anisotropy

Anisotropic Layer 2

Azimuthal data
Dynami
c
alignme
nt
Isotropic Layer
Isotropic 11
Layer

Anisotropic Layer 2

Aligned data 15
 AASPI

Outline
Introduction
Motivation
Challenge
Methodology
VVAz
AVAz
Azimuthal crosscorrelation
Application
Geology background
Azimuthal attributes
Conclusion

16
Stratigraphic Cross Section

Marble Falls

Unconformity

(Modified from Pollastro et al., 2009)

17
Stacked azimuth sector gathers
Anisotropy indicators

CMP no.

0.5

0.6 CMP CMP CMP

Time (s)

398 399 400

0.7

0.8

Data alignedData Misaligned 18

(Roende et al., 2008)
 Amplitude as a function of azimuth (AVAz)
0.6

stron

weak
ger

r e
~8 ms
Time (s)

0.7

0.8
19
~3500 ft (Roende et al., 2008)
AVAz products
0.4
Top Marble
Time (s)

Fall

Top
1.0
Intercept, A Ellenburger

0.4
Time (s)

Isotropic gradient, Biso

1.0

0.4
Time (s)

Anisotropic gradient, Baniso

1.0
Low High1 mile 20
(Modified from Roende et al., 2008)
 AASPI

Outline

Introduction
Motivation
Challenge
Methodology
VVAz
AVAz
Azimuthal crosscorrelation
Conclusion

21
Anticipated Challenges

Will there be a clear correlation between AVAz and

VVAz?
Can the residuals be computed gather by gather, or will
layer-stripping become important?

22
 AASPI
Acknowledgements

Marathon Oil Co. for a license to their survey

Sponsors of the AASPI consortium for financial support and
technical encouragement

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