Seismic fracture prediction using azimuthal AVO analysis in a Middle East carbonate field: workflow and mitigation of overburden effects

Summary Seismic-fracture prediction is based on the fact that, in fractured rocks, seismic velocity varies with the direction of wave propagation relative to the fracture orientation (azimuthal anisotropy), which causes seismic amplitude to vary with azimuth (azimuthal AVO or AVOAZ). The theory of wave propagation in fractured rocks is well documented, but many issues remain to be resolved before this technology can be used routinely. These issues include overcoming problems related to acquisition and overburden effects and determining optimal data processing and signal enhancement methods. . In this paper, we apply a targetoriented AVOAZ processing workflow, which includes, but is not limited to, data conditioning, suppression of the acquisition footprint and mitigation of near-surface and overburden effects to extract fracture-anisotropy attributes in a carbonate oil field in UAE.