Interpretation of fractures and joint inversion using multicomponent seismic data — Marcellus Shale example

AbstractEvaluating and exploiting unconventional complex oil and gas reservoirs such as the Marcellus Shale gas reservoirs within the Appalachian Basin in Pennsylvania, USA, have gained considerable interest in recent years. Technologies such as conventional 3D seismic, horizontal drilling, and hydraulic fracturing have been at the forefront of the effort to exploit these resources. Recently, multicomponent seismic technologies have been integrated into some resource evaluation and reservoir characterization activities of low-permeability rock systems. We evaluated how multicomponent seismic technology provides value to reservoir characterization in shale gas exploration. We improved fault interpretations and natural fracture identifications by means of P-SV1 and P-SV2 integrated interpretation. In addition, using P-P-/P-SV-joint inversion, we extracted key parameters, such as VP/VS ratio and density, that improve stratigraphic interpretation and rock-property descriptions of shale gas reservoirs.