The Impact of Model Based Offset Scaling Technique on the Amplitude Variation with Offset Responses from 3D Seismic Data Acquired from the Tano Basin, Offshore Ghana

Amplitudes have been found to be a function of incident angle and offset. Hence data required to test for amplitude variation with angle or offset needs to have its amplitudes for all offsets preserved and not stacked. Amplitude Variation with Offset (AVO)/Amplitude Variation with Angle (AVA) is necessary to account for information in the offset/angle parameter (mode converted S-wave and P-wave velocities). Since amplitudes are a function of the converted S- and P-waves, it is important to investigate the dependence of amplitudes on the elastic (P- and S-waves) parameters from the seismic data. By modelling these effects for different reservoir fluids via fluid substitution, various AVO geobody classes present along the well and in the entire seismic cube can be observed. AVO analysis was performed on one test well (Well_1) and 3D pre-stack angle gathers from the Tano Basin. The analysis involves creating a synthetic model to infer the effect of offset scaling techniques on amplitude responses in the Tano basin as compared to the effect of unscaled seismic data. The spectral balance process was performed to match the amplitude spectra of all angle stacks to that of the mid (26°) stack on the test lines. The process had an effect primarily on the far (34° - 40°) stacks. The frequency content of these stacks slightly increased to match that of the near and mid stacks. In offset scaling process, the root mean square (RMS) amplitude comparison between the synthetic and seismic suggests that the amplitude of the far traces should be reduced relative to the nears by up to 16%. However, the exact scaler values depend on the time window considered. This suggests that the amplitude scaling with offset delivered from seismic processing is only approximately correct and needs to be checked with well synthetics and adjusted accordingly prior to use for AVO studies. The AVO attribute volumes generated were better at resolving anomalies on spectrally balanced and offset scaled data than data delivered from conventional processing. A typical class II AVO anomaly is seen along the test well from the cross-plot analysis and AVO attribute cube which indicates an oil filled reservoir.

Amplitude Variation with Offset Responses Modeling Study of Walkaway Vertical Seismic Profile Data at CO_2 Geological Storage Site,Ketzin,Germany

An important component of any CO_2 sequestration project is seismic monitoring for tracking changes in subsurface physical properties,such as velocity and density.Different reservoirs have different amplitude variation with offset(AVO) responses,which can define underground conditions. In the present paper we investigate walkaway vertical seismic profile(VSP) AVO response to CO_2 injection at the Ketzin site,the first European onshore CO_2 sequestration pilot study dealing with research on geological storage of CO_2.First,we performed rock physics analysis to evaluate the effect of injected CO_2 on seismic velocity using the Biot-Gassmann equation.On the basis of this model,the seismic response for different CO_2 injection saturation was studied using ray tracing modeling.We then created synthetic walkaway VSP data,which we then processed.In contrast,synthetic seismic traces were created from borehole data.Finally,we found that the amplitude of CO_2 injected sand layer with different gas saturations were increased with the offset when compared with the original brine target layer.This is the typical classⅢAVO anomaly for gas sand layer.The AVO responses matched the synthetic seismic traces very well.Therefore,walkaway VSP AVO response can monitor CO_2 distribution in the Ketzin area.

Amplitude variation characteristics of active source airgun signals at Qilian Mountain

In this study,Qilian Mountain active source airgun signals recorded at 79 stations were obtained after stacking waveforms from July 2015 to December 2016.Based on analysis of the amplitude variation characteristics of the airgun signals,the following conclusions were drawn:along the NW-SE fault distribution direction of the Qilian Mountain area,the decrease in amplitude of airgun signals was relatively slow in relation to the epicentral distance,while the decrease in amplitude in the direction perpendicular to the fault was relatively fast.This difference may be related to the energy loss of seismic waves reflecting and scattering by the regional faults mainly distributed along the NW-SE direction,which are caused by tectonic compression of the QinghaiTibet and Alxa blocks.

Laser Intensity Variation in Amplitude and Phase Induced by Elliptically Polarized Feedback

The laser output characteristics under elliptically polarized optical feedback effect are studied. Elliptically polarized light is generated by wave plate placed in the feedback cavity. By analyzing the amplitude and phase of the laser output in the orthogonal direction, some new phenomena are firstly discovered and explained theoretically.Elliptically polarized feedback light is amplified in the gain medium in the resonator, and the direction perpendicular to the original polarization direction is easiest to oscillate. The laser intensity variation in amplitude and phase are related to the amplified mode and the anisotropy of external cavity. The theoretical analysis and experimental results agree well. Because the output characteristic of the laser has a relationship with the anisotropy of the external cavity, the phenomenon also provides a method for measuring birefringence.

Improving seismic interpretation: a high-contrast approximation to the reflection coefficient of a plane longitudinal wave

Linearized approximations of reflection and transmission coefficients set a foundation for amplitude versus offset（AVO） analysis and inversion in exploration geophysics.However,the weak properties contrast hypothesis of those linearized approximate equations leads to big errors when the two media across the interface vary dramatically.To extend the application of AVO analysis and inversion to high contrast between the properties of the two layers,we derive a novel nonlinearized high-contrast approximation of the PP-wave reflection coefficient,which establishes the direct relationship between PPwave reflection coefficient and P-wave velocities,S-wave velocities and densities across the interface.（A PP wave is a reflected compressional wave from an incident compressional wave（P-wave）.） This novel approximation is derived from the exact reflection coefficient equation with Taylor expansion for the incident angle.Model tests demonstrate that,compared with the reflection coefficients of the linearized approximations,the reflection coefficients of the novel nonlinearized approximate equation agree with those of the exact PP equation better for a high contrast interface with a moderate incident angle.Furthermore,we introduce a nonlinear direct inversion method utilizing the novel reflection coefficient equation as forward solver,to implement the direct inversion for the six parameters including P-wave velocities,S-wave velocities,and densities in the upper and lower layers across the interface.This nonlinear inversion algorithm is able to estimate the inverse of the nonlinear function in terms of model parameters directly rather than in a conventional optimization way.Three examples verified the feasibility and suitability of this novel approximation for a high contrast interface,and we still could estimate the six parameters across the interface reasonably when the parameters in both media across the interface vary about 50%.

Prediction of abnormal pressure from AVO velocities over“Safety”field,onshore Niger delta,Nigeria

Abnormal pressure prediction was undertaken in“Safety”field,onshore Niger Delta,Nigeria using amplitude variation with offset(AVO)velocities information.Each of the methods used form an integral part of a process that produces AVO Analysis,AVO velocity inversion,extraction of seismic velocity from AVO velocities inversion results and pore pressure prediction.Pore pressure predicted from the seismic velocity has a better resolution than the pressure predicted from the interval transit time.The pore pressure within the field ranges from 14.7psi to 3916psi.Overpressured and underpressured zones were delineated on the field from the pressure predicted from the seismic velocities.Within the field,the overpressured zones were delineated at depth 6855 fte7802 ft.Over pressure top was delineated at a depth of 6855 ft with a pore pressure of 3053psi and a corresponding hydrostatic pressure of 2722psi.The under-pressured zones were also delineated at depth 7883 fte9288 ft.The under pressure top was delineated at a depth of 7883 ft with a pressure of 1093psi and a corresponding hydrostatic pressure of 3122psi.Porosity values within the over pressure zone ranges from 23%to 53%which could be considered as relatively high.This could be as a result of the fact that the pore fluid cannot be expelled rapidly thereby causing the pore fluid to increase rapidly since they are no longer compacted;thus leading to overpressure.As a result of overpressure top which is directly above the reservoir top within the shale zone,drilling this reservoir vertically could not be suggested so as to avoid possible blow out.It was also observed that the primary cause or mechanism of overpressure within this field could be disequilibrium compaction.