Zoeppritz equation-based prestack inversion and its application in fluid identification

Prestack seismic inversion methods adopt approximations of the Zoeppritz equations to describe the relation between reflection coefficients and P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity, and density. However, the error in these approximations increases with increasing angle of incidence and variation of the elastic parameters, which increases the number of inversion solutions and minimizes the inversion accuracy. In this study, we explore a method for solving the reflection coefficients by using the Zoeppritz equations. To increase the accuracy of prestack inversion, the simultaneous inversion of P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity, and density by using prestack large-angle seismic data is proposed based on generalized linear inversion theory. Moreover, we reduce the ill posedness and increase the convergence of prestack inversion by using the regularization constraint damping factor and the conjugate gradient algorithm. The proposed prestack inversion method uses prestack large-angle seismic data to obtain accurate seismic elastic parameters that conform to prestack seismic data and are consistent with logging data from wells.

Study of prestack elastic parameter consistency inversion methods

The three parameters of P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity, and density have remarkable differences in conventional prestack inversion accuracy, so study of the consistency inversion of the ＂three parameters＂ is very important. In this paper, we present a new inversion algorithm and approach based on the in-depth analysis of the causes in their accuracy differences. With this new method, the inversion accuracy of the three parameters is improved synchronously by reasonable approximations and mutual constraint among the parameters. Theoretical model calculations and actual data applications with this method indicate that the three elastic parameters all have high inversion accuracy and maintain consistency, which also coincides with the theoretical model and actual data. This method has good application prospects.

Prestack inversion based on anisotropic Markov random field-maximum posterior probability inversion and its application to identify shale gas sweet spots

Economic shale gas production requires hydraulic fracture stimulation to increase the formation permeability. Hydraulic fracturing strongly depends on geomechanical parameters such as Young＇s modulus and Poisson＇s ratio. Fracture-prone sweet spots can be predicted by prestack inversion, which is an ill-posed problem; thus, regularization is needed to obtain unique and stable solutions. To characterize gas-bearing shale sedimentary bodies, elastic parameter variations are regarded as an anisotropic Markov random field. Bayesian statistics are adopted for transforming prestack inversion to the maximum posterior probability. Two energy functions for the lateral and vertical directions are used to describe the distribution, and the expectation-maximization algorithm is used to estimate the hyperparameters of the prior probability of elastic parameters. Finally, the inversion yields clear geological boundaries, high vertical resolution, and reasonable lateral continuity using the conjugate gradient method to minimize the objective function. Antinoise and imaging ability of the method were tested using synthetic and real data.

Detection of gas hydrate sediments using prestack seismic AVA inversion

Bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) in seismic profile always indicate the bottom of gas hydrate stability zone, but is difficult to determine the distribution and features of gas hydrate sediments (GHS). In this study, based on AVA forward modeling and angle-domain common-image gathers we use prestack AVA parameters consistency inversion in predicting gas hydrate sediments in the Shenhu area at northern slope of South China Sea, and obtain the vertical and lateral features and saturation of GHS.

Effect of inaccurate wavelet phase on prestack waveform inversion

Wavelets are critical to inversion methods. Incorrect phase estimation will affect the objective function and cause convergence to local minima, and thus produce biased or incorrect results. Based on two simple models and ignoring all other factors, we studied the variation of the wavelet phase as a function of frequency and its effect on the prestack waveform inversion. Numerical experiments show that an incorrect phase may result in large deviations from the real solution, even if there is a high similarity between the model and real wavelets. The precision of the inversion slightly improves by using the constant-phase rotation; however, the effect of phase inaccuracy is not eliminated, which limits the precision of prestack inversion.

Bayesian prestack seismic inversion with a self-adaptive Huber-Markov random-field edge protection scheme

Seismic inversion is a highly ill-posed problem, due to many factors such as the limited seismic frequency bandwidth and inappropriate forward modeling. To obtain a unique solution, some smoothing constraints, e.g., the Tikhonov regularization are usually applied. The Tikhonov method can maintain a global smooth solution, but cause a fuzzy structure edge. In this paper we use Huber-Markov random-field edge protection method in the procedure of inverting three parameters, P-velocity, S-velocity and density. The method can avoid blurring the structure edge and resist noise. For the parameter to be inverted, the Huber- Markov random-field constructs a neighborhood system, which further acts as the vertical and lateral constraints. We use a quadratic Huber edge penalty function within the layer to suppress noise and a linear one on the edges to avoid a fuzzy result. The effectiveness of our method is proved by inverting the synthetic data without and with noises. The relationship between the adopted constraints and the inversion results is analyzed as well.

Simultaneous prestack inversion of variable-depth streamer seismic data

Variable-depth streamer seismic data are characterized by low and high frequencies and can be used to obtain high-quality and resolution images of complex subsurface structures. Taking advantage of the frequency range in the variable-depth streamer data, we propose the simultaneous inversion of prestack data from variable-offset stack gathers to obtain the P-wave impedance, S-wave impedance, and density. Next, we validate the method by using model and actual variable-depth streamer data from the Huizhou block. The results suggest that the broadband data recorded by variable-depth streamers improve the signal-to-noise ratio and quality of the inversion results and outperform the constant-depth streamer data in delineating the underground stratigraphy.

Inversion of shear wave interval velocity on prestack converted wave data

Seismic velocity is important to migration of seismic data, interpretation of lithology and lithofacies as well as prediction of reservoir. The information of shear wave velocity is required to reduce the uncertainty for discriminating lithology, identifying fluid type in porous material and calculating gas saturation in reservoir prediction. Based on Zoeppritz equations, a numeral and scanning method was proposed in this paper. Shear wave velocity can be calculated with prestack converted wave data. The effects were demonstrated by inversion of theoretical and real seismic data.

Prestack AVA joint inversion of PP and PS waves using the vectorized reflectivity method

Most current prestack AVA joint inversion methods are based on the exact Zoeppritz equation and its various approximations. However, these equations only reflect the relation between reflection coefficients, incidence angles, and elastic parameters on either side of the interface, which means that wave-propagation effects, such as spherical spreading, attenuation, transmission loss, multiples, and event mismatching of P-and S-waves, are not considered and cannot accurately describe the true propagation characteristics of seismic waves. Conventional AVA inversion methods require that these wave-propagation effects have been fully corrected or attenuated before inversion but these requirements can hardly be satisfied in practice. Using a one-dimensional(1 D) earth model, the reflectivity method can simulate the full wavefield response of seismic waves. Therefore, we propose a nonlinear multicomponent prestack AVA joint inversion method based on the vectorized reflectivity method, which uses a fast nondominated sorting genetic algorithm(NSGA II) to optimize the nonlinear multiobjective function to estimate multiple parameters, such as P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity, and density. This approach is robust because it can simultaneously cope with more than one objective function without introducing weight coefficients. Model tests prove the effectiveness of the proposed inversion method. Based on the inversion results, we find that the nonlinear prestack AVA joint inversion using the reflectivity method yields more accurate inversion results than the inversion by using the exact Zoeppritz equation when the wave-propagation effects of transmission loss and internal multiples are not completely corrected.

Study of the Sensitive Properties of Marine Gas Hydrate Based on the Prestack Elastic Inversion

Using a bottom simulating reflector(BSR)on a seismic profile to identify marine gas hydrate is a traditional seismic exploration method.However,owing to the abundance differences between the gas hydrate and free gas in different regions,the BSR may be unremarkable on the seismic profile and invisible in certain cases.With the improvement of exploration precision,difficulty arises in meeting the requirements of distinguishing the abundance differences in the gas hydrate based on BSR.Hence,we studied other sensitive attributes to ascertain the existence of gas hydrate and its abundance variations,eventually improving the success rate of drilling and productivity.In this paper,we analyzed the contradiction between the seismic profile data and drilling sampling data from the Blake Ridge.We extracted different attributes and performed multi-parameter constraint analysis based on the prestack elastic wave impedance inversion.Then,we compared the analysis results with the drilling sampling data.Eventually,we determined five sensitive attributes that can better indicate the existence of gas hydrate and its abundance variations.This method overcomes the limitations of recognizing the gas hydrate methods based on BSR or single inversion attribute.Moreover,the conclusions can notably improve the identification accuracy of marine gas hydrate and provide excellent reference significance for the recognition of marine gas hydrate.Notably,the different geological features of reservoirs feature different sensitivities to the prestacking attributes when using the prestack elastic inversion in different areas.

Prestack inversion identification of organic reef gas reservoirs of Permian Changxing Formation in Damaoping area, Sichuan Basin, SW China

Organic reef reservoirs in the platform margin of Kaijiang-Liangping trough in Damaoping area, Sichuan Basin are thin in single layer, fast in lateral variation, and have small P-impedance difference from the surrounding rock, it is difficult to identify and predict the reservoirs and fluid properties by conventional post-stack inversion. Through correlation analysis of core test data and logging P-S wave velocity, this work proposed a formula to calculate the shear wave velocity in different porosity ranges, and solved the issue that some wells in the study area have no S-wave data. AVO forward analysis reveals that formation porosity is the main factor affecting the variation of AVO type, the change of water saturation cannot affect the AVO type, but it has an effect on the change range of AVO. Through cross-plotting analysis of elastic parameters, it is found that fluid factor is a parameter sensitive to gas-bearing property of organic reef reservoir in the study area. By comparing results of post-stack impedance inversion, post-stack high frequency attenuation property, pre-stack simultaneous inversion and AVO anomaly analysis of angle gathers, it is found that the gas-bearing prediction of organic reef reservoirs by using fluid factor derived from simultaneous pre-stack inversion had the highest coincidence rate with actual drilling data. At last, according to the characteristics of fluid factor distribution, the favorable gas-bearing area of the organic reef reservoir in Changxing Formation was predicted, and the organic reef trap at the top of Changxing Formation in Block A of Damaoping area was sorted out as the next exploration target.

Estimation of Q and inverse Q filtering for prestack reflected PP-and converted PS-waves

Multi-component seismic exploration technology, combining reflected PP- and converted PS-waves, is an effective tool for solving complicated oil and gas exploration problems. The improvement of converted wave resolution is one of the key problems. The main factor affecting converted wave resolution is the absorption of seismic waves in overlying strata. In order to remove the effect of absorption on converted waves, inverse Q filtering is used to improve the resolution. In this paper, we present a method to estimate the S-wave Q values from prestack converted wave gathers. Furthermore, we extend a stable and effective poststack inverse Q filtering method to prestack data which uses wave field continuation along the ray path to compensate for attenuation in prestack common shot PP- and PS-waves. The results of theoretical modeling prove that the method of estimating the S-wave Q values has high precision. The results from synthetic and real data prove that the stable inverse Q filtering method can effectively improve the resolution of prestack PP- and PS-waves.

Application of joint elastic impedance inversion in the GD Oilfield

For the complicated reservoir description of the GD oilfield, P-wave and S-wave elastic impedance inversion was carried out using pre-stack seismic data to accurately identify the lithology of the reservoir. The joint inversion was performed using three or more partial stacks to overcome the singularity of post-stack seismic inversion that can not satisfy the requirements of complex reservoir description and to avoid the instability of the inversion result caused by low signal-noise ratio in the pre-stack gather. The basic theory of prestack elastic impedance inversion is briefly described in this paper and, using real data of the GD oilfield, the key steps of angle gather wavelet extraction, horizon calibration, S-wave velocity prediction, and elastic parameter extraction were analyzed and studied. The comprehensive interpretation of multiple elastic parameters determined from log analysis is a key to improving the effect ofprestack seismic inversion.

Interval attenuation estimation from prestack seismic data:A case study from the Arabian Peninsula

Accurately estimated interval attenuation(1/Q)values have several applications,such as in quantitative interpretation and seismic resolution enhancement.Although Q values can be estimated by measuring the spectral ratio between seismic reflections from a target and a reference reflector,the results are influenced by factors such as overburden inhomogeneities.Here,we quantitatively analyze the overburden influence on interval Q estimations using the spectral ratio method,time-space domain prestack Q inversion(PSQI),andτ-p domain PSQI.We compare these three methods using a synthetic dataset and a field dataset acquired onshore the Arabian Peninsula.Synthetic seismic gathers are generated from a three-layer model with a low-Q inclusion in the first layer to mimic overburden inhomogeneity.The fi eld data are preconditioned image gathers from a producing oil fi eld.The synthetic data test shows that the small low-Q body produces a considerable error in estimated Q values.The smallest error(i.e.,13.3%)is in theτ-p domain PSQI result.Theoretically,τ-p domain PSQI could obtain more accurate Q values when there are overburden infl uences because of the simultaneous inversion scheme and the application in theτ-p domain.The fi eld data application also illustrates that theτ-p domain PSQI produces reasonable interval Q values.Our measured Q values are also comparable with the Q values estimated from hydrocarbon saturated carbonate reservoirs.

准东地区云质岩储层叠前反演及脆性预测

脆性是一种评价致密储层可压裂性的重要指标,对油气勘探与开发有着重要的意义。准东地区勘探程度低、探井少,二叠系中下部云质岩致密储层的精细描述和脆性的准确预测均有着很大的难度。为此,根据岩石物理实验结果,利用叠前地震角度域数据体,开展储层叠前反演及脆性预测。通过AVO反演,获取P(截距)+G(梯度)和P×G属性;通过Y(杨氏模量,E)P(泊松比,σ)D(密度,ρ)和L(拉梅常数,λ)M(μ)R(ρ)反演,获取弹性参数的变化率(反射系数);通过测井约束反演,获取弹性参数的实际值,并用多种表征公式计算脆性,分析其物理含义及应用效果。研究结果表明:①研究区横波速度与纵波速度有较好的拟合关系,杨氏模量、泊松比和密度对泥岩、非泥岩区分度明显;②云质岩具有高速特征,研究区储层呈双“甜点”结构;③用三个小角度数据体直接反演弹性参数反射系数,YPD反演方法相较LMR的储层识别效果更好、分辨率更高,密度反射系数数据体可见比较明显的扇体及河道冲积特征;④脆性表征结果与弹性参数特征有一定的区别,脆性表征的云质岩有利区呈条带状分布,而弹性参数预测的云质岩有利区基本呈连续、成片分布;⑤ρE/σ为研究区最佳的脆性表征公式,可为类似油田云质岩储层脆性预测提供借鉴。

卷积神经网络在AVA反演应用中影响因素研究

从基于卷积神经网络开展AVA(振幅随入射角变化)反演问题出发,建立网络训练所需的数据集,分析不同超参数调整对预测结果的影响,确定这些超参数的最佳设置值,并总结超参数调整规律。最后通过对比3种不同卷积神经网络模型的预测结果,寻找出适用于叠前参数反演问题的最佳网络。最终形成一套完备的基于叠前角度域道集数据应用卷积神经网络进行弹性参数预测工作流程。结果表明,基于本文构建的训练数据集,选取的卷积神经网络结构以及设置的超参数组合预测得到的弹性参数结果具有较高的精度。

高精度方位各向异性反演在顺北8号带裂缝检测中的应用

目前,基于AVAZ反演方法的方位各向异性反演大都采用Rüger两项式,基于椭圆拟合方法的方位各向异性反演大多使用分扇区叠加振幅等属性亦或各向同性叠前弹性反演成果数据,这两类方法都存在局限性。而Rüger三项式方程中B项(B^(iso)+B^(ani)cos^(2)φ)包含方位各向异性强度项B^(ani),因此,将其用于方位各向异性椭圆拟合更合理。基于全方位角度域(FAA)叠前偏移道集数据,首先,将FAA域道集划分为5个方位扇区,对每一个方位扇区求解Rüger三项式方程B项属性(B_(1)~B_(5)),利用5个扇区求解的B项属性成果数据开展椭圆拟合处理以确定椭圆长轴方向、长轴与短轴比值,进而得到裂缝方向和裂缝密度。与直接求取方位各向异性强度B^(ani)的AVAZ反演方法相比,该方法显著减少了计算量。研究区目的层鹰山组上段裂缝预测成果被4口后钻井所证实。

基于重加权L1的ATpV正则化叠前反演方法

地震叠前反演能够准确获取地下储层介质的各类参数,是油气的勘探与开发中重要技术之一。然而,地震反演是典型的病态问题,为了克服此问题,通常使用正则化约束目标函数,来减轻反演问题的病态性。但是正则化约束忽略了地层边界的振幅信息,使用重加权方法可以很好地克服这一问题,更好地恢复稀疏性。提出了一种基于重加权L1的ATpV正则化叠前三参数反演方法(ATpV-L1方法),首次将重加权L1方法与ATpV方法结合,并引入到叠前反演中。采用交替方向乘子算法(ADMM)建立反演框架,对目标函数进行分块优化,有效提高了收敛速度。首先,介绍ATpV-L1方法,建立了基于ATpV-L1的叠前反演目标函数;然后,应用理论模拟数据对比新方法和ATpV方法反演结果,验证了方法的效果;最后,使用实际数据进行实验分析,进一步验证了ATpV-L1方法的反演精度及可行性。实验结果表明,提出的ATpV-L1方法可以有效恢复反演结果的稀疏性,提高反演精度。

全入射角叠前密度反演在白云岩优质储层预测中的应用

川西坳陷三叠系雷口坡组雷四上亚段发育潮坪相低渗致密白云岩储层,该套储层埋藏深(5600~5900 m)、厚度薄(相对地震分辨率)、纵向多层叠置、横向储层厚度和物性变化快、储层与围岩波阻抗差异小,白云岩优质储层预测难度大。研究区测井数据的岩石物理分析结果表明,密度对该区优质储层最敏感。首先基于目的层储盖层的测井数据开展了Zoeppritz近似线性方程误差分析、AVO道集正演和全入射角道集叠前密度反演的可行性研究,并与基于部分叠加的叠前密度反演方法即叠前同时反演方法进行了对比。在对实际叠前偏移道集优化处理的基础上,采用适用于研究区的Zoeppritz近似线性方程,并优选参数(包括v_(P)/v_(S)、道集切除参数和入射角参数)开展全入射角叠前密度反演,得到高质量的密度数据体,并与部分叠加的叠前密度反演得到的密度数据体进行了对比。将全入射角叠前密度反演得到的密度反射率数据应用于后续的密度高分辨率反演,该反演结果得到了雷四上亚段两套优质储层预测结果的证实,11口后钻井揭示的储层厚度和物性的符合率均超过85%。

准噶尔盆地白家海凸起侏罗系西山窑组煤岩气“甜点”储层智能综合预测技术

为了解决准噶尔盆地白家海凸起侏罗系西山窑组煤岩厚度小、气源断裂垂向断距小导致的地震资料信噪比低及煤岩气“甜点”储层预测难度大的问题,提出了“五步法”逐级控制的测井-地质-地震一体化智能综合预测方法。研究结果表明:①“五步法”是利用构造保边去噪和谐波高频恢复处理技术提高叠前CRP道集的信噪比和分辨率;通过调谐厚度法和分频智能反演法相结合定量预测煤岩厚度分布;利用深度学习智能断裂检测技术预测气源断裂展布特征;基于煤岩流体替换对不同含气饱和度时的AVO特征进行分析,通过含气饱和度预测含气分布范围;采用叠合分析法预测“甜点”储层,即位于断鼻(或断块)、煤岩厚度大,存在气源断裂及含气饱和度高于50%的叠合部位。②研究区“甜点”主要分布在北部走滑断裂的南北两侧断鼻或断块圈闭中,共发育31个煤岩气“甜点”区,累计面积达231.9 km^(2),其中走滑断裂北侧的5个“甜点”储层勘探潜力更大。③依据“五步法”部署的预探井与实钻井考核指标的吻合率达92%;对部署的水平井井轨迹进行了优化设计和动态监控,提高了单井产能。