Completed Study

Click here for DOE Final Report in PDF format

Combining a New 3-D Seismic S-Wave Propagation Analysis for
Remote Fracture Detection with a Robust Subsurface Microfracture-Based Verification Technique
Bob A. Hardage and Stephen E. Laubach, principal investigators; Milo M. Backus, Julia F. W. Gale, Robert J. Graebner, Randall A. Marrett (Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin), Paul E. Murray, and Jon E. Olson (Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin)
Three-component 3-D (3C3D) seismic data were analyzed in this study to determine whether P or C wavefields exhibit azimuthal variations that allow the principal axis of anisotropy to be determined across a fractured interval of McElroy field, West Texas. Preliminary data interpretation implies that any azimuth-dependent seismic properties will be modest, but additional analyses will be done before the study period ends. An extensive subsurface database was compiled to support the seismic interpretation.
The study was conducted over that part of McElroy field in West Texas operated by Chevron/Texaco, using data and co-funding provided by the operator. This study was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
 
For more information, please contact Bob Hardage, principal investigator. Telephone 512-471-0300;
e-mail bob.hardage@beg.utexas.edu.
February 2003