Seismic Reflections of Rock Properties

An accessible guide to using the rock physics-based forward modeling approach for seismic subsurface mapping, for researchers and petroleum geologists.

Jack Dvorkin (Author), Mario A. Gutierrez (Author), Dario Grana (Author)

9780521899192, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 March 2014

352 pages, 304 b/w illus. 15 colour illus. 13 tables
25.2 x 17.8 x 2 cm, 0.84 kg

'… provides a rich resource of theory, experimental data, thoughtful methodological considerations, and numerous examples. … As a seismologist, I recommend this book to anyone interested in seismic exploration and rock physics.' Yu Chen, Pure and Applied Geophysics

This book provides an accessible guide to using the rock physics-based forward modeling approach for mapping the subsurface, systematically linking rock properties to seismic amplitude. Providing practical workflows, the book shows how to methodically vary lithology, porosity, rock type, and pore fluids and reservoir geometry, calculate the corresponding elastic properties, and then generate synthetic seismic traces. These synthetic traces can then be compared to actual seismic traces from the field: a similar actual seismic response implies similar rock properties in the subsurface. The book catalogs various cases, including clastic sediments, carbonates, and time-lapse seismic monitoring, and discusses the effect of attenuation on seismic reflections. It shows how to build earth models (pseudo-wells) using deterministic and statistical approaches, and includes case studies based on real well data. A vital guide for researchers and petroleum geologists, in industry and academia, providing sample catalogs of synthetic seismic reflections from a variety of realistic reservoir models.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I. The Basics: 1. Forward modeling of seismic reflections for rock characterization
2. Rock physics models and transforms
3. Rock physics diagnostics
Part II. Synthetic Seismic Amplitude: 4. Modeling at an interface: quick-look approach
5. Pseudo-wells: principles and examples
6. Pseudo-wells: statistics-based generation
Part III. From Well Data and Geology to Earth Models and Reflections: 7. Clastic sequences: diagnostics and Vs prediction
8. Log shapes at the well scale and seismic reflections in clastic sequences
9. Synthetic modeling in carbonates
10. Time lapse (4D) reservoir monitoring
Part IV. Frontier Exploration: 11. Rock physics workflow in oil and gas exploration
12. DHI validation and prospect risking
Part V. Advanced Rock Physics: Diagenetic Trends, Self-Similarity, Permeability, Poisson's Ratio in Gas Sand, Seismic Wave Attenuation, Gas Hydrates: 13. Rock physics case studies
14. Poisson's ratio and seismic reflections
15. Seismic wave attenuation
16. Gas hydrates
Part VI. Rock Physics Operations Directly Applied to Seismic Amplitude and Impedance: 17. Fluid substitution on seismic amplitude
18. Rock physics and seismically derived impedance
Part VII. Evolving Methods: 19. Computational rock physics
Appendix A. Direct hydrocarbon indicator checklist
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Earth sciences [RB], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R]