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P-wave conversion to slow diffusion (Biot) modes at mesoscopic (small-scale) inhomogeneities in porous media is believed to be the most important attenuation mechanisms at seismic frequencies. This study considers three periodic thin layers saturated with gas, oil, and water, respectively, a realistic scenario in hydrocarbon reservoirs, and perform finite-element numerical simulations to obtain the wave velocities and quality factors along the direction perpendicular to layering. The results are validated by comparison to the Norris-Cavallini analytical solution, constituting a cross-check for both theory and numerical simulations. The approach is not restricted to partial saturation but also applies to relevant properties in reservoir geophysics, such as porosity and permeability heterogeneities. This paper considers two cases, namely, the same rock skeleton and different fluids, and the same fluid and different dry-rock properties. Unlike the two-layer case (two fluids), the results show two relaxation peaks and the agreement between numerical and analytical solutions is excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: In many cases, the seismic response of bottom‐simulating reflectors is characterised by low frequencies called “low‐frequency shadow”. Generally, this phenomenon is interpreted as attenuation due to partial saturation with free gas. Actually, this frequency loss may have multiple causes, with a normal moveout stretch as a possible candidate. To analyse this phenomenon, we compute synthetic seismograms by assuming a lossy bottom‐simulating layer, with varying quality factor and thickness, bounded by the upper hydrate‐brine/gas‐brine and lower gas‐brine/brine interfaces. First, we estimate the shift of the centroid frequency of the power spectrum as a function of the travelled distance of the seismic pulse. Then, we perform one‐dimensional numerical experiments to quantify the loss of frequency of the seismic event below the bottom‐simulating reflector as a function of the quality factor of the bottom‐simulating layer and its thickness (due to wave interference). Then, we compute shot gathers to obtain the stacked section, with and without the normal moveout stretch correction and with and without the presence of wave attenuation in the bottom‐simulating layer. The results indicate that the low‐frequency shadow due to the normal moveout stretch is stronger than that due to attenuation and may constitute a false indicator of the presence of gas. In fact, often, the low‐frequency shadow overlies events with higher frequencies, in contradiction with the physics of wave propagation. This is particularly evident when the low‐frequency shadow is so extensive that the presence of high frequencies below cannot be justified by the acquisition geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a detailed approach to implement a moment-tensor point source to compute displacements, particle velocities and accelerations using direct grid methods. Here, the wave modeling algorithm is based on pseudospectral methods to compute the partial derivatives. A comparison to the analytical solution in the 3D acoustic case verifies the discrete implementation of the source in the mesh. Then, the more general 3D elastic case is illustrated and simulations, with and without free surface, are performed that can be used as a reference solution for other grid methods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Direct seismic waves (P- or S-waves) are used to locate and further characterize microseismic events. The resolution of information obtained from direct waves depends on the peak frequencies of the waveforms. The peak frequency results from combination of the source, propagation, and the receiver effects. For frequencies below the corner frequency, propagation effects control the peak frequency in observed seismograms of microseismic events. The frequency dependence of direct body waves can be modeled by attenuation, specifically the global attenuation factor. This model is consistent with observed data along surface profiles explaining the difference between the peak frequencies of P- and S-waves. In addition, the model is consistent with the peak frequencies observed on downhole monitoring arrays. This can be used to invert effective attenuation providing additional unique measurement from microseismic events. The corner frequency can be estimated from the average stress drop and analytical source models such as a circular crack model. Typical stress drops for various magnitude ranges are discussed. The peak frequencies are usually below the corner frequencies of microseismic events smaller than moment magnitude 0.7 for surface monitoring and moment magnitude -0.5 for downhole monitoring. Understanding of the frequency dependence of the direct waves allows us to optimally design monitoring networks and mainly invert effective attenuation providing unique measurement from microseismic monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The injection of CO2 in saline aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon wells is one solution to avoid the emission of that greenhouse gas to the atmosphere. Carbon taxes can be avoided if geological sequestration can efficiently be performed from technical and economic perspectives. For this purpose, we present a combined rock-physics methodology of electromagnetic (EM) and seismic wave propagation for the detection and monitoring of CO2 in crosswell experiments. First, we obtain the electrical conductivity and seismic velocities as a function of saturation, porosity, permeability and clay content, based on the CRIM and White models, respectively. Then, we obtain a conductivity–velocity relation. This type of relations is useful when some rock properties can be more easily measured than other properties. Finally, we compute crosswell EM and seismic profiles using direct modeling techniques. P- and S-wave attenuation is included in the seismic simulation by means of White''s mesoscopic theory. The modeling methodology is useful to perform sensitivity analyses and it is the basis for performing traveltime EM and seismic tomography and obtain reliable estimations of the saturation of carbon dioxide. In both cases, it is essential to correctly pick the first arrivals, particularly in the EM case where diffusion wavelength is large compared to the source–receiver distance. The methodology is applied to CO2 injection in a sandstone aquifer with shale intrusions, embedded in a shale formation. The EM traveltimes are smaller after the injection due to the higher resistivity caused by the presence of carbon dioxide, while the effect is opposite in the seismic case, where water replaced by gas decreases the seismic velocity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]