Evaluation of Nonlinear Approaches for Surface Microseismic Processing

Summary In the context of surface microseismic processing, a nonlinear stack method, the phase weighted nth root stack, was evaluated and benchmarked against linear stack. From a synthetic analysis, the parameter choice was evaluated to improve the detectability of small amplitude microseismic events. The choice and impact of small exponent values for the nonlinear stack method were confirmed on one stage of a multiwell, multistage hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus shale formation. Compared to the linear stack, up to 30 % more events were detected and located for this data example.