Date of Graduation
2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
Committee Chair
Dengliang Gao
Abstract
The analyses of conventional structural attributes (first derivative, ant-tracking, curvature, and variance) indicate very complex fracture systems within a Middle Devonian unconventional gas reservoir of the Central Appalachian Basin. In this study, the investigation of such complexity and the implications of fault networks to the exploration for and production of hydrocarbons are outlined. Spectral decomposition (iso-frequency) amplitude analysis was utilized in order to define spectral amplitude response to the fracture facies. The results are useful to characterize fractured reservoir properties such as fault networks and fracture intensity. The calibration of spectral decomposition attributes using previous petrophysical studies or using structure attributes such as curvature, variance and ant-tracking determined relationships between spectrally decomposed amplitude attributes and fracture intensity of the reservoir. Specifically, in areas where thickness and lithology are relatively constant, iso-frequency response is strongly controlled by both seismic and sub-seismic scale faults and fractures. As a result, this study can potentially enhance the quality of interpretation of seismic data and better define the fracture facies that have important implications for unconventional gas-shale reservoir characterization and CO2 sequestration in the deep subsurface.
Recommended Citation
Babarsky, Albert S., "Three-dimensional seismic attribute-assisted fracture detection in the Middle Devonian Marcellus Shale, Greene and Washington Counties, PA, Central Appalachian Basin." (2012). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD). 11135.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/11135