Converted waves applied to fracture detection in the Catatumbo area, Colombia

Abstract

The multicomponent (3C) seismic method is an emerging technology, which allows recording the complete wave field, including converted (PS) waves. Methods to obtain information about fractured rocks have been developed from these data since anisotropy, an effect of parallel fracture trains, generates birefringence of PS waves. We present here an application of this technology to data from an experimental seismic survey from a setting of NE Colombia. The geological characteristics of this setting were challenging for the current processing methods. A 3C seismic line following geological strike and another one following dip were processed. Coherent noise statics correction and velocity analysis required an iterative approach. The presence of polar anisotropy related to stratification, was taken into account for stacking. This approach greatly improved the resulting section, verifying its suitability. Three seismic sections, each one corresponding to a component, were obtained for the strike line. An azimuthal anisotropy analysis was carried out on them. Significant results were found, that might imply the presence of natural fracturing directions. This result requires to be tested with complementary geological information. About the dip line processing, the method applied appear unsatisfactory. There were identified shortcomings of processing related to dipping strata and complex structures, which became worse by the noisy data. More advanced processing methods would be required in this case.