Sensitivity of shear wave splitting to fracture connectivity
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_095AE2D23F29
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Sensitivity of shear wave splitting to fracture connectivity
Journal
Geophysical Journal International
ISSN
0956-540X
1365-246X
1365-246X
Publication state
Published
Issued date
18/09/2023
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
235
Number
3
Pages
2476-2481
Language
english
Abstract
Shear wave splitting (SWS) is currently considered to be the most robust seismic attribute to characterize fractures in geological formations. Despite its importance, the influence of fluid pressure communication between connected fractures on SWS remains largely unexplored. Using a 3-D numerical upscaling procedure based on the theory of poroelasticity, we show that fracture connectivity has a significant impact on SWS magnitude and can produce a 90° rotation in the polarization of the fast quasi-shear wave. The simulations also indicate that SWS can become insensitive to the type of fluid located within connected fractures. These effects are due to changes of fracture compliance in response to wave-induced fluid pressure diffusion. Our results improve the understanding of SWS in fractured formations and have important implications for the detection and monitoring of fracture connectivity in hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs as well as for the use of SWS as a forecasting tool for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Keywords
Shear-wave splitting, Fractures, Fracture and flow, Acoustic properties, Seismic anisotropy
Funding(s)
Swiss National Science Foundation / 196037
Swiss National Science Foundation / 180112
Swiss National Science Foundation / 178946
Create date
06/10/2023 14:43
Last modification date
14/05/2024 7:26