Seismic fluid detection, reservoir delineation, and recovery monitoring: The rock physics basis

Gary Mavko

Duration: two days

This course covers fundamentals of rock physics, ranging from basic laboratory and theoretical results to practical "recipes" that can be applied immediately in the field. Qualitative and quantitative tools for understanding and predicting the effects of lithology, pore fluid types and saturation, stress and pore pressure, fractures, and temperature on seismic velocity and attenuation will be presented. Numerous case studies will be shown, as well as strategies for seismic interpretation, upscaling seismic and rock properties from the lab to borehole to reservoir scales, suggestions for more effectively employing seismic-to-rock properties, transforms in geostatistical methods, and special emphasis on subsurface fluid detection and recovery monitoring.

The course is recommended for all geophysicists, reservoir geologists, seismic interpreters, and engineers concerned with reservoir characterization, reservoir delineation, hydrocarbon detection, reservoir development, and recovery monitoring.

Course outline

• Introduction to rock physics and its applications
• Key parameters influencing seismic observables
• Acoustic models of porous rocks: quantification and prediction
• Seismic signatures of shaly sands
• Example: Porosity interpretation of a Gulf Coast velocity tomogram
• From geology to seismic and back
• Pore fluid effects
• Velocity dispersion and Q
• Seismic/rock physics characterization of fractured reservoirs
• Static vs. dynamic properties of reservoir rocks
• Rock physics links to geostatistics
• Monitoring recovery processes, case studies, and the future

Instructor biography:
Gary Mavko