Analysis of attenuation anisotropy in multiazimuth VSP data from the Clair field

摘要

We present an analysis of P-wave attenuation anisotropy in multi-azimuth walkaway VSP data from the Clair field. We find that the data recorded in the fractured oil-saturated reservoir show a consistent azimuthal variation in attenuation. This pattern cannot be observed in data recorded above the reservoir. The measured azimuth of minimum attenuation is close to the strike of open fiuid-filled fractures mapped from cores and borehole image logs. The results therefore suggest a link between the attenuation pattern and the orientation of open fractures in the reservoir. The use of attenuation anisotropy can, in principle, enhance fracture characterization from seismic data.