Fiber optic cables deployed on (or in) well casing are currently being used with surface seismic sources to record seismic data along the entire vertical and horizontal segments of wells.  The common name for recording seismic data with a single fiber optic strand is “DAS”, an acronym for Distributed Acoustic Sensing.  In this presentation we describe a bit about DAS technology and then show a virtual source method that we developed as a way to efficiently process data recorded on the horizontal part of the DAS cable. The method results in seismic reflection images below (and sometimes above) the entire length of the horizontal part of the DAS fiber.  Our primary goal in developing this data processing technology was to provide a complete pathway to low-cost time lapse seismic reflection imaging in horizontal wells for reservoir surveillance. The idea is that production-induced changes in rock properties (velocity, stress field, etc.) could be detected via time lapse seismic imaging from the DAS data and rock mechanics analysis could provide estimates of the amount of fluid and/or gas produced along the horizontal borehole.   At the time of this writing we can only show results from processing synthetic DAS data but we can say that the results from synthetic data are similar to the results we see in real data. We hope to have presentation rights for one or more real DAS datasets by the time this talk is presented.

Speaker Biography: Brian Fuller, Sterling Seismic & Reservoir Services
 Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Washington University, a Master of Science degree from the University of Wyoming,  and a Doctorate degree from the University of Wyoming, and degrees in Geophysics. He has over 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry including successful oil exploration, software and technology development, and service company work. He has a long term professional interest in borehole seismology and is currently focused on development and application of reflection seismic imaging using horizontal DAS cables. Along with numerous co-authors, Brian has been part of two SEG Best Paper awards, both of which were related to microseismic technology. He currently holds the position of Vice President of Reservoir Geoscience at Sterling Seismic & Reservoir Services in Littleton, Colorado and lives in the Denver area.

 

Breakfast will be available starting at 7:00 AM

Technical Talk will start at 7:30

Event will end by 8:30

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