Seismic sensitivity to variations of rock properties in the productive zone of the Marcellus Shale, WV

dc.contributor.advisorTatham, R. H. (Robert H.), 1943-
dc.creatorMorshed, Sharif Munjuren
dc.date.accessioned2014-02-18T21:47:29Zen
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-11T22:45:03Z
dc.date.available2017-05-11T22:45:03Z
dc.date.issued2013-12en
dc.date.submittedDecember 2013en
dc.date.updated2014-02-18T21:47:30Zen
dc.descriptiontexten
dc.description.abstractThe Marcellus Shale is an important resource play prevalent in several states in the eastern United States. The productive zone of the Marcellus Shale has variations in rock properties such as clay content, kerogen content and pore aspect ratio, and these variations may strongly effect elastic anisotropy. The objective of this study is to characterize surface seismic sensitivity for variations in anisotropic parameters relating to kerogen content and aspect ratio of kerogen saturated pores. The recognized sensitivity may aid to characterize these reservoir from surface seismic observations for exploration and production of hydrocarbon. In this study, I performed VTI anisotropic modeling based on geophysical wireline log data from Harrison County, WV. The wireline log data includes spectral gamma, density, resistivity, neutron porosity, monopole and dipole sonic logs. Borehole log data were analyzed to characterize the Marcellus Shale interval, and quantify petrophysical properties such as clay content, kerogen content and porosity. A rock physics model was employed to build link between petrophysical properties and elastic constants. The rock physics model utilized differential effective medium (DEM) theory, bounds and mixing laws and fluid substitution equations in a model scheme to compute elastic constants for known variations in matrix composition, kerogen content and pore shape distribution. The seismic simulations were conducted applying a vertical impulse source and three component receivers. The anisotropic effect to angular amplitude variations for PP, PS and SS reflections were found to be dominantly controlled by the Thomsen Ɛ parameter, characterizing seismic velocity variations with propagation direction. These anisotropic effect to PP data can be seen at large offset (>15o incidence angle). The most sensitive portion of PS reflections was observed at mid offset (15o-30o). I also analyzed seismic sensitivity for variations in kerogen content and aspect ratio of structural kerogen. Elastic constants were computed for 5%, 10%, 20% and 30% kerogen content from rock physics model and provided to the seismic model. For both kerogen content and aspect ratio model, PP amplitudes varies significantly at zero to near offset while PS amplitude varied at mid offsets (12 to 30 degree angle of incidences).en
dc.description.departmentGeological Sciencesen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2152/23243en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.subjectAnisotropyen
dc.subjectShale gasen
dc.subjectMulticomponenten
dc.subjectAVOen
dc.subjectMarcellus Shaleen
dc.subjectVTIen
dc.subjectDipole sonicen
dc.subjectKerogenen
dc.titleSeismic sensitivity to variations of rock properties in the productive zone of the Marcellus Shale, WVen

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