Quantitative Seismic Reservoir Monitoring by Using a Wave-equation Based AVO Technology

The authors describe a wave-equation based AVO technology with a specific focus on applications for reservoir monitoring. Introducing the wave-equation into the field of seismic reservoir characterisation allows derivation of quantitative reservoir models, including potential time-lapse changes, from band-limited seismic data. This is a consequence of properly modelling and utilising complex wave effects as internal multiple scattering, mode conversions and travel-time changes due to production effects. The scheme inverts for compressibility and shear compliance which are much more sensitive to changes in the reservoir fluids compared to conventional acoustic and shear impedances. While seismic angle/offset gathers in time are input to the method, the resulting reservoir models are directly in the depth domain. This intrinsic time-depth conversion is another benefit of using the wave-equation and simplifies integration of the reservoir model into reservoir modelling and simulation workflows.