Small is beautiful: AGL physical modeling and salt measurements

N. Dyaur, R. Stewart, and L. Huang

Houston May 16, 2013

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Introduction & motivation • Why physical modeling?

• AGL physical modeling system

• Scaled models of resource interest

– laser-etched glass

– 3D printed materials

– Inclusions and injection

• Fracture results

• Ultrasonic measurements on salt & sediments

2

100 kHz to 5 MHz sources and receivers Use 10,000 factor to compare to seismic: 100 kHz = 10 Hz, 5MHz = 500 Hz

Schematic diagram of ultrasonic system

Source

Receiver

Source

Source

Microseismic experiment

Receiver

Receiver

Marine System Land System Measurement system

Receiver stations

Source

3

AGL Ultrasonic Research Systems Marine system

Land System

Ultrasonic measurement system 4

Part of Models Glass models

Frac

ture

Mo

de

ling

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Example of CMP profiles in ultrasonic experiment in laser fractured glass

OFF Fracture ON Fracture

Direct Arrival

P-Wave Reflection from Glass Bottom

C-Wave Reflection from Glass Bottom

Shear-Wave Reflection from Glass Bottom

Shear-Wave Reflection from Glass Bottom

P-wave Reflection from Top of Fracture

P-wave Reflection from Base of Fracture

(processed by Bode Omoboya)

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3D printed models

51 mm

51 mm

51 mm

Prism A

Prism B

5

HTI

VTI

Hydraulic fracture model with horizontal well

X Y

Z

Model PM 4 (real)

Image patch of fracture in PM 3 (microscope)

Model PM 4 (drawing)

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Vertical fractures

Tilted fractures

Horizontal fracture

Combination of fracture systems

Future of Modeling with 3D printed material

3D printed Material

9

Halite Core from a salt dome.

Core as it was delivered to AGL

This part of core was cut for ultrasonic measurements

Core 1 Core 2

763mm

10

1.6

mm

10

Test N Vp, Km/s Vs, km/s Vp/Vs

1 4.512 2.611 1.728

2 4.532 2.624 1.728

3 4.521 2.609 1.733

Average 4.522 2.615 1.729

Velocity of Compressional wave (Vp) and Shear wave (Vs) along of axis of Salt core. Density.

Table 1. Results of three tests : Velocity Vp and Vs, and Vp/Vs ratio

Ultrasonic transducers for P- and S-wave Velocity measurements with central frequency 500 kHz

Density: Core 1 – 2.124 g/ cm3

Core 2 – 2.054 g/ cm3

Ro of salt core – 2.09±0.04 g/ cm3

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Salt core in device for anisotropy measurement.

Angle meter (Azimuth)

a) Front view

b) Top view Ultrasonic transducers , Used Shear wave transducers – 0.5 MHz central frequency

Salt core

Device

Salt core

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Azimuthal velocity of Compressional (Vp1) and Shear (Vs1) waves for section 1 of salt core-2 Azimuth was taken a confidential.

Vel

oci

ty, k

m/s

Vp Vs

Section 1

4.2

4.4

4.60

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

4.2

4.4

4.6

Vp1 av

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.70

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

Vs

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Pressure dependent velocity (Vp and Vs) measurement within sample of core 2 (De-hua-Han Rock Physics Lab, UH, AGL)

Halite cylindrical sample

(D=36.84mm, L=50.36mm)

Vp and Vs of Salt core 2 under Confining pressure

Vp

Vs

Vp/Vs versus confining pressure

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Conclusions:

AGL physical modeling Laboratory has 3 Ultrasonic research systems:

a) Marine, b) Land, c) Ultrasonic measurement system.

They are used for modeling seismic survey, microseismic monitoring tests,

time-lapse seismic, and characterization of rocks and material elastic

properties.

Seismic physical modeling solve the geophysical problems in more

economical and fast way.

Study properties of rocks support in interpreting field data

3D printing material gives new opportunity for physical modeling of reservoir

or rocks containing tectonic or hydraulic fractures in anisotropic medium.

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Dr. Peter Copeland Mr. Jose Baez-Franceschi Dr. De-hua Han Mr. Q. Yao Mr. F. Yan

Students of AGL

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