METHODS article
Front. Earth Sci.
Sec. Georeservoirs
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2025.1596402
This article is part of the Research TopicAdvances and New Methods in Reservoirs Quantitative Characterization Using Seismic DataView all 15 articles
Fourier Coefficients-based Stepwise Bayesian Inversion for Elastic and Fracture Parameters Using Azimuthal Seismic Data
Provisionally accepted
- 1Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (RIPED), Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
- 2Central South University, Changsha, China
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The inversion of elastic and fracture parameters from azimuthal seismic data plays a critical role in charactering naturally fractured reservoirs. We propose a Fourier coefficients-based stepwise Bayesian inversion method to estimate these reservoir parameters with improved accuracy. Utilizing the relationship between the azimuthal PP-wave reflection coefficient and Fourier series expansion, we first derive the Fourier coefficient equation for horizontally transversely isotropic (HTI) media. We then conduct a sensitivity analysis of azimuthal Fourier coefficients with respect to P-and S-wave velocities, density, and fracture weaknesses. The results indicate that the zeroth-order Fourier coefficient exhibits greater sensitivity to P-and S-wave velocities and density compared to normal and tangential fracture weaknesses, whereas the second-order Fourier coefficient is more responsive to fracture weaknesses than the fourth-order Fourier coefficient. Based on these sensitivity observations, we develop a stepwise Bayesian inversion approach that involves (1) computing the cosine and sine components of the Fourier coefficients for the azimuthal seismic data, (2) estimating normal and tangential fracture weaknesses using use the second-order Fourier coefficient within a Bayesian framework, and (3) recovering background P-and S-wave velocities and density using the zeroth-order Fourier coefficient along with the previously estimated fracture weaknesses. Both synthetic and field data applications confirm the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed Fourier coefficients-based stepwise Bayesian inversion method for estimating elastic and fracture parameters in naturally fractured reservoirs.
Keywords: naturally fractured reservoirs, Fourier coefficient, Stepwise Bayesian inversion, Fracture weaknesses, Azimuthal seismic data
Received: 19 Mar 2025; Accepted: 12 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Sui, Xu, Chen, Zheng and Pan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Xinpeng Pan, Central South University, Changsha, China
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