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SIGMA3's tool to help microseismic acquisition design and processing groupsexcel

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Sigma Cubed Inc. (SIGMA³) has responded to industry demand for more reliable microseismic survey results with a new generation of 3D earth modeling and anisotropic velocity analysis tools, enhanced processing and higher-resolution event location algorithms to help operators extract more from their data and have a new level of confidence in their microseismic events, resulting in more reliable completion decisions. The announcement was made during the SEG International Exposition and 84th Annual Meeting.

Unconventional reservoirs have highly complex anisotropic velocity fields, and as with nearly all types of seismic analysis, an accurate velocity field is a critical component in producing results that can be used to better understand the subsurface. In microseismic data analysis, the seismic raypaths often have a significant horizontal component of travel so anisotropy for both P-wave and S-wave velocity fields must be accounted for in addition to 3D structure. Starting with the survey design phase through processing of perforation shots and microseismic event location, the new unified anisotropic velocity modeling workflow enables geoscientists to update models near-real-time for efficient and reliable interpretation. This improved event location correlates better to ground truth, providing the GeoEngineer with higher confidence in the microseismic response to pumping curves, geologic features, completion strategies, and reservoir characterization. Additionally, new auto detection and auto location algorithms deliver microseismic mapped events in half the time, for a significant reduction in project turnaround time and improved real-time decisions.

'Leveraging these velocity analysis, event detection, and quantitative event location technologies provides the industry with a step change in both quality and reduced turn-around in microseismic results,' said Dr. Brian Fuller, Center of Excellence Leader, Borehole Seismic Imaging. 'SIGMA³ has commercialized these tools and processes to reduce event location error and allow clients to realize a greater return on their microseismic investment.'

Additionally, even without 3D seismic data, operators can perform rapid 2D Well Trajectory Imaging (WTI) and 3D Borehole Seismic Image (BSI) and then integrate the results with 3D structural data. This integrated workflow collapses the most significant sources of uncertainty in microseismic mapping.

'The relevance of microseismic events, and how they can be used as a proxy to qualify the stimulated rock volume and ultimately production, as well as optimal well and frac design in context of reservoir properties and Geomechanics, is what transforms average wells into exceptional producers and helps operators make critical decisions about future wells,' said Jorge Machnizh, SIGMA³ CEO. 'Drawing on software and technology that is already used in 3D seismic processing, we have developed new 3D earth modeling and anisotropic velocity analysis tools to help microseismic acquisition design and processing groups to do their jobs more efficiently.'

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