Abstract

The invention comprises a method for mapping a volume of the Earth's subsurface encompassing a selected path within said volume, comprising dividing the volume of the Earth's subsurface into a three-dimensional grid of voxels and transforming detected seismic signals representing seismic energy originating from said volume of the Earth's subsurface when no induced fracturing activity is occurring along said selected path and conducted to a recording unit for recording into signals representing energy originating from the voxels included in said grid of voxels, and utilizing said transformed seismic signals to estimate spatially continuous flow paths for reservoir fluids through said volume of the Earth's subsurface to said selected path.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01V 1/06 - Ignition devices
• G01V 1/42 - SeismologySeismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for well-logging using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice-versa
• G01V 1/28 - Processing seismic data, e.g. for interpretation or for event detection
• G01V 1/34 - Displaying seismic recordings

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software that are configured to illuminate or image the permeability field around or near a well that is to be fracked, both prior to fracking and after various fracking stages. The methods and corresponding hardware and software disclosed herein permit the progress of the fracking operation to be monitored at different stages.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01V 1/06 - Ignition devices
• G01V 1/30 - Analysis
• G01V 1/28 - Processing seismic data, e.g. for interpretation or for event detection
• G01V 1/42 - SeismologySeismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for well-logging using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice-versa

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of methods and corresponding hardware and software configured to permit the vicinity around and/or near a well to be imaged, where the well is being subjected to, or has been subjected to, fracking operations. The methods and corresponding hardware and software permit the generation of images of near-well fractures or faults resulting from the fracking.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01V 1/06 - Ignition devices
• G01V 1/28 - Processing seismic data, e.g. for interpretation or for event detection
• G01V 1/42 - SeismologySeismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for well-logging using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice-versa

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of methods for determining the velocity of seismic energy in geologic layers using Seismic Emission Tomography (SET) imaging of drill bit noise, by recording microseismic data during a drilling operation, recording the time and the position of a drill bit in a well bore during the drilling operation, processing the microseismic data using SET software to image microseismic events proximate a known time and position of the drill bit using an estimated velocity model, computing the difference between the known time and position of the drill bit and the time and position of the microseismic event determined from the SET data, varying the estimated velocity model to minimize the difference between the known time and position of the drill bit and the time and time and position of the microseismic event determined from the SET data.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01V 1/42 - SeismologySeismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for well-logging using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice-versa
• G01V 1/28 - Processing seismic data, e.g. for interpretation or for event detection
• G01V 1/30 - Analysis

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of methods for identifying faults and fractures, and other permeable features, within geologic layers during a drilling operation comprising; recording microseismic data during a drilling operation; recording times and positions of a drill bit in a well bore during the drilling operation; processing microseismic data at a plurality of selected times and locations to image microseismic events and identifying faults and fractures, and other permeable features, from corresponding images of microseismic events. In other embodiments, the integrity of a cementing operation may be verified by recording microseismic data during a cementing operation; recording times and positions of a cementing operation in a well bore during the cementing operation; processing microseismic data at a plurality of selected times and locations to image microseismic events and identifying faults and fractures, and other permeable features, within the cemented zone from corresponding images of microseismic events.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01V 1/42 - SeismologySeismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for well-logging using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice-versa
• G01V 1/28 - Processing seismic data, e.g. for interpretation or for event detection

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of methods and systems for determining the orientation and direction of first motion of a fault or fracture by optimizing an azimuthally-dependent attribute of signals generated by microseismic sources, comprising: recording microseismic data traces using a of sensors located at a plurality of sensor positions; subdividing the subsurface volume into spatial volumes corresponding to selected time intervals and comprising a plurality of voxels; for each voxel, applying a time shift to the microseismic data traces that is substantially equal to a travel time from each voxel to the corresponding sensor position, and determining for the voxel the orientation and direction of first motion of the fault or fracture corresponding to a maximum value for the voxel of at least one azimuthally-dependent attribute of the microseismic data traces.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01V 1/28 - Processing seismic data, e.g. for interpretation or for event detection
• G01V 1/30 - Analysis

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of methods, devices and systems for performing a microseismic survey. According to some embodiments, microseismic signals are detected at seismic sensor stations deployed in two sets of seismic sensor lines, the seismic sensor lines within each set being substantially parallel to one another and the two sets of seismic sensor lines being mutually orthogonal. According to other embodiments, microseismic signals are detected at seismic sensor stations deployed in a hexagonal pattern. Such sensor geometries offer advantages over linear or radial arrays, including noise reduction, data acquisition flexibility as new wells are added to the survey area, and an improved distribution of data points above points in the subsurface.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01V 1/20 - Arrangements of receiving elements, e.g. geophone pattern

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of methods and systems for providing a graphical skeletonization representation of fractures and faults in a subsurface of the earth. According to some embodiments, as fracturing fluid is pumped into a target geologic formation through a well bore, and as the formation fractures or faults in response to the fracturing fluid being pumped under high pressure therein, seismic wavefronts are generated at points of fracture related to movement of a fluid pressure wave induced by fracturing or other fluids moving through the formation, or the extraction of fluids such as gas and/or oil from the formation, which are detected by surface and/or downhole sensors. Data corresponding to signals generated by the surface and/or downhole sensors are recorded and subsequently analyzed to determine in near real-time the locations of the fractures or faults using skeletonization data processing techniques and methods.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01V 1/06 - Ignition devices
• G01V 1/42 - SeismologySeismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for well-logging using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice-versa
• G01V 1/28 - Processing seismic data, e.g. for interpretation or for event detection