Numerical and physical modelling of P-wave AVO response for fractured media

Abstract

In this study we investigate variations of P-wave reflection coefficients with offset (AVO) and with azimuth (AVA) for a transversely isotropic medium with a horizontal axis of symmetry (HTI) in contact with water, and also with another HTI medium. Aligned, equidistant, vertical fractures, inbedded in an isotropic background, were used to represent a HTI medium. To grasp the effect of fractures their contribution was computed separately and then added to the isotropic background. The total response of a medium is then obtained by adding the two. An approximate equation is used to compute partitioning of seismic energy at layer interfaces. The solution compares well to the results obtained in physical modeling experiments. To analyse AVO and AVA effects we used 3-D multi-azimuth transmission and reflection surveys. The results show that AVA effects are significant even at moderate angles whilst they are dominant for large incident angles. Routine 2-D AVO analysis, as commonly performed, is clearly unsuitable for HTI media.