학술논문

Microseismic monitoring using a fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensor array
Document Type
Academic Journal
Source
Geophysics. 85(3):KS89-KS99
Subject
20|Geophysics - applied (geophysical surveys & methods)
arrays
body waves
boreholes
data acquisition
data processing
downhole methods
elastic waves
fiber optics
geophones
geophysical methods
hydraulic fracturing
imagery
instruments
microseismic methods
microseisms
monitoring
P-waves
S-waves
seismic waves
techniques
Language
English
ISSN
0016-8033
Abstract
We have developed a case study demonstrating the use of an "L"-shaped downhole fiber-optic array to monitor microseismicity. We use a relatively simple method to detect events from continuous waveform data, and develop a workflow for manual event location. Locations are defined with a cylindrical coordinate system, with the horizontal axis of the distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) cable being the axis of symmetry. Events are located using three manual "picks," constraining (1) the zero-offset "broadside" channel to the event, (2) the P-S-wave arrival time difference at the broadside channel, and (3) the angle θ of the event from the array. Because the 1C DAS array is unable to record P-wave energy on the broadside channel, the P-wave pick is made indirectly by ensuring that the modeled P- and S-wave moveout curves match the observed data. The θ angle requires that signal is observed on the vertical part of the array; in our case, this is possible because an engineered fiber, rather than standard telecommunications fiber, provided a significant reduction in the noise level. Because only three picks need to be made, our manual approach is significantly more efficient than equivalent manual processing of downhole geophone data, in which picks for P- and S-waves must be made for each receiver. We find that the located events define a tight cluster around the injection interval, indicating that this approach provides relatively precise and accurate event locations. A surface microseismic array was also used at this site, which detected significantly fewer events, the locations of which had significantly greater scatter than the DAS array locations. We conclude by examining some other aspects of the DAS microseismic data, including the presence of multiple events within very short time windows, and the presence of converted phases that appear to represent scattering of energy from the hydraulic fractures themselves.