Imaging Fracture Networks Using Joint Seismic and Electrical Change Detection Techniques (Final Report)
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- New Mexico Bureau of Geology (NMBG), Socorro, NM (United States)
During the initial phase of this SubTER project, we conducted a series of high resolution seismic imaging campaigns designed to characterize induced fractures. Fractures were emplaced using a novel explosive source, designed at Sandia National Laboratories, that limits damage to the borehole. This work provided evidence that fracture locations could be imaged at inch scales using high-frequency seismic tomography but left many fracture properties (i.e. permeability) unresolved. We present here the results of the second phase of the project, where we developed and demonstrated emerging seismic and electrical geophysical imaging technologies that characterize 1) the 3D extent and distribution of fractures stimulated from the explosive source, 2) 3D fluid transport within the stimulated fracture network through use of a contrasting tracer, and 3) fracture attributes through advanced data analysis. Focus was placed upon advancing these technologies toward near real-time acquisition and processing in order to help provide the feedback mechanism necessary to understand and control fracture stimulation and fluid flow. Results from this study include a comprehensive set of 4D cross-hole seismic and electrical data that take advantage of change detection methodologies allowing for perturbations associated with the fracture emplacement and particulate tracer to be isolated. During the testing the team also demonstrated near real-time 4D electrical resistivity tomography imaging and 4D seismic tomography using the CASSM approach with a temporal resolution approaching 1 minute. All of the data collected were used to develop methods of estimating fracture attributes from seismic data, develop methods of assimilating disparate and transient data sets to improve fracture network imaging resolution, and advance capabilities for near real-time inversion of cross-hole tomographic data. These results are illustrated here. Advancements in these areas are relevant to all situations where fracture emplacement is used for reservoir stimulation (e.g. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and tight shale gases).
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Geothermal Technologies Program (EE-2C)
- Contributing Organization:
- Blue Canyon Dome SubTER Team
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1494179
- Report Number(s):
- SAND--2017-1652; 672227
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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