Theoretical and experimental study of elastic properties of porous media permeated by aligned fractures. The aim of the project is to develop a theoretical model for the elastic properties of fractured porous reservoir rocks, taking into account the wave-induced fluid flow between pores and fractures. This will be done by theoretical analysis based on the model of fractures as planes of discontinuity in porous rock, and on the theory of wave propagation in anisotropic porous media. The theoretic ....Theoretical and experimental study of elastic properties of porous media permeated by aligned fractures. The aim of the project is to develop a theoretical model for the elastic properties of fractured porous reservoir rocks, taking into account the wave-induced fluid flow between pores and fractures. This will be done by theoretical analysis based on the model of fractures as planes of discontinuity in porous rock, and on the theory of wave propagation in anisotropic porous media. The theoretical model will be verified using numerical simulations and ultrasonic measurements made on synthetic porous and fractured samples. The results are expected to benefit seismic exploration and the production of oil and gas in fractured reservoirs.Read moreRead less
Numerical simulation of seismic waves in the regional and global earth with 3D Gaussian quadrature grids. The ability to realistically model the propagation of seismic waves through the global 3D earth, taking account of all internal and surface complexity, is extremely important for predicting the response to earthquakes and imaging the interior structure. This will lead to fundamental new knowledge on Earth constitution and heterogeneity, and will have spin-off benefits in others areas such as ....Numerical simulation of seismic waves in the regional and global earth with 3D Gaussian quadrature grids. The ability to realistically model the propagation of seismic waves through the global 3D earth, taking account of all internal and surface complexity, is extremely important for predicting the response to earthquakes and imaging the interior structure. This will lead to fundamental new knowledge on Earth constitution and heterogeneity, and will have spin-off benefits in others areas such as exploring for oil and minerals, and better understanding of seismic hazard. The numerical modelling and seismic data analysis will be done on a supercomputer, thus providing important training for research students. Read moreRead less
Seismic response of partially saturated petroleum reservoir zones: towards quantitative recovery monitoring. In most Australian reservoirs less than 50% of the original oil in place is recovered. A major factor that contributes to low recovery rates is bypassed oil/gas. Even a small, 1% improvement in recovery is of substantial economic significance. The proposed project aims to develop quantitative models for reservoir monitoring of zones with bypassed hydrocarbons using time-lapse (4D) seismic ....Seismic response of partially saturated petroleum reservoir zones: towards quantitative recovery monitoring. In most Australian reservoirs less than 50% of the original oil in place is recovered. A major factor that contributes to low recovery rates is bypassed oil/gas. Even a small, 1% improvement in recovery is of substantial economic significance. The proposed project aims to develop quantitative models for reservoir monitoring of zones with bypassed hydrocarbons using time-lapse (4D) seismic measurements, and thus to improve the hydrocarbon recovery factors. Developing these models will be a cutting edge research achievement, which will make a significant contribution to the knowledge base of the discipline and advance the international reputation of Australian science.Read moreRead less
Seismic attenuation and dispersion in reservoir rocks: broad-band experiments versus theoretical modelling. We propose to develop theoretical models of seismic attenuation and dispersion in hydrocarbon reservoirs, and a new method for experimental testing of these models. These models will provide new information to substantially improve characterisation of hydrocarbon reservoirs from geophysical data. The results will help optimise exploration and improve oil and gas recovery through developmen ....Seismic attenuation and dispersion in reservoir rocks: broad-band experiments versus theoretical modelling. We propose to develop theoretical models of seismic attenuation and dispersion in hydrocarbon reservoirs, and a new method for experimental testing of these models. These models will provide new information to substantially improve characterisation of hydrocarbon reservoirs from geophysical data. The results will help optimise exploration and improve oil and gas recovery through development of new technologies for quantitative reservoir characterisation in Australian basins. This research will enhance Australian competitiveness in basic and applied geophysical research, and will benefit the Australian geophysical industry as a provider of advanced geophysical technologies for oil exploration and production.Read moreRead less
Seismic wave modelling and inversion for the most general 3-D anisotropic media. Advanced numerical techniques will be developed and applied to simulate the kinematic and dynamic properties of seismic wave propagation in a complex three-dimensional Earth, involving topography, heterogeneity and the most general anisotropy defined by 21 spatially-dependent elastic moduli. We will develop 2D/3D ray-tracing methods for anisotropic traveltime tomography, 2.5D/3D frequency-domain spectral element met ....Seismic wave modelling and inversion for the most general 3-D anisotropic media. Advanced numerical techniques will be developed and applied to simulate the kinematic and dynamic properties of seismic wave propagation in a complex three-dimensional Earth, involving topography, heterogeneity and the most general anisotropy defined by 21 spatially-dependent elastic moduli. We will develop 2D/3D ray-tracing methods for anisotropic traveltime tomography, 2.5D/3D frequency-domain spectral element methods for full waveform inversion of observational data, and make all these techniques applicable for subsurface imaging under various classes of anisotropy in the Earth. Results will be important for petroleum exploration as well as earthquake seismology and probing the structure of the Earth's deep interior.Read moreRead less