%0 Journal Article %A MacBeth, Colin %A Shams, Asghar %T Observation of azimuthal anisotropy from the seismic reflectivity of a Tertiary turbidite sand %D 2006 %J Geophysical Prospecting, %V 54 %N 5 %P 553-564 %@ 1365-2478 %R https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2478.2006.00566.x %I European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers, %X ABSTRACT P‐wave data from a time‐lapse 3D OBC survey have been analysed to estimate and interpret azimuthal seismic anisotropy. This is achieved by careful processing to preserve the azimuthal signature. The survey images a major reservoir body in a channelized turbidite field in the Gulf of Mexico. Three distinct and significant anisotropy anomalies are discovered on or around this particular ‘4500‐ft sand’, all of which change intensity but not orientation with hydrocarbon production. These anomalies are distributed along the highest concentration of cumulative sand thickness, with their symmetry axes aligned with the main channel axis. We suspect that this time‐lapse anisotropy could be caused by the alignment of the depositional grain fabric. Theoretical calculation predicts that this mechanism, when combined with fluid‐saturation changes, can generate the observed pattern of behaviour. If further supported by other researchers, this result would indicate that appropriately designed seismic surveys could be a useful tool for palaeo‐direction studies in clastic reservoirs and also a useful constraint for directional permeability in the reservoir flow simulation model. %U https://www.earthdoc.org/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2478.2006.00566.x