Predicting Fractures Using Wide Azimuth Seismic Data in Tiguentourine Field, Algeria

A small pilot area wide azimuth P-wave seismic survey was acquired over a part of the Tiguentourine gas condensate field in 2004 to test the ability of surface seismic data to accurately predict the P-wave anisotropy resulting from the preferential orientation of open fractures within the Cambro-Ordivician reservoir. Comparison of velocity anisotropy attribute estimation from the seismic data with image log data recorded in a number of wells shows an encouraging positive correlation that provides confidence in the use of the seismic attributes to assist in the locating of wells to target areas of high oriented fracturing in the believe that these can provide a considerable permeability assist and thus provide a significant boost to well productivity rates.