Exploration and Development Geophysics

Education and Research (EDGER)

2014/2015 Prospectus

www.jsg.utexas.edu/edger/

The UT-Austin EDGER Forum is a consortium of petroleum producing and service companies focused on
educating graduate students and conducting research on development and application of geophysical methods to
support exploration and development of petroleum reserves. The Forum also coordinates education and
technology transfer between producing and service companies and academia.
RESEARCH: Pushing the limits of seismic resolution
In the past decade, efforts have increased to search for hydrocarbons in difficult areas and in unconventional and
fractured reservoirs. This search prompted acquisition of multi-azimuth and wide-azimuth datasets and
development of processing algorithms using more complete physics of wave propagation. Currently the primary
focus of EDGER is on advancement in quantitative seismic interpretation (QSI). This involves development of
advanced techniques for high-resolution estimates of reservoir properties by integrating disparate datasets
observed at multiple scales. The scope of research encompasses three major themes:

Development of new techniques for seismic imaging and inversion

Development of new rock physics models and adaptation of existing rock physics models to a particular
field under investigation
Integration of seismic inversion and rock physics models using novel statistical approaches and validation

with field datasets

Our imaging and inversion efforts include development of new theory and numerical algorithms for forward
seismic modeling that are computationally efficient and accurate. These are used in full waveform imaging and
inversion. Inversion for reservoir parameter estimation will be carried out using hybrid Markov Chain Monte
Carlo methods. Effective medium models are being tested by computing the seismic responses of realistic rock
models based on distributions of rock properties. We are developing new data integration techniques using
geostatistical methods and Bayesian analysis.
EDUCATION
A principal objective of the EDGER Forum is the education of students who have expressed interest in
employment in the petroleum industry. About 1/3 of the graduate students associated with the Forum are seeking
MS degrees, and our students commonly serve summer internships in the industry. The current enrollment of
graduate students associated with the Forum is 11. Seven students graduated in the last calendar year (5 MS and 2
PhD). Since the beginning of the EDGER program, 59 graduate students have completed degrees (38 MS and 21
PhD) and the current body will add 3 MS degrees and 8 PhD degrees.

 EDGER Prospectus





CURRENT AND PLANNED RESEARCH

1. Seismic Modeling, imaging and inversion

1.1 Spectral Element (SEM) and Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element methods for numerical
simulation of wave propagation in 3D: We are continuing our efforts in estimating errors in FE and
FD methods. At the same time we are developing a 3D DG code that is capable of incorporating
realistic fractures. We are addressing how the true microstructure of a rock affects the elastic
properties, and thus, the seismic velocities. This is a developing subject through the use of digital
rock physics where elastic moduli are obtained from numerical wave propagation experiments
through segmented images using the discontinuous Galerkin method.
0

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Left wavefield snapshot of the vertical component of wave motion taken after 0.43 seconds of wave
propagation and zoomed in to the top 1,200 meters of the model. Fracture spacing is 100 m. the
interference patterns in the snapshot appear as backscattered energy in the synthetic seismograms.

1.2. 3D wave propagation modeling on GPU/CPU: We are developing an algorithm for modeling
seismic wave propagation in 3D by making use of parallel computation using CPU and GPU. We are
able to obtain significant speed-up in computation.
1.3. Full waveform inversion using hybrid optimization methods: FWI methods are generally based on
local optimization and are highly sensitive to the choice of a starting model. Our proposed hybrid
methods make use of the salient features of global and local optimization methods such that the
dependence on the starting model is significantly reduced. At the same time, convergence can be
attained rapidly by using powerful gradient information.
1.4. Pre-stack reverse-time migration (RTM) in frequency-ray parameter domain: We are developing a
new RTM algorithm that reduces the data volume significantly and thus will perhaps reduce the
computational burden of RTM. Feasibility of least squares migration in the coupled ray-parameter
domain is also being examined.

 EDGER Prospectus

Wavefield in a 3D domain with a 1 km x 1 km horizontal fracture.

2. Seismic Inversion for reservoir characterization

2.1 Transdimensional inversion: In the past year, we developed a basis pursuit inversion (BPI) scheme
and a fractal based stochastic inversion algorithm for reservoir parameter estimation. Currently we
are focusing on one fundamental question: How many layers are constrained by seismic data? In
other words, in our transdimensional inversion, the number of layer parameters is also a variable that
we solve for. The optimization will be carried out using Hamiltonian Monte-Carlo approach.

2.2 Quantitative fracture characterization: Most recently we extended the AVOA method to directly
estimate fracture weaknesses that can be directly related to fracture density. Our current effort is to
extend this algorithm to orthorhombic media.

3. Advanced Rock Physics Modeling

3.1 Anisotropic rock-physics modeling for the Haynesville Shale: Rock-physics models link rock
properties and seismic responses, thus enabling a quantitative approach to seismic interpretation.
Intrinsic anisotropy resulting from alignment of platy clay minerals and non-spherical pores
differentiate shale from conventional reservoir rocks. This high degree of anisotropy affects both the
seismic response and log measurements, and should be accounted in rock-physics modeling. We
investigate anisotropic rock physics modeling by using rock types and anisotropic effective medium
models. The effective medium models consist of distributions of minerals, mineral moduli, pore
types, and orientation functions.

 EDGER Prospectus

Anisotropic DEM models HSVL Rock Type 1
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Mean aspect ratio of
clay mineral: 0.2:0.1:0.7

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C33(GPa)

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Modeled c33 stiffness for porosity 0-18% with correlated normal distribution of clay mineral shape
and pore shape for Rock Type 1 (a). The mean aspect ratio of clay mineral varies from 0.2 to 0.7
and the corresponding mean aspect ratio of the pore is 1/2 of clay minerals. Scattered magenta
dots are log measurements. (b) Crossplot of horizontal and vertical P-wave velocities, calculated
from modeled rock stiffness, of Rock Type 1. Anisotropy increases from bottom right to top left.

3.2 Quantitative Seismic Interpretation: Integration of rock physics modeling and seismic inversion. Our
recent applications of rock physics and seismic inversion for reservoir characterization have been in
the areas of unconventional reservoirs and for CO2 injection for EOR and storage. In either case, the
heterogeneity of the reservoirs must be accounted as well as pertinent geologic factors such as
cementation or geophysical factors such as anisotropy. Our seismic-scale estimates are derived
through rigorous rock-physics modeling done at the well log and core scale scales and validated at
test wells. This integrated approach also provides uncertainty estimates at every step of the forward
and inverse problems.

a) Clay fraction estimation. The hot colors indicate large values, and cold colors indicate smaller
values. The clay fraction is correlated with VP/VS. b) Standard deviation of the clay fraction
estimation, showing the estimation uncertainty. The black dashed line indicates Well A.

 EDGER Prospectus

The top of the reservoir colored to pore fluid composition. Red indicates pure brine and blue
indicates pure CO2. The white dot located at inline 1060 and cross line 290 is the location if CO 2
injection for EOR purposes.

FORUM
One of the major benefits of participation is, perhaps, community activities sponsored by the Forum.
Symposia and workshops have provided a platform for exchange of ideas between industry members
(contractors, equipment manufacturers and producers), academics and the graduate students. Discussions
of research directions by industry and academic participants have led to student and faculty research
projects. The EDGER Forum is in an excellent position to facilitate communication between the various
elements to encourage participation within the exploration and development geophysics community.

Research Team
Dr. Mrinal K. Sen , Co-principal Investigator
Mrinal K. Sen is a professor and holder of Jackson chair in Applied Seismology with joint appointment at
the institute for Geophysics and the department of Geological Sciences. His research interests include
seismic wave propagation and inverse theory. He has co-authored two books on geophysical inversion.
His group has been engaged in developing new techniques for seismic modeling and inversion including
data integration for subsurface model building.
Dr. Kyle T. Spikes, Co-principal Investigator
Kyle T. Spikes joined the Faculty in 2009 as an Assistant Professor with a focus in rock physics. His
interests primarily involve the integration of geologic information with quantitative tools for seismic
reservoir and basin characterization. This area of research includes both forward and inverse problems
that combine rock physics, stochastic geologic modeling, and seismic-attribute analysis.
Dr. Robert H. Tatham, EDGER forum advisor
Robert Tatham is Professor Emeritus at the Jackson School of Geosciences and the founder of the
EDGER Forum. He has been actively involved in all aspects of geophysical methods applied to petroleum
problems for over 45 years. His research activities have included seismology applied to exploration,
development and production of hydrocarbons. Recent activities have expanded these efforts to include
characterization of the most productive parts of resource shales.

 EDGER Prospectus

Margo C. Grace, Project Coordinator

Margo is responsible for organizing, developing and promoting events including workshops, symposia
and meetings. She maintains websites and databases and develops member services as well as overseeing
the budget, sponsor contracts and the financial status of EDGER Forum funds.
Thomas E. Hess, Applications Manager
Mr. Hess provides crucial technical support for the EDGER Forums research efforts as Seismic
Applications Software Manager. He oversees seismic data sets from our sponsors and supports graduate
students, faculty and researchers for the Exploration Geophysics program in the Dept. of Geological
Sciences as well as for the UT Institute for Geophysics.

Current EDGER Graduate Students:

Badr Alulaiw, Advisor: Sen, Ent Fall 2014
Anthony Barone, Advisor: Sen, Ent. Fall 14, MS
Pan Bei visiting student from China (advisor: Sen)
Reetam Biswas, Advisor: Sen Ent. Fall 2014

Barry Borgman, Advisor: Spikes, Ent. Fall 2014 MS

Armando Calderon visiting student from Mexico (advisor: Sen)
Russell Carter, Advisor: Spikes, Ent. Fall 10, PhD
Elliot Dahl, Advisor: Spikes, Ent. Fall 13, PhD
Debanjan Datta, Advisor: Sen, Fall 13, PhD
Han Liu, Advisor: Sen/Spikes, Ent. Fall 12, PhD
Qi Ren, Advisor: Spikes/Sen, Ent. Fall 12, PhD
David Tang, Advisor: Spikes, Ent. Fall 14, PhD
Andrew Yanke, Advisor: Spikes, Ent. Fall 14

Zeyu Zhao, Advisor: Sen, Ent. Fall 11, PhD

Recent Accomplishments
Selected Recent Publication from current EDGER Team (2014/2015)

1. Agarwal, M., J. Pulliam, M. K. Sen, U. Dutta, M. Pesyanos, and R. Mellors, 2014, Crustal and upper mantle
structure in the Middle East: Assessing constraints provided by jointly modeling Ps and Sp receiver
functions and Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion curves, Geophysical Journal International, Submitted.
2. Behera, L., and M. K. Sen, 2014, Tomographic imaging of sub-basalt sediments and shallow basement for
hydrocarbon potential in Deccan volcanic province of India, Geophysical Journal International, 199 (1), 296314
3. Carter, R. W., and K. T. Spikes, 2015, Double difference rock physics inversion for porosity and CO2
saturation at the Cranfield injection site, Interpretation, Accepted, In Press.
4. Carter, R. W., K. T. Spikes, and T. Hess, 2014, Inversion of multicomponent 3D vertical seismic profile data
for porosity and CO2 saturation at the Cranfield injection site, Cranfield, MS: Interpretation, 2, SE77SE89,
DOI: 10.1190/INT-2013-0147.1.

 EDGER Prospectus

5. Carter, R. W., and K. T. Spikes, 2014, Integrating Rock-physics Models and 3D VSP Data to Model Injected
CO2 and Porosity at Cranfield Field, Mississippi, USA. Fourth EAGE CO2 Geological Storage Workshop
Expanded Abstracts 2014, doi: 10.3997/2214-4609.20140098
6. DeBasabe, J. D., and M. K. Sen, 2014, A comparison of finite difference and spectral element methods for
elastic wave propagation in media with a solid-fluid interface, Geophysical Journal International, Submitted.
7. DeBasabe, J., and M. K. Sen, 2015, A comparison of monolithic methods for elastic wave propagation in
media with a fluid-solid interface.Geophysical Journal International, Vol 200, pp. 278-298.
8. Dixit, M. K., S. Kumar, R. Catchings, K. Suman, D. Sarkar, and M. K. Sen, 2014, Seismicity, faulting and
structure of the Koyna-Warna Seismic regions, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, In Press online,
DOI: 10.1002/2014JB010950.
9. Ghosh, R., M.K. Sen, N. Vedanti, 2015, Quantitative interpretation of CO2 plume from Sleipner (North Sea),
using post-stack inversion and rock physics modeling, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol
32, pp. 147-158
10. Gupta, M., K. T. Spikes, M. Far, D. Sava, and B. Hardage, 2014, Statistical AVO intercept-gradient analysis
of direct S-waves: A methodology for quantitative fracture characterization: Expanded Abstracts of the
84th Annual Meeting of the SEG, 506511, DOI: 10.1190/segam2014-0542.1.
11. Jiang, M., and K. T. Spikes, 2015, Application of rock-physics modeling, grid searching, and prestack seismic
inversion in seismic reservoir characterization of the Haynesville Shale, in review.
12. Jiang, M. and K. Spikes, 2014, Seismic reservoir characterization of unconventional gas shales: Expanded
Abstracts of the 76th Annual Meeting of the EAGE, DOI: 10.3997/2214-4609.20141209.
13. Kumar, P., K. Talukdar and M.K. Sen, 2014, Lithospheric Structure below Transantarctic Mountain using
Receiver Function Analysis of TAMSEIS Data, JOURNAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA, 83(5),
483-492.
14. Kumar, P., M. K. Sen, and C. Halder, 2014, Estimation of shear velocity contrast from transmitted
PS amplitude variation with ray-parameter, Geophysical Journal International, 198 (3), 1431-1437.
15. Maleski, J. and R. H. Tatham, Rotation analysis of shear wave polarizations in the presence of depth-varian
azimuthal anisotropy, 76th Annual Conference and Exhibition, EAGE, Amsterdam, accepted for presentation
(Th-P07-12).
16. Mandal, B., M. K. Sen, and V. VijayaRao, 2014, Deep seismic image enhancement by the common
reflection stack (CRS) method: Delhi-Aravalli fold belt, Geophysical Journal International,
doi:10.1093/gji/ggt402, 196(2),902-917.
17. Moyano, B., T. A. Johansen, R. Agersborg, and K. T. Spikes, 2014, Diagnostics of seismic time lapse effects
of sandstones based on laboratory data: Geophysics, 70, 5, D275 D287, DOI: 10.1190/GEO2013-0167.1.
18. Murthy, A. S. N., D. Sarkar, M. K. Sen, V. Sridher, and A. Prasad, 2014, Mapping the sub-trappean Mesozoic
sediments in the western part of Deccan volcanic province of India, Journal of Asian earth sciences, In Press
online.
19. Naraghi, M. E., K. T. Spikes, and S. Srinivasan, 2015, 3-D reconstruction of porous media from a 2-D section
and comparison of transport and elastic properties
20. Pandey, V., K. Sain, and M. K. Sen, 2014, Esitmation of gas hydrate form velocity-resitivity transformed data
in the Krishna-Godavari basin, eastern Indian margin, Journal of Geophysical Research, Submitted.
21. Perumal, S. K., J. Kopisetti, K. Nagula, R. Menon and M. K. Sen, 2014, Impace fragmentation of
Lonar Crater, India: Implications for impact cratering processes in Basalt, Journal of Geophysical Research:
Planets, In Press.
22. Prasad, A. S. S. R. S, K. Sain, and M. K. Sen, 2014, Imaging sub-basalt mesozoics along Jakhau-Mandvi and
Mandvi-Mundra profiles in Kutch sedimentary basin from seismic and gravity modeling, Geohorizons, 51-56.
23. Ren, Q., and K. T. Spikes, 2014, Rock-classification guided rock physics modeling of the Eagle Ford Shale,
in preparation.

 EDGER Prospectus

24. Sain, K, M. Rai and M. K. Sen, 2014, A review on shale gas prospect in Indian sedimentary basins, J. Ind.
Geophys. Union, 18(2), 183-194.
25. Saraswat, P., V. Raj, M. K. Sen, and A. Naryanan, 2014, Multiattribute Seismic Analysis With
Fractal Dimension and 2D and 3D Continuous Wavelet Transform, SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering,
Vol 17, Issue 4, pp. 436-443
26. Sen, M. K. and R. Biswas, 2015, Choice of regularization weight in basis pursuit reflectivity inversion, J.
Geophys. Eng. 12 70 doi:10.1088/1742-2132/12/1/70
27. Sen, M. K., R. Biswas, P. Mandal, and P. Kumar, 2014, Basis pursuit receiver function, Bulletin of the
Seismological Society of America, Published
28. Singha, D. K., R. Chatterjee, M. K. Sen and K. Sain, 2014, Pore-pressure prediction in gas-hydrate bearing
sediments of Krishna-Godavari basin, India, Marine Geology,Published Nov 2014, Vol. 357, pp. 1-11
29. Spikes, K. T., 2014, Characterization of VTI uncertainty in the Eagle Ford Shale, in preparation.
30. Spikes, K. T., 2014, Error estimates of elastic components in stress-dependent VTI media: Journal of Applied
Geophysics, 108, 110123, 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2014.06.015.
31. Vedanti, N, M. K. Sen, R. P. Srivastava, 2014, Integrated reservoir characterization for understanding in-situ
combustion process in Balol oil field, India, Interpretation, submitted.
32. Vijayarao, D., N. Damodara, K. Sain, and M. K. Sen, 2014, Upper crust of the archean Dharwar craton
in southern India as revealed by refraction tompgraphy and its implications, Geophysical Journal International,
submitted.
33. Zhang, R, X. Song, S. Fomel, M. K. Sen, S. Srinivasan, 2014, Timelapse prestack seismic data registration
and inversion for CO2 sequestration study at Cranfield, Geophysical Prospecting, doi: 10.1111/13652478.12114
34. Zhang, R., M. K. Sen and S. Srinivasan, 2014, Time-lapse pre-stack seismic inversion with thin bed resolution
for monitoring CO2 sequestration from Carnfield, Mississippi, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas
Control, 20, 223-229.
2014 SEG Abstracts

1. Biswas, R., and M. K. Sen, 2014, Regularization weight estimation in basis pursuit inversion using a Bayesian
framework. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2014: pp. 3237-3241. doi: 10.1190/segam20140682.1
2. Carter, R. W., and K. T. Spikes, 2014, Double difference rock-physics inversion for porosity and
CO2 saturation at the Cranfield injection site, Cranfield MS., SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts
2014, pp. 4977-4981 doi: 10.1190/segam2014-0081.1
3. Coyle, S., and K. T. Spikes, 2014, Rock-type model characterization of composition and fabric the
Haynesville Shale: Expanded Abstracts of the 84th Annual Meeting of the SEG, 28402844, DOI:
10.1190/segam2014-1486.1.
4. DeBasabe, J., and M. K. Sen, 2014, A comparison of monolithic methods for elastic wave propagation in
media with a fluid-solid interface. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2014: pp. 3323-3328. doi:
10.1190/segam2014-0529.1
5. Ghosh, R, N. Vedanti, R. Biswas, and M. K. Sen, 2014, Rock physics modeling to monitor movement of
CO2in Sleipner gas field, North Sea: An ideal CCS field. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2014:
pp. 2803-2808. doi: 10.1190/segam2014-0970.1
6. Hess, T., T. Meckel, N. Bangs and R. H. Tatham, 2014, Case history of acquisition and processing of a
high resolution shallow water 3D multi-cable seismic survey in the Gulf of Mexico transition zone. SEG
Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2014: pp. 208-212. doi: 10.1190/segam2014-1508.1
7. Gustie, P. J., R. H. Tatham, and K. T. Spikes, 2014, Characterization of VTI media with P-SV AVO attributes:
Expanded Abstracts of the 84th Annual Meeting of the SEG, 19751979, DOI: 10.1190/segam2014-1542.1.

 EDGER Prospectus

8.

9.

10.

11.
12.

13.

Liu, H., K. T. Spikes, and M. K. Sen, 2014, Application of discontinuous Galerkin method in seismic wave
propagation: determining effect elastic properties based on rock microstructures: Expanded Abstracts of the
84th Annual Meeting of the SEG, 28882893, DOI: 10.1190/segam2014-0965.1.
Maleski, J. and R. H. Tatham, 2014, Direct shear wave polarization corrections across multiple offsets
and anisotropic layers. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2014: pp. 1873-1877. doi:
10.1190/segam2014-0757.1
Morshed, S. M. and R. H. Tatham, 2014, Seismic sensitivity to variations of rock properties in the productive
zone of the Marcellus Shale, WV. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2014: pp. 1950-1954. doi:
10.1190/segam2014-0123.
Ren, Q., and K. T. Spikes, 2014, Anisotropic rock-physics modeling for the Haynesville Shale: Expanded
Abstracts of the 84th Annual Meeting of the SEG, 29472951, DOI: 10.1190/segam2014-0357.1.
Zhao, Z., M. K. Sen , and P. L. Stoffa, 2014, Double plane wave reverse time migration in the
frequency domain. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2014: pp. 1033-1039.
doi: 10.1190/segam2014-1641.1
Zhao, Z., P. L. Stoffa, and M. K. Sen, 2014, Double plane wave reverse time migration in the time
domain. SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2014: pp. 4032-4037. doi: 10.1190/segam2014-1604.1

2014 AGU Abstracts

1. Datta, D., and M. K. Sen, 2014, Hybrid optimization methods in full waveform inversion, AGU Fall meeting,
San Francisco.
2. Sen, M. K., and R. Biswas, 2014, Transdimensional seismic inversion using Hamiltonia Monte-Carlo
approach, AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco.
3. Agarwal, M., J. Pulliam, M. K. Sen, and H. Gurolla, 2014, Crustal and upper mantle structure of Texas-Gulf
of Mexico from surface wave inversion and receiver function migration, AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco.
4. Ojha, M., M. K. Sen, and K. Sain, 2014, Imaging of gas hydrate bearing sedminents by full waveform
inversion of multi-channel seismic data from Krishna-Godavari basin, India, AGU Fall meeting, San
Francisco.
5. Ghosh, R., M. K. Sen, P. Mandal, J. Pulliam and M. Agarwal, 2014, Seismic velocity assessment in the
Kartchch region India, from multiple waveform functionals, AGU Fall meeting, San Francisco.
6. Datta, D., and M. K. Sen, 2014, Hybrid optimization methods in full waveform inversion, SEG-AGU
workshop on full wavefield inversion, Vancouver, Canada (July 2014).

Current EDGER Forum Members

Contact Information
Margo C. Grace, Forum Coordinator, tel: (512) 232-1920, fax: (512) 471-0959, margo@jsg.utexas.edu