Interpreting seismic data in the presence of azimuthal anisotropy; or azimuthal anisotropy in the presence of the seismic interpretation

Abstract

Measuring P-wave azimuthal anisotropy has been in the recent past an elusive task; therefore, the interpreter ignored this attribute of the seismic data and left the subject to the research and technology group geophysicists. Conversely, the interpreting geophysicist knew that, when measured, the anisotropy could yield important reservoir properties related to fractures and stress fields. However, little did we suspect that P-wave azimuthal anisotropy both in velocity and AVO would change our perception of data interpretation as is happening now.