Application of brittleness index to interpret microseismic event distribution in a hydraulically fractured shale formation

Abstract

Many factors can impact the location data of microseismic events, including natural fractures, rock lithology, in situ stress, and hydraulic-fracturing parameters. The distribution of microseismic events generally tends toward highly brittle areas or areas with brittle minerals. Moreover, location data of microseismic events lack effective evaluation methods. Therefore, we have developed a method to use lithologic information and prestack seismic data to explain the distribution of well Tian Xing microseismic events. We have analyzed the brittleness of the target formation through the well logs and core. We inverted the Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio based on simultaneous amplitude variation with offset inversion by the prestack seismic data. We then computed the 3D brittleness index (BI) property volume by Grieser and Rickman’s method. In addition, the microseismic event distribution and BI map were then combined to show the internal relationship between the two results. We found that the well logs and core analysis demonstrated that the target formation has high brittleness. Generally, areas with more natural fractures have a higher probability of inducing hydraulic fractures. However, the analysis results show that the BI has an impact on the distribution of hydraulic fractures. Therefore, BI explains the reason for the distribution of almost all events in the northeast of the perforation. These observations also supported the concept that microseismic events preferentially grow toward more brittle areas.