Application of the Grid-Characteristic Method to the Solution of Direct Problems in the Seismic Exploration of Fractured Formations (Review)

Abstract

The papers dedicated to the procedures of solving direct problems in seismic exploration of fractured formations are considered in this review article. The fractured formations are known to be potential hydrocarbon reservoirs, which are being studied actively at the present time. Due to high cost of field prospecting works, the numerical simulation is an important part in such research, leading to a significant decrease in financial and time expenditures. The papers focusing on conventional popular practical modeling methods based on the use of effective models are considered. A significant part of this work also deals with the papers that use the procedures developed by the authors to solve the formulated range of problems. These procedures are based on a grid-characteristic numerical method with interpolation on unstructured triangular (in the 2D-case) and tetrahedral (in the 3D-case) meshes. The grid-characteristic method most accurately describes the dynamical processes in exploration seismology problems, because it considers the nature of wave phenomena. The used approach allows making the correct computational algorithms at the boundaries and contact boundaries of the integration domain. An important part of this article describes the different models of fracturing. The results of mathematical modeling by the developed procedure, which are presented in the authors’ papers, are also considered. The important practical conclusions made in the considered papers are presented.