AVO study on a known geothermal reservoir located in the fractured carbonate formations of the pre-Cenozoic basement, Northwest Hungary

Abstract

Amplitude Versus Offset (AVO) analysis has been successfully applied in the hydrocarbon industry for more than three decades. This effective tool of the joint seismic and well-log data processing enables to predict and analyze fluid saturated porous geological formations. AVO methodology is based on the anomalous behavior of the pre-stack reflected amplitudes observed from fluid bearing rocks. However, the potential of AVO methodology is still unexploited in geothermal exploration, although the lithology and rock physical properties are very similar. In this study, we summarize the theoretical backgrounds and calculate synthetic AVO responses of a known geothermal reservoir located in the fractured carbonates of the Mesozoic basement. We demonstrate that the AVO response of a deep geothermal reservoir can be quite different from the amplitude response observed from a hydrocarbon bearing clastic formation. AVO attributes of the investigated geothermal reservoir are presented, and the potential of its detection by seismic amplitude data are discussed.