Fracture prediction from wide-azimuth land seismic data in SE Algeria

Abstract

There is evidence from core, image log, and well-test data that the Tiguentourine gas condensate field in the Illizi Basin of southeast Algeria contains fractures that provide a positive permeability assist. In 2004, the first ever wide-azimuth P-wave seismic survey in Algeria was acquired over a small part of the field to test the ability of surface seismic data to accurately predict the P-wave anisotropy resulting from the preferential orientation of open fractures. There appears to be a correlation between velocity anisotropy derived from the seismic data with image log data from the wells, thus providing confidence that future wells can be located to directly target areas with high concentrations of oriented fractures that are anticipated to provide significant permeability assist and boost well productivity.