Frequency Domain Wave Propagation Modeling in Exploration Seismology

Abstract

To evaluate the wavefield for realistic 2-D and 3-D models we used a parallel computer, employing algorithms designed specifically to profit from the parallel architecture. The numerical procedures are iterative domain decomposition algorithms employing a nonconforming finite element, which are used to discretize the viscoacoustic and viscoelastic wave equations describing wave propagation in a porous medium saturated by either a single-phase or a two-phase compressible inviscid fluid and subject to absorbing boundary conditions at the artificial boundaries. Our purpose is to establish the effect of gas, brine or oil and gas-brine or gas-oil pore fluids on seismic velocities. Numerical examples showing the implementation of the algorithm to compute crosshole seismic response of simple 2-D and 3-D hydrocarbon reservoirs are presented.