Seismic anisotropy prediction using ML methods: A case study on an offshore carbonate oilfield.

Estimating seismic anisotropy parameters, such as Thomson's parameters, is crucial for investigating fractured and finely layered geological media. However, many inversion methods rely on complex physical models with initial assumptions, leading to non-reproducible estimates and subjective frac...

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Main Authors: Guibin Zhao, Fateh Bouchaala, Mohamed S Jouini, Umair Bin Waheed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311561
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author Guibin Zhao
Fateh Bouchaala
Mohamed S Jouini
Umair Bin Waheed
author_facet Guibin Zhao
Fateh Bouchaala
Mohamed S Jouini
Umair Bin Waheed
author_sort Guibin Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Estimating seismic anisotropy parameters, such as Thomson's parameters, is crucial for investigating fractured and finely layered geological media. However, many inversion methods rely on complex physical models with initial assumptions, leading to non-reproducible estimates and subjective fracture interpretation. To address these limitations, this study utilizes machine learning methods: support vector regression, extreme gradient boost, multi-layer perceptron, and a convolutional neural network. The abundance of seismic features leads to many feature combinations, making the training and testing of machine learning models challenging. Therefore, a workflow has been developed to systematically inspect seismic features and select the most appropriate one for anisotropy estimation with reasonable accuracy. Synthetic data were generated using an earth model and well data within a finite difference numerical program. After thoroughly investigating synthetic data, the amplitudes of direct and reflected waves in the time and frequency domains were selected as input features to train machine learning methods. Optimizing the machine learning hyperparameters allowed the training and testing procedures to be completed with high accuracy. Subsequently, the optimized machine learning methods were used to predict Thomsen's parameters, ε and δ, of a shaley formation in the zone area. To validate the predictions, the ε and δ estimated at a well location were compared with those obtained using a physics-based model, resulting in the least relative errors ranging from 2.92% to 7.14%.
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spelling doaj-art-657d9dc26e214bc7bd9efcc4018dce962025-01-17T05:31:40ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031156110.1371/journal.pone.0311561Seismic anisotropy prediction using ML methods: A case study on an offshore carbonate oilfield.Guibin ZhaoFateh BouchaalaMohamed S JouiniUmair Bin WaheedEstimating seismic anisotropy parameters, such as Thomson's parameters, is crucial for investigating fractured and finely layered geological media. However, many inversion methods rely on complex physical models with initial assumptions, leading to non-reproducible estimates and subjective fracture interpretation. To address these limitations, this study utilizes machine learning methods: support vector regression, extreme gradient boost, multi-layer perceptron, and a convolutional neural network. The abundance of seismic features leads to many feature combinations, making the training and testing of machine learning models challenging. Therefore, a workflow has been developed to systematically inspect seismic features and select the most appropriate one for anisotropy estimation with reasonable accuracy. Synthetic data were generated using an earth model and well data within a finite difference numerical program. After thoroughly investigating synthetic data, the amplitudes of direct and reflected waves in the time and frequency domains were selected as input features to train machine learning methods. Optimizing the machine learning hyperparameters allowed the training and testing procedures to be completed with high accuracy. Subsequently, the optimized machine learning methods were used to predict Thomsen's parameters, ε and δ, of a shaley formation in the zone area. To validate the predictions, the ε and δ estimated at a well location were compared with those obtained using a physics-based model, resulting in the least relative errors ranging from 2.92% to 7.14%.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311561
spellingShingle Guibin Zhao
Fateh Bouchaala
Mohamed S Jouini
Umair Bin Waheed
Seismic anisotropy prediction using ML methods: A case study on an offshore carbonate oilfield.
PLoS ONE
title Seismic anisotropy prediction using ML methods: A case study on an offshore carbonate oilfield.
title_full Seismic anisotropy prediction using ML methods: A case study on an offshore carbonate oilfield.
title_fullStr Seismic anisotropy prediction using ML methods: A case study on an offshore carbonate oilfield.
title_full_unstemmed Seismic anisotropy prediction using ML methods: A case study on an offshore carbonate oilfield.
title_short Seismic anisotropy prediction using ML methods: A case study on an offshore carbonate oilfield.
title_sort seismic anisotropy prediction using ml methods a case study on an offshore carbonate oilfield
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311561
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AT mohamedsjouini seismicanisotropypredictionusingmlmethodsacasestudyonanoffshorecarbonateoilfield
AT umairbinwaheed seismicanisotropypredictionusingmlmethodsacasestudyonanoffshorecarbonateoilfield