Testing Scenarios on Geological Models: Local Interface Insertion in a 2D Mesh and its Impact on Seismic Wave Simulation

Abstract

Forecasting the physical behavior of the subsurface is a challenging task. Available data include seismic wave propagation recordings that are interpreted to build subsurface multi-material models. Due to this interpretation, the geometry and the connectivity of the interfaces separating geological materials are uncertain. In this work, we consider a relatively simple case of fluid monitoring in a subsurface gas reservoir. As seismic wave velocities of porous rocks vary depending on fluid saturation, our objective is to quantitatively evaluate the impact of the water/gas contact depth on elastic wave propagation.