Characterizing anelastic attenuation using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) data
Ali Sayed* (Schlumberger, Houston), Manish Lal Khaitan (Schlumberger, Mumbai),
Shujaat Ali (Schlumberger, Houston), and Alejandro Martinez (Schlumberger, Houston)
Summary
The seismic quality factor, Q, is a critical parameter for
seismic data processing and interpretation. Distributed
acoustic sensing (DAS) provides a unique acquisition
geometry that is ideal for estimating Q. We use a simple two-
layer model to generate synthetic DAS data along a vertical
well using typical velocity values representative of the end
points of the observed well velocity range. We show that Q
estimation with the spectral ratios method using DAS
measurement, when performed without gauge length
correction, results in significant errors. Properly correcting
the DAS measurement for gauge length effects yields axial
strain that permits accurate Q estimation. Gauge length
corrections are shown to reduce Q estimation errors in
synthetic data (Q=100) from 210% for DAS measurement to
1% for axial strain.
Introduction
Seismic waves dissipate energy as they propagate through
the subsurface due to geometrical spreading, anelastic
attenuation, scattering, and transmission loss. Anelastic
attenuation represents the loss of energy due to friction as
the wave propagates through the subsurface. It is expressed
by the seismic quality factor, Q. An accurate estimate of Q
is needed to compensate seismic data pre-migration or
within the migration algorithm (Kristiansen et al., 2017;
Cavalca et al., 2013) as well as support interpretation via
lithology identification and as a direct hydrocarbon indicator
(Klimentos, 1995).
Q is typically estimated by comparing the seismic wavefront
at discrete depths. Several methods of estimating Q exist
with the spectral ratios method being the most commonly
used (Tonn 1991; De et al., 1994; Leaney, 1999; Bettinelli
and Puech, 2015; Campbell et al., 2015).
The advent of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has
enabled operators to acquire VSP data with great efficiency
(Borland et al., 2016; Kimura et al., 2018). In this paper, we
evaluate the potential of estimating Q using DAS data. We
limit our analysis to the spectral ratios method. We generate
ray-trace synthetics and evaluate the errors in estimating Q
with DAS data. Finally, we show that gauge length
corrections minimize the errors on Q estimation.
Spectral Ratios Method
The spectral ratios method compares the spectra of the
observed downgoing wavelet at two discrete depths within
© 2021 Society of Exploration Geophysicists
First International Meeting for Applied Geoscience & Energy
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the VSP data to estimate Q. De et al. (1994) express spectral
ratios as follows:
( , ) ( − )
ln ( , ) =−
(1)
where Z represents the receiver depth, f is frequency, Q is the
seismic quality factor, and T is the arrival time at the
receiver. Cross-plotting the logarithm of the spectral ratios
(left-hand-side of equation 1) against frequency f allows Q
estimation by fitting a slope to the curve.
( − )
= − (2)
Spectral ratios from the isolated direct arrivals are plotted
against frequency to estimate Q. The method assumes that
the source signature, receiver coupling, and stratigraphic
filtering are unchanged between the two levels. It also
assumes that Q is independent of frequency within the VSP
bandwidth. Typically, an average Q along the well is
computed by comparing the top and bottom geophones and
a depth dependent Q is computed by using all possible
receiver pairs (Campbell et al., 2005).
Anelastic Synthetic
We use an exact ray tracer (Leaney et al., 2019) to generate
anelastic isotropic synthetic VSP data. A two-layer model
with a large velocity contrast is used to evaluate the effect of
typical variation in local velocities of the receivers used for
Q estimation. The velocities chosen are representative of the
end points of the velocity range generally observed in wells.
The elastic properties of the model are given in Table 1.
Table 1: Model properties used for synthetic data generation
Z (m) Vp (m/s) Vs (m/s) ρ (g/cc)
0–1,000 2,000 1,000 2.0
1,000–2,000 4,000 2,000 2.5
The DAS well is assumed to be vertical at origin. Vertical
velocity and DAS sensors are simulated within the two
layers from 500 m to 1,500 m at 1 m sensor spacing. Gauge
length for DAS synthetic is 10 m. A vertical force, with a
trapezoidal frequency bandwidth of 1-10-60-120 Hz in
displacement, is used as a source. A constant Q of 100 is
used for the entire model. Amplitude effects other than Q,
such as geometrical spreading and transmission loss are not
modeled. Anisotropy is not introduced in the model.
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Figure 1: Synthetic VSP data for (a) vertical velocity and (b) DAS
sensors along a vertical well. The vertical axis is sensor depth
horizontal axis is observed time. The interface between the faster
and slower zones is at 1,000 m well depth. Note the weaker Figure 2: Trace normalized frequency spectra for (a) velocity and
amplitude on the faster velocity event for DAS synthetic. (b) DAS synthetic data. The vertical axis is sensor depth and the
horizontal axis is frequency. Change in frequency bandwidth along
Figure 1 shows the simulated velocity and DAS VSP data. the well is due to Q. In case of the DAS synthetic, the drop off on
As expected, the DAS synthetic shows amplitude variations the higher end of the spectrum is earlier in the slower velocity zone
with the slope of the event. Figure 2 shows the frequency and later in the faster velocity zone. Such discontinuity is not
spectra for the synthetic data. The velocity synthetic shows observed in the velocity synthetic data.
a gradual reduction in bandwidth along the well due to Q.
Q Estimation—Synthetic Velocity and DAS VSP
The DAS spectra show a discontinuity at the interface. The
faster velocity zone produces a broader bandwidth than the
We estimate Q between sensors at 800 m and 1,300 m from
neighboring DAS sensors within the slower velocity zone
the two zones using the spectral ratios method. Figure 4
(Figure 3). Sayed et al. (2020) show that DAS measurement
shows the input spectra for the velocity synthetic and DAS
(DAS-strain) is axial strain scaled by a normalized sinc
synthetic and their corresponding spectral ratios. A linear fit
function in the spatial frequency domain. This results in
across a frequency bandwidth of 10–100 Hz yields a Q
varying bandwidths in spatial frequency due to a change in
estimate of 100 for the velocity synthetic. However, the
event slope (apparent velocity) which subsequently
same bandwidth yields a Q estimate for 310 for the DAS
translates into a variation in temporal frequencies with
synthetic. The gauge length has a detrimental effect on the
change in event slope (apparent velocity).

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 Q from DAS
Figure 3: Normalized frequency spectra from neighboring DAS
sensors at 990 m (blue) and 1,010 m (red). Spectra for the sensor at
1,010 m, within the faster velocity zone, shows an apparent increase
in bandwidth due to the gauge length effect.
DAS spectral ratios due to variations in local velocity at the
receivers. The DAS spectral ratios are nonlinear, as the
higher frequencies are scaled down differentially by the sinc
function in the faster and slower velocity zones. The sinc
function has a stronger effect on slower velocity events than
Figure 4: Input spectra (left) and spectral ratios (right) for (a)
velocity and (b) DAS synthetic data corresponding to receivers at
800 m and 1,300 m. Input spectra show spectra for 800 m (blue) and
1,300 m (red). The plots on the right show the respective spectral
ratios (black) and the linear best fit line (green). Q estimate for the
velocity synthetic is 100 as used in the input model and 310 for the
DAS synthetic. Note the non-linear response of the DAS spectral
ratios.
© 2021 Society of Exploration Geophysicists
First International Meeting for Applied Geoscience & Energy
the faster velocity event. This results in an apparent increase
in frequency with an increase in velocity. Such effect results
in an apparent reduction in attenuation thereby
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overestimation of the Q value. Intuitively, if the shallower
receiver was within a faster velocity zone and the deeper
receiver within a slower velocity zone, the effect would be
reversed. In such a case, the DAS spectra from the deeper
receiver would be adversely affected resulting in an apparent
increase in attenuation and thereby underestimation of the Q
value.
Sensitivity Analysis
We establish the sensitivity of Q estimation for DAS data by
varying model and measurement parameters. While keeping
the other model and measurement parameters constant, we
vary one parameter at a time. The velocity of the deeper zone
is varied to understand the effect of contrasting velocities at
the two sensors used for the analysis. Q is overestimated for
higher velocity and underestimated for a lower velocity. Q is
accurately estimated for the homogeneous velocity case. The
errors are larger for stronger contrasts in local velocities at
the sensors (Figure 5a). The high end of the frequency
bandwidth, used to fit the spectral ratios, is varied to
understand the effect of the bandwidth used in the analysis.
The estimated Q shows larger errors for higher frequencies
and smaller errors for lower frequencies (Figure 5b). This
follows from the fact that the gauge length effect is stronger
on higher spatial frequencies. The Q value used in the model
is varied to understand the effect of attenuation magnitude
on the errors. Larger Q values, corresponding to lower
attenuation, show larger errors in Q estimation (Figure 5c).
Varying the gauge length shows that larger gauge lengths
result in enormous errors and negative Q (Figure 5d).
Increasing the gauge lengths results in stronger scaling of the
spatial frequencies at lower velocities resulting in anomalous
Q values. The depth of the shallow sensor is varied to
understand the effect of changing sensor spacing. Reducing
the sensor spacing results in larger errors in Q as the
differences in spatial frequencies add larger errors for
smaller depth intervals (Figure 5e).
Gauge Length Correction
Sayed et al. (2020) correct the gauge length response by
applying an inverse of the sinc function, in the form of an
equivalent gamma function, in the spatial frequency domain.
Gauge length corrections on DAS-strain data yield axial
strain. Figure 6 shows the axial strain wavefield computed
from the DAS synthetic after gauge length correction. The
corresponding input spectra and spectral ratios are shown in
Figure 7. The estimated Q from axial strain between the
receivers at 800 m and 1,300 m is 101. The gauge length
corrections reduce the error in estimating Q from 210% for
DAS-strain to 1% for axial strain. Minor numerical errors
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 Q from DAS
Figure 5: Sensitivity analysis of Q estimation for DAS synthetic. a)
sensitivity to change in velocity at deeper sensor, b) sensitivity to
high end of frequency bandwidth used for Q estimation, c)
sensitivity to Q model values, d) sensitivity to gauge length, and e)
sensitivity to sensor spacing by varying depth of shallow sensor.
remain within the spatial frequency domain. The gauge
length correction that converts the data from DAS-strain to
axial strain compensates for the variations spatial
frequencies and subsequently corrects the temporal
frequencies.
Gauge length effects are significant for DAS data, even for
small gauge length values, especially for Q estimation. The
effect is larger with stronger contrasts in velocity. Higher
frequency content would also result in a stronger effect of
gauge length. Gauge length corrections, independently or as
part of the DAS-to-velocity transform (Sayed et al., 2020),
are essential for proper processing, analysis, and
interpretation of DAS data.
© 2021 Society of Exploration Geophysicists
First International Meeting for Applied Geoscience & Energy
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Figure 6: Axial strain wavefield computed from DAS synthetic after
application of gauge length correction. The vertical axis is sensor
depth horizontal axis is observed time.
Conclusions
We generate synthetic velocity and DAS data for a two-layer
velocity model using the end points of the typical range of
velocities expected in the subsurface. We show that DAS
data, when directly used for Q estimation with the spectral
ratios method, can lead to significant errors. We establish the
sensitivity of Q estimation for DAS data using the spectral
ratios method to velocity contrast, frequency bandwidth, Q
value, gauge length, and sensor spacing. We use the
synthetic data to demonstrate that DAS data properly
corrected for gauge length effects can be used to accurately
estimate Q. For the base model parameters used in this
study, gauge length correction reduced Q estimation errors
from 210% for DAS-strain to 1% for axial strain.
Figure 7: Input spectra (left) and spectral ratios (right) for axial
strain (DAS after gauge length correction). Input spectra (left) show
spectra for receivers at 800 m (blue) and 1,300 m (red). The spectral
ratios (right) are plotted in black and the linear fit slope in green. Q
estimate after gauge length correction is 101 indicating a 1%
residual error from model value.
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