Sensitivity of shear wave splitting to fracture connectivity

Shear wave splitting (SWS) is currently considered to be the most robust seismic attribute to characterize fractures in geological formations. Despite its importance, the influence of fluid pressure communication between connected fractures on SWS remains largely unexplored. Using a 3-D numerical upscaling procedure based on the theory of poroelasticity, we show that fracture connectivity has a significant impact on SWS magnitude and can produce a 90° rotation in the polarization of the fast quasi-shear wave. The simulations also indicate that SWS can become insensitive to the type of fluid located within connected fractures. These effects are due to changes of fracture compliance in response to wave-induced fluid pressure diffusion. Our results improve the understanding of SWS in fractured formations and have important implications for the detection and monitoring of fracture connectivity in hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs as well as for the use of SWS as a forecasting tool for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.