Patent ID: 8908473

Claim:
A method of subsurface imaging using microseismic data obtained during a hydrofracturing procedure, comprising: processing a predicted deformation mechanism for an existing fracture in a subsurface medium prior to the hydrofracturing procedure, wherein fracture geometry, mechanical properties of the subsurface medium and in-situ stress states in the subsurface medium are used to model behaviour of the fracture and process the predicted deformation mechanism of the fracture; receiving the microseismic data produced by hydrofracturing of the subsurface medium, wherein the hydrofracturing of the subsurface medium is produced by the hydrofracturing procedure and the hydrofracturing procedure comprises pumping a fluid down a well into the subsurface medium, and wherein the microseismic data comprises data generated by changes in properties of the fracture including movement and/or failure of the fracture as a result of the fluid being pumped into the subsurface medium; and using a processor to process the received microseismic data, wherein the processing of the microseismic data comprises using the predicted deformation mechanism to interpret the received microseismic data to determine the changes in the properties of the fracture produced by the hydrofracturing.