Visualization and characterization of structural deformation fabric and velocity anisotropy

Fractures develop with different intensity and preferred orientations in response to changing stress regimes throughout geologic time. Fractures with preferred orientations are often interpreted as the cause of seismic P-wave velocity (Vp) anisotropy as well as linear features seen in seismic attribute volumes. Field experiments show that stress orientation can often be directly measured by P-wave anisotropy while the lineaments seen in the volumetric curvature attributes are related to deformation.