Seismic monitoring of a steamflood at South Casper Creek oil field, Wyoming

Conference · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5185382

Johnston, P; Lee, Doosung; Martens, F ^[1]; Wachi, Noboru ^[2]

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1. Unocal, Brea, CA (United States)
2. Japan National Oil Co., Chiba (Japan)

Repeat three-dimensional (3-D) seismic surveys and repeat cross-well seismic surveys were used to monitor fluid flow in a steamflood EOR pilot project at South Casper Creek oil field, Wyoming. The reservoir is a sandstone 160 ft thick at a measured depth of 2,700 ft. Baseline 3-D and cross-well seismic surveys were shot prior to stem injection in the study area. Steam injection was started, and seven months later monitor surveys were shot using identical survey parameters and geometries. Traveltime delays up to 10 msec are present in the cross-well monitor survey compressional wave arrivals, and traveltime delays up to 8 msec are present in the 3-D monitor survey arrivals. These delays are due to the lower compressional velocity of reservoir rock heated by steam flooding. Differences between tomographic images from the baseline and monitor 3-D surveys are used to infer the position of the steam flood in map view. Cross-sectional and map images of the steam flood position agree. This indicates interwell details of fluid flow in a 160-ft-thick reservoir at a depth of 2,700 ft can be successfully mapped by seismic methods.

• OSTI ID: 5185382
• Report Number(s): CONF-9103128--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ACOUSTIC MONITORING
DATA ANALYSIS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
SURVEYS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
USA
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS
WYOMING