4-D seismic monitoring of an active steamflood

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:542841

Lumley, D E

Multiple 3-D seismic surveys have been acquired at time-lapse intervals over a heavy oil reservoir to monitor the progress of an active steamflood. 3-D migrations of the data show dramatic and complex changes in the reservoir zone over a wide area, compared to baseline seismic data recorded prior to steam injection. Careful consideration of steamflood fluid-flow, rock physics measurements, finite-difference seismogram modeling, 3-D seismic imaging and velocity analysis leads to an integrated interpretation of the 4-D data set. Anticipated large decreases in seismic P-wave velocity V{sub p} near the injection well correlate with the presence of a hot desaturated steam zone. Unanticipated large increases in V{sub p} and polarity reversals in an annulus around the steam zone are consistent with a high-pressure cold oil front, in which initial free gas in pore space crosses the bubble point and dissolves into liquid oil. Horizontal and vertical anisotropy in flow directions inferred from these seismic observations correlate with two temperature monitor wells, and in situ measurements of upper and lower reservoir permeability. Since the pressure front propagates out from the injector an order of magnitude faster than either the thermal or steam fronts, predicting future fluid-flow advance of actual production.

• OSTI ID: 542841
• Report Number(s): CONF-951013--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
58 GEOSCIENCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPLORATION
FLUID INJECTION
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRODUCTION
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR ROCK
SEISMIC SURVEYS
STEAM