Reservoir management: What can geophysics contribute
- Amoco Production Co., Tulsa, OK (United States)
The past few years have seen an increasing interest in the use of geophysical methods to delineate the reservoir as well as to monitor its production history. Because the material changes in a reservoir over time alter its geophysical signature, it should be possible to produce time-lapse maps of the evolution of secondary and tertiary recovery processes. Thus, Fisher has estimated that some 80 billion bbl of oil remain in place in existing US fields, and are targets for infill drilling. The delineation of the reservoir can be accomplished by surface as well as borehole-to-borehole methods. In selected instances, the power of high resolution three-dimensional surface surveys already has found ample confirmation. Also, two-dimensional multicomponent surface recordings have led to the detection of subsurface fracture permeability on the basis of the associated measurable shear-wave anisotropy. The emerging field of geostatistics may supply the link between the geophysical data on the one hand and reservoir porosity and permeability on the other. The confluence of geophysics and reservoir engineering offers exciting prospects for major improvements in our ability to delineate the reservoir as well as monitor its production history in both time and space.
- OSTI ID:
- 5539463
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Vol. 77:11; ISSN 0149-1423; ISSN AABUD2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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