Seismic velocity models for heat zones in Athabasca tar sands

Conference · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:6673089

Lines, L R; Covey, J D ^[1]

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1. Amoco Production Co., Tulsa, OK (USA)

Recent studies indicate that the acoustical velocity within Athabasca tar gands decreases as temperature increases due to steam injection. Time variant velocity models are derived form the seismic traveltime arrivals of both reflection and borehole data. The model's layer depths are established by using image-ray modeling of traveltimes prior to steam injection. The changes in velocity due to steam injection are modeled by using traveltime data from a monitor survey after steam injection. The velocity models are essentially determined by reflection traveltimes. The low-velocity zones show a good correlation with the zones of expected temperature increase at the injector well positions. The results indicate that velocity models obtained from seismic traveltimes may prove useful in detecting steam fronts in tar sands.

• OSTI ID: 6673089
• Report Number(s): CONF-900605--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Journal Volume: 74:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040200 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
ATHABASCA DEPOSIT
FLUID INJECTION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONITORING
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
STEAM INJECTION
SURVEYS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS