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Title: Using surface deformation to image reservoir dynamics

Abstract

The inversion of surface deformation data such as tilt, displacement, or strain provides a noninvasive method for monitoring subsurface volume change. Reservoir volume change is related directly to processes such as pressure variations induced by injection and withdrawal. The inversion procedure is illustrated by an application to tiltmeter data from the Hijiori test site in Japan. An inversion of surface tilt data allows one to image flow processes in a fractured granodiorite. Approximately 650 barrels of water, injected 2 km below the surface, produces a peak surface tilt of the order of 0.8 microradians. The authors find that the pattern of volume change in the granodiorite is very asymmetrical, elongated in a north-northwesterly direction, and the maximum volume change is offset by more than 0.7 km to the east of the pumping well. The inversion of a suite of leveling data from the Wilmington oil field in Long Beach, California, images large-scale reservoir volume changes in 12 one- to two-year increments from 1976 to 1996. The influence of various production strategies is seen in the reservoir volume changes. In particular, a steam flood in fault block 2 in the northwest portion of the field produced a sudden decrease in reservoirmore » volume.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., CA (US)
Sponsoring Org.:
New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization; USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
20015461
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-76SF00098
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Geophysics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 65; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: PBD: Jan-Feb 2000; Journal ID: ISSN 0016-8033
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; PETROLEUM DEPOSITS; FRACTURED RESERVOIRS; FLUID FLOW; VOLUME; STEAM INJECTION; DEFORMATION

Citation Formats

Vasco, D W, Karasaki, K, and Doughty, C. Using surface deformation to image reservoir dynamics. United States: N. p., 2000. Web. doi:10.1190/1.1444704.
Vasco, D W, Karasaki, K, & Doughty, C. Using surface deformation to image reservoir dynamics. United States. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1444704
Vasco, D W, Karasaki, K, and Doughty, C. 2000. "Using surface deformation to image reservoir dynamics". United States. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1444704.
@article{osti_20015461,
title = {Using surface deformation to image reservoir dynamics},
author = {Vasco, D W and Karasaki, K and Doughty, C},
abstractNote = {The inversion of surface deformation data such as tilt, displacement, or strain provides a noninvasive method for monitoring subsurface volume change. Reservoir volume change is related directly to processes such as pressure variations induced by injection and withdrawal. The inversion procedure is illustrated by an application to tiltmeter data from the Hijiori test site in Japan. An inversion of surface tilt data allows one to image flow processes in a fractured granodiorite. Approximately 650 barrels of water, injected 2 km below the surface, produces a peak surface tilt of the order of 0.8 microradians. The authors find that the pattern of volume change in the granodiorite is very asymmetrical, elongated in a north-northwesterly direction, and the maximum volume change is offset by more than 0.7 km to the east of the pumping well. The inversion of a suite of leveling data from the Wilmington oil field in Long Beach, California, images large-scale reservoir volume changes in 12 one- to two-year increments from 1976 to 1996. The influence of various production strategies is seen in the reservoir volume changes. In particular, a steam flood in fault block 2 in the northwest portion of the field produced a sudden decrease in reservoir volume.},
doi = {10.1190/1.1444704},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20015461}, journal = {Geophysics},
issn = {0016-8033},
number = 1,
volume = 65,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}