Rock physics modelling and analysis of time-lapse seismic response in the Pyrenees Field, offshore Western Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 470
Author(s):  
Stanislav Kuzmin ◽  
Mauricio Florez ◽  
Guy Duncan ◽  
Konstantinos Kostas

Rock physics modelling of the time-lapse seismic response of the Pyrenees Field was carried out to evaluate the feasibility of monitoring reservoir drainage and performance. Initially, the purpose of 4D seismic was to monitor the upward displacement of the oil-water contact. It was recognised that the likelihood of gas breakout imposed a significant risk to the feasibility of monitoring the oil-water contact. Models for different scenarios were used to assess this uncertainty and demonstrated that, in either case, an observable change in seismic properties would occur, providing technical support for 4D seismic acquisition. The monitor seismic survey acquired in 2013, showed detectable changes in both interval velocity and reflectivity that was associated with gas coming out of solution in the reservoir, where depletion occurred below the bubble point. This agrees with pre-acquisition predictions based on rock physics modelling. Additional rock physics analysis was carried out to calibrate the observed 4D response to changes in both fluid saturation and effective stress.

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramses Meza ◽  
Guy Duncan ◽  
Konstantinos Kostas ◽  
Stanislav Kuzmin ◽  
Mauricio Florez ◽  
...  

Time-lapse dedicated 3D seismic surveys were acquired across the Pyrenees oil and gas field, Exmouth Sub-basin to map production-induced changes in the reservoir. Rock-physics 4D modelling showed that changes in pore pressure and fluid saturation would produce a time-lapse seismic response of sufficient magnitude, in both amplitude and velocity, to overcome time-lapse noise. The dominant observed effect is associated with gas coming out of solution. The reservoir simulation model forecasted that reservoir depletion would cause gas breakout that would impact the elastic properties of the reservoir. The effect of gas breakout can be clearly observed on the 4D seismic data as a change in both amplitude and velocity. The analysis of the seismic datasets was proven to be enhanced significantly by using inversion methodologies. These included a band-limited extended-elastic impedance (EEI) approach, as well as simultaneous 4D elastic inversion. These datasets, combined with rock physics modelling, enabled quantitative interpretation of the change in 4D seismic response which was a key tool for assisting with the infill well placement and field development strategy.


Geophysics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 836-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Landrø

Explicit expressions for computing saturation‐ and pressure‐related changes from time‐lapse seismic data have been derived and tested on a real time‐lapse seismic data set. Necessary input is near‐and far‐offset stacks for the baseline seismic survey and the repeat survey. The method has been tested successfully in a segment where pressure measurements in two wells verify a pore‐pressure increase of 5 to 6 MPa between the baseline survey and the monitor survey. Estimated pressure changes using the proposed relationships fit very well with observations. Between the baseline and monitor seismic surveys, 27% of the estimated recoverable hydrocarbon reserves were produced from this segment. The estimated saturation changes also agree well with observed changes, apart from some areas in the water zone that are mapped as being exposed to saturation changes (which is unlikely). Saturation changes in other segments close to the original oil‐water contact and the top reservoir interface are also estimated and confirmed by observations in various wells.


Author(s):  
A. Ogbamikhumi ◽  
T. Tralagba ◽  
E. E. Osagiede

Field ‘K’ is a mature field in the coastal swamp onshore Niger delta, which has been producing since 1960. As a huge producing field with some potential for further sustainable production, field monitoring is therefore important in the identification of areas of unproduced hydrocarbon. This can be achieved by comparing production data with the corresponding changes in acoustic impedance observed in the maps generated from base survey (initial 3D seismic) and monitor seismic survey (4D seismic) across the field. This will enable the 4D seismic data set to be used for mapping reservoir details such as advancing water front and un-swept zones. The availability of good quality onshore time-lapse seismic data for Field ‘K’ acquired in 1987 and 2002 provided the opportunity to evaluate the effect of changes in reservoir fluid saturations on time-lapse amplitudes. Rock physics modelling and fluid substitution studies on well logs were carried out, and acoustic impedance change in the reservoir was estimated to be in the range of 0.25% to about 8%. Changes in reservoir fluid saturations were confirmed with time-lapse amplitudes within the crest area of the reservoir structure where reservoir porosity is 0.25%. In this paper, we demonstrated the use of repeat Seismic to delineate swept zones and areas hit with water override in a producing onshore reservoir.


1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
M.K. McLerie ◽  
A.M. Tait ◽  
M.J. Sayers

The TP/3 Part I permit in the Barrow Sub-basin has been held by WAPET since 1952. Improvements in seismic quality and oilfield economics in the early 1980s resulted in the 1985 Saladin oil discovery, which subsequently led to the Yammaderry, Cowle and Roller discoveries.Yammaderry-1, drilled in 1988, encountered 16.5 m of gas capping a nine metre oil column. In 1989, Cowle-1 penetrated a 14 m oil column and tested at 1016 m3 (6390 BBL) of oil per day. Roller-1, drilled in 1990, encountered six metres of gas capping nine metres of oil and tested at 866 m3 (5450 BBL) of oil per day. Roller-2, deviated downdip to find the oil/water contact, proved an 18 m oil column, confirmed later by Roller-4.Early Cretaceous Barrow Group deltaic sandstones are the reservoirs for the Saladin, Yammaderry, Cowle and Roller oil fields. The Barrow Group is overlain by the Mar- die Greensand, the basal unit of the Muderong Shale which forms the regional seal. The transitional acoustic character of the Mardie Greensand and its thickness, variable fluid saturation and lithology, cause problems in picking a top Barrow Group event. Vertical Seismic Profiles acquired in the Yammaderry, Cowle and Roller wells have helped tie the wells to the seismic data.With Saladin on stream, and Yammaderry and Cowle under development, a major seismic survey was completed in late 1990 to delineate Roller and to detail prospects for future drilling in the revitalised TP / 3 Part 1 permit.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (03) ◽  
pp. 391-402
Author(s):  
Sunday Amoyedo ◽  
Emmanuel Ekut ◽  
Rasaki Salami ◽  
Liliana Goncalves-Ferreira ◽  
Pascal Desegaulx

Summary This paper presents case studies focused on the interpretation and integration of seismic reservoir monitoring from several fields in conventional offshore and deepwater Niger Delta. The fields are characterized by different geological settings and development-maturity stages. We show different applications varying from qualitative to quantitative use of time-lapse (4D) seismic information. In the first case study, which is in shallow water, the field has specific reservoir-development challenges, simple geology, and is in phased development. On this field, 4D seismic, which was acquired several years ago, is characterized by poor seismic repeatability. Nevertheless, we show that because of improvements from seismic reprocessing, 4D seismic makes qualitative contributions to the ongoing field development. In the second case study, the field is characterized by complex geological settings. The 4D seismic is affected by overburden with strong lateral variations in velocity and steeply dipping structure (up to 40°). Prestack-depth-imaging (PSDM) 4D seismic is used in a more-qualitative manner to monitor gas injection, validate the geologic/reservoir models, optimize infill injector placement, and consequently, enhance field-development economics. The third case study presents a deep offshore field characterized by a complex depositional system for some reservoirs. In this example, good 4D-seismic repeatability (sum of source- and receiver-placement differences between surveys, dS+dR) is achieved, leading to an increased quantitative use of 4D monitoring for the assessment of sand/sand communication, mapping of oil/water (OWC) front, pressure evolution, and dynamic calibration of petro-elastic model (PEM), and also as a seismic-based production-logging tool. In addition, 4D seismic is used to update seismic interpretation, provide a better understanding of internal architecture of the reservoirs units, and, thereby, yield a more-robust reservoir model. The 4D seismic in this field is a key tool for field-development optimization and reservoir management. The last case study illustrates the need for seismic-feasibility studies to detect 4D responses related to production. In addition to assessing the impact of the field environment on the 4D- seismic signal, these studies also help in choosing the optimum seismic-survey type, design, and acquisition parameters. These studies would possibly lead to the adoption of new technologies such as broad-band streamer or nodes acquisition in the near future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 651-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Saundry ◽  
J. Colmenares

AbstractThe Blake Field is subdivided into two discrete parts, the ‘Channel’ and the ‘Flank’ areas. The two areas are geologically different but also reflect the different levels of maturity in terms of their development. Blake Channel was discovered in 1998, with first production commencing in 2001. Blake Flank was discovered in 1974 and developed in 2003.The field contains saturated light oil, with a field-wide oil–water contact and two significant gas caps. The reservoir comprises deep-water turbidite sands of Lower Cretaceous age.The combination of complex depositional environment and dynamic data resulted in the decision in 2016, to create a new model incorporating a fully integrated approach to subsurface evaluation and modelling. The latest work summarized in this paper incorporates a new geological interpretation along with the addition of aquifer extensions to capture depletion from offset fields, and a palaeo-oil leg, to help limit aquifer influx and improve history match. 4D seismic has also been incorporated to support the evaluation. Blake Channel and Flank have oil-in-place of 230 MMbbl and 300 MMbbl and have produced 94 MMbl and 15 MMbbl, respectively, to date.


Geophysics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 1470-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair M. Swanston ◽  
Peter B. Flemings ◽  
Joseph T. Comisky ◽  
Kevin D. Best

Two orthogonal preproduction seismic surveys and a regional seismic survey acquired after eight years of production from the Bullwinkle field (Green Canyon 65, Gulf of Mexico) reveal extraordinary seismic differences attributed to production‐induced changes in rock and fluid properties. Amplitude reduction (of up to 71%) occurs where production and log data show that water has replaced hydrocarbons as the oil–water contact moved upward. Separate normalizations of these surveys demonstrate that time‐lapse results are improved by using seismic surveys acquired in similar orientations; also, clearer difference images are obtained from comparing lower‐frequency data sets. Superior stratigraphic illumination in the dip‐oriented survey relative to the strike‐oriented surveys results in nongeological amplitude differences. This documents the danger of using dissimilar baseline and monitor surveys for time‐lapse studies.


Geophysics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 803-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhumita Sengupta ◽  
Gary Mavko ◽  
Tapan Mukerji

The goal of this paper is to interpret and analyze time‐lapse seismic data quantitatively to better understand subsurface fluid saturations and saturation scales. We present a case study of a time‐lapse seismic survey. Water and gas were injected into an oil‐producing reservoir, and repeat seismic surveys were collected to monitor the subsurface fluids over a period of 14 years. In this study, we show that the subresolution spatial distribution of fluids, not captured by traditional flow simulators can impact the seismic response. Although there is a good qualitative match between the fluid changes predicted by the flow simulator and the fluid changes interpreted from the seismic data, the simulator predicts smooth saturation profiles that do not quantitatively match the time‐lapse seismic changes. We find that downscaling smooth saturation outputs from the flow simulator to a more realistic patchy distribution is required to provide a good quantitative match with the near‐ and far‐offset time‐lapse data, even though the fine details in the saturation distribution are below seismic resolution. We downscaled the smooth saturations from the simulator by incorporating high spatial frequencies from well logs and constraining the saturations to the total mass balance predicted by the flow simulator. The computed seismic response of the downscaled saturation distributions matched the real time‐lapse seismic data much better than the saturation distributions taken directly from the simulator. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using seismic and well‐log data to constrain subblock saturation scales, unobtainable from flow simulation alone. This important result has the potential to significantly impact and enhance the applicability of seismic data in reservoir monitoring.


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