Ground Deformation| Waterflood management | Reservoir/well integrity
During oil and gas production processes, fluid injection and extraction can induce pore pressure changes in the reservoir, potentially leading to ground deformation, which could affect wells and infrastructure.
Waterflooding is a cornerstone of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), where water is injected into an oil reservoir to displace and push oil toward production wells. Geological complexities like fractures, faults, and varying rock permeabilities can create preferential flow paths, causing water to bypass oil and reduce recovery. Injected water can also be confined by flow barriers, preventing optimal recovery.
InSAR is a game-changer for EOR and reservoir optimization. By accurately measuring ground displacement caused by fluid injection (uplift) and extraction (subsidence), InSAR provides valuable data for understanding subsurface dynamics and optimizing EOR strategies.
The objective of the project was to measure historical displacement around injection and extraction wells in order to provide data that enables the optimization of production and reservoir calibration.
Identifying potential
risks
InSAR accurately measures displacement around injection/extraction wells and reservoirs over time. It identifies early signs of reservoir compaction, fault activation, potential well failures, and fluid leaks, enabling proactive intervention to mitigate risks.
Improving reservoir model calibration
By integrating InSAR data into reservoir models, engineers can compare observed surface deformation with model predictions. Key parameters can be adjusted to ensure the model accurately reflects actual reservoir behavior, leading to more accurate reservoir models and improved management strategies.
Helping decision-making processes
InSAR helps operators make informed decisions in order to maintain reservoir stability and well integrity, adjust injection pressures, optimize production, reduce costs, prevent production losses, and minimize environmental impact.
Waterflood operations have been significantly improved by accurately determining the temporal evolution of displacement around injection and extraction wells.
InSAR offers a valuable tool for oil and gas operators to monitor ground displacement associated with injection and extraction activities, contributing to improved reservoir management, risk mitigation, and production optimization.