HR: 10:35h
AN: S12A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Time-lapse Measurements of Scholte Wave Velocity Over a Compacting Oil Field
AU: * Wills, P B
EM: P.Wills@shell.com
AF: Shell International E&P, Kesslerpark 1, Rijswijk, 2288GS, Netherlands
AU: Hatchell, P J
EM: Paul.Hatchell@shell.com
AF: Shell International E&P, Kesslerpark 1, Rijswijk, 2288GS, Netherlands
AB: Acquisition of time-lapse seismic data over producing oil and gas fields is a proven method for optimizing hydrocarbon production. Most current data have been acquired using towed-streamer seismic vessels but new systems incorporating permanent Ocean Bottom Cable (OBC) systems are gaining in popularity, both as a way to achieve better repeatability and also to reduce the cost of acquiring many time-lapse repeats of the baseline survey. Over the last three years, more than seven repeat data sets have been acquired at the permanent OBC system installed (by the operator, BP) over the Valhall oil field located offshore Norway. This system contains ~2400 four-component receiver stations that are recorded using a dense areal shot grid ("carpet" shoot) that provides high fold and has delivered excellent time-lapse signals starting from the first repeat occurring just three months after the baseline. Time-lapse OBC data are conventionally used to measure amplitude and velocity changes of body wave reflections (PP and PS) but other measurements are also possible. In particular, Scholte waves are strongly visible on records acquired everywhere in the field on appropriately processed data and, given the high fold (because of the dense shots), Scholte wave velocity and anisotropy time-lapse changes obtained with both hydrophone and geophone sensors are accurately and robustly estimated. The resulting shallow velocity maps are very sensitive to the seabed strains and show large velocity changes overlying deep production. Also, reconstruction of compressional "head wave" velocity difference measurements and vertically propagating shear wave shallow time-lapse statics produce maps that resemble the Scholte wave maps, with differences that reflect the physics of the propagation modes and effective fold. A reservoir model that includes deep reservoir volume changes together with appropriate geomechanical properties in the overburden and a shallow conversion of strain to velocity is used to successfully predict the measured velocity changes. The strain/velocity conversion requires asymmetry between crack opening and closing as well as velocity hysteresis and, in fact, the measurements provide an excellent laboratory for testing fracture-model/velocity conversion on in-situ rocks. After calibration, the model together with the data can constrain both volume changes in the reservoir, for making drilling decisions as well as the overburden geomechanical rock properties model, which itself is used for well- path selection and facilities decisions. Scholte wave velocity measurements can also be made using an oil platform as a "passive" source, removing the need for a conventional source near the seafloor. Finally, these measurements might be applicable on time- lapse controlled source measurements of greater generality in a wider geophysical context wherever an accurate measurement of a time-varying surface strain is desired.
DE: 3025 Marine seismics (0935, 7294)
DE: 7255 Surface waves and free oscillations
DE: 7270 Tomography (6982, 8180)
DE: 7294 Seismic instruments and networks (0935, 3025)
SC: Seismology [S]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting