Feasibility analysis of time-lapse gravity gradiometry for reservoir monitoring

Reitz, Anya; Krahenbuhl, Richard; Li, Yaoguo; DiFrancesco, Dan

doi:10.1190/segam2012-0775.1

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Each component of the gradiometry data contains a maximum anomaly greater than 0.16 E to meet the ground-based survey performance from the 1990s instrument field testing (D. DiFrancesco, personal communication, 2012;Reitz et al, 2012). However, with current restrictions on ground-based gradiometry surveys, we must also consider the signals with respect to next-generation airborne gradiometers performing at the 1 E level (DiFrancesco et al, 2009;D.…”

Section: Effect Of Reservoir Depthmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Since then, gravity gradiometry has had successful application in exploration problems (e.g., Bell et al, 1997;Huston et al, 1999;Mataragio and Kieley, 2009;Hatch and Annecchione, 2010;Ennen and Hall, 2011;Martinez et al, 2013;). The technology is naturally studied for its use in a time-lapse setting (e.g., Talwani et al, 1999;DiFrancesco and Talwani, 2002;Vasilevsky et al, 2003Vasilevsky et al, , 2005Kirkendall and Li, 2007;Amano and Yamamoto, 2013;Reitz, 2014).…”

Section: Time-lapse Gravity and Gravity Gradiometrymentioning

confidence: 98%

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Feasibility of time-lapse gravity and gravity gradiometry monitoring for steam-assisted gravity drainage reservoirs

Reitz

Krahenbuhl

2015

GEOPHYSICS

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There is presently an increased need to monitor production efficiency as heavy oil reservoirs become more economically viable. We present a feasibility study of monitoring steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) reservoirs using time-lapse gravimetry and gravity gradiometry. Even though time-lapse seismic has historically shown great success for SAGD monitoring, the gravimetry and gravity gradiometry methods offer a low-cost interseismic alternative that can complement the seismic method, increase the survey frequency, and decrease the cost of monitoring. In addition, both gravity-based methods are directly sensitive to the density changes that occur as a result of the replacement of heavy oil by steam. Advances in technologies have made both methods viable candidates for consideration in time-lapse reservoir monitoring, and we have numerically evaluated their potential application in monitoring SAGD production. The results indicate that SAGD production should produce a strong anomaly for both methods at typical SAGD reservoir depths. However, the level of detail for steam-chamber geometries and separations that can be recovered from the gravimetry and gravity gradiometry data is site dependent. Gravity gradiometry shows improved monitoring ability, such as better recovery of nonuniform steam movement due to reservoir heterogeneity, at shallower production reservoirs. Gravimetry has the ability to detect SAGD steam-chamber growth to greater depths than does gravity gradiometry, although with decreasing resolution of the expanding steam chambers.

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Section: Effect Of Reservoir Depthmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Time-lapse Gravity and Gravity Gradiometrymentioning

confidence: 98%

Feasibility of time-lapse gravity and gravity gradiometry monitoring for steam-assisted gravity drainage reservoirs

Reitz

Krahenbuhl

2015

GEOPHYSICS

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“…But, repeated airborne or satellite gradient measurements are insufficiently precise for time‐lapse applications because of vehicle noise and positioning error. Terrestrial gradiometry has never been demonstrated for mass change applications in part because of the high cost of gradiometers, despite the advantages suggested by modeling exercises [ Talwani et al , ; Reitz et al , ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct measurement of subsurface mass change using the variable baseline gravity gradient method

Kennedy

Ferré

Güntner

et al. 2014

Geophysical Research Letters

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Time-lapse gravity data provide a direct, nondestructive method to monitor mass changes at scales from centimeter to kilometer. But, the effectively infinite spatial sensitivity of gravity measurements can make it difficult to isolate the signal of interest. The variable baseline gravity gradient method, based on the difference of measurements between two gravimeters, is an alternative to the conventional approach of individually modeling all sources of mass and elevation changes. This approach can improve the signal-to-noise ratio for many applications by removing the contributions of Earth tides, loading, and other signals that have the same effect on both gravimeters. At the same time, this approach can focus the support volume within a relatively small user-defined region of the subsurface. The method is demonstrated using paired superconducting gravimeters to make for the first time a large-scale, noninvasive measurement of infiltration wetting front velocity and change in water content above the wetting front.

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2022

Gravity and Magnetic Encyclopedic Dictionary

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Feasibility analysis of time-lapse gravity gradiometry for reservoir monitoring

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Feasibility of time-lapse gravity and gravity gradiometry monitoring for steam-assisted gravity drainage reservoirs

Feasibility of time-lapse gravity and gravity gradiometry monitoring for steam-assisted gravity drainage reservoirs

Direct measurement of subsurface mass change using the variable baseline gravity gradient method

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