BARD, KAREN C.¹ and MATTHER J. PRANTER^2
1Landmark Graphics Corp., Houston, TX
²Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

Abstract: Utilization of 4D Multi-Component Seismic to Track a Miscible Process in the Subsurface

The Reservoir Characterization Project (RCP) is an industry sponsored consortium. Its mission is to develop and apply 3-D and 4-D (time lapse), multi-component seismology and associated technologies to improve reservoir performance and hydrocarbon recovery while reducing environmental impact. Current research is focused on utilizing 4-D multi-component seismic to track a Pilot CO₂ Huff-n-Puff injection project acquired at the Central Vacuum Unit. This field produces from the San Andres reservoir, a shallow shelf carbonate reservoir located on the Northwestern Shelf of the Permian Basin, Southeastern New Mexico. Interpretation of the seismic data has significantly changed the interpretation of the reservoir structure and characteristics. Interpretation of the time lapse data has shown the existence of an anomaly in shear wave anisotropy in the vicinity of the pilot project. This anomaly has been successfully confirmed through simulation efforts. This demonstrates the potential to utilize time lapse multicomponent seismic to track a miscible process in the subsurface. This technology holds the promise of identifying vertical and lateral sweep efficiency, and thief zones, both of which would significantly impact the economics of the project. The success of this project demonstrates the benefits the application of geophysics could make on can reservoir management.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90928©1999 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas