Measuring a Reservoir from the Inside Out Using Inplace Elastic Energy Reserves

Fred L. Goldsberry, Wavex, Inc.

Reservoir boundaries can be measured from the interior using wave mechanics and elastic energy contributions.  Capillary networks begin to form and grow from a wellbore at the time the well is opened for production.  A wall of initiating capillary pressure becomes the initial boundary for the cone of influence.  As this capillary network grows it adds active contributing mass to the cone of influence.  As sealing boundaries are encountered, singular changes occur in the cone of influence around the wellbore that can be decoded into pieces of boundary images.  With further refinement in an energy model these can be assembled into a blind map that can bear a striking resemblance to seismic images.  This is an independent means for verifying reservoir size, shape and volume.  It is often used as a means for calibrating seismic processing parameters.  The fundamentals will be presented along with examples of “blind energy mapping.”  Seismic measures a reservoir from the topside down with sound waves.  This is a methodology that produces images using wave mechanics from the inside out.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90098©2009 AAPG Education Department, Houston, Texas 9-11 September 2009