info@dgi.com
+1 510-522-0700
Follow Us

The Benefits of Leveraging a Reservoir Monitoring System

by | Oct 15, 2020 | 4D Seismic Data, Blog, CoViz 4D

reservoir monitoring system

Combine geologic data with well information to gain a better understanding of reservoir conditions. Data used with permission of owner.

An accurate understanding of reservoir conditions and activities benefits every member of the reservoir management team throughout the entire lifecycle of a reservoir. That’s an obvious statement to make, but the reality is that achieving that level of understanding to proactively monitor a reservoir requires the ability to integrate, visualize, and analyze a wide range of subsurface data types. These may include geologic, geophysical, simulation models, drilling logs, completions, wells, production, and near-real-time feeds.

These data are acquired with the aid of various monitoring technologies such as life-of-field seismic (LoFS) systems, and discipline-specific software packages. A reservoir monitoring system that integrates these data and allows reservoir engineers to evaluate production data in the context of changing geologic conditions is an essential tool for maximizing hydrocarbon recovery. A detailed earth model provides the foundation for this evaluation.

Begin With a Detailed Geologic Model

A detailed, 3D geologic model reveals subsurface conditions such as faults, major fault gaps, fault-wedge contours, and other complex geologic structures that can be explored by directly examining the 3D model or via extracted contour maps and cross-sections. These digital representations are critical in assessing volumes, fluid migration, and hydrocarbon entrapment in support of reservoir planning and development, and provide the foundation for an effective reservoir monitoring system.
reservoir monitoring system use

Monitor reservoir production in the context of detailed geologic models to discover correlations between varying reservoir conditions and production trends. Data used with permission of owner.

As a reservoir is developed and produced the geologic model is updated using subsequent seismic surveys and combined with information regarding new wells to help reservoir engineers better understand the effects of individual wells, as well as field-wide production, on reservoir conditions.

Benefits of Leveraging a Reservoir Monitoring System

An Integrated View of Reservoir Performance

An efficient reservoir monitoring system provides reservoir engineers with an integrated view of well and reservoir performance. It allows them to assess the performance of an individual well over time and refine the strategy to improve recovery. Daily production data (pressure, flow, water cut) from the wellhead, combined with observation well data and downhole gauges measuring temperature, bottom hole pressure, and the differential between BHP and WHP, provide near-real-time insight.
Visualizing and analyzing these data in the context of the subsurface environment enables faster detection, isolation, and diagnosis of changes (sudden or gradual) that impact well performance.

Sudden changes in production volume: 

  • broken pump identified by a drastic drop in daily volume
  • reduction in injector well pressure
  • collapsed casing brings production to a halt
  • surface valve mistakenly closed during routine maintenance

Gradual changes in production volume:

  • expansion of the fracture network from nearby well into a production zone
  • sand accumulation in strainers, liners, or tubings
  • paraffin buildup around completion components
  • deformation from compaction in shallow wells
  • sucker rod friction abrading casing
A reservoir monitoring system that integrates a wide range of reservoir data helps reservoir management teams with early identification of developing problems, as well as more accurately determine the reasons for sudden production changes.

A Comprehensive Understanding of Changing Reservoir Conditions

A reservoir management system should also allow reservoir teams to evaluate changing conditions as the reservoir is produced and determine effective strategies to improve recovery. By taking advantage of time-lapse seismic data, integrating it with production data, well logs, tracers, horizons, and volumetric data—and animating it over time (4D)—reservoir engineers gain a far better understanding of how well production is impacting subsurface conditions.
reservoir monitoring system benefits

Data used with permission of owner.

With the ability to compare 4D seismic response alongside production data (individual wells, production patterns, and entire fields) engineers can evaluate a wide range of reservoir activities, for example:
  • the impact new wells, infills, or sidetracks are having on nearby well production
  • the location of previously unrecognized areas of unswept oil
  • the migration of gas and water as wells are produced
When a reservoir monitoring system enables reservoir teams to evaluate temporal animations of changing reservoir conditions in response to production, they gain a significantly better understanding of how development decisions impact recovery. This insight, obtained through temporal analysis of reservoir conditions, facilitates better reservoir management and maximized recovery.
When a reservoir monitoring system enables reservoir teams to evaluate temporal animations of changing reservoir conditions in response to production, they gain a significantly better understanding of how development decisions impact recovery.

CoViz 4D: A Critical Component of a Reservoir Monitoring System

An efficient/successful reservoir monitoring system is critical to helping management teams accurately assess opportunities, determine appropriate development strategies, and closely monitor their impact on performance. Data integration, visualization, and analytics software solutions like CoViz 4D enable members of a reservoir team to better understand how the reservoir is evolving and proactively guide its management.

CoViz 4D, a data visualization analytics software from Dynamic Graphics, Inc., gives geologists, geophysicists, and reservoir engineers the ability to easily access and combine all relevant data associated with subsurface environments. Powerful analytic capabilities enable users to explore data relationships, analyze the accuracy of depth conversion of 3D seismic, and visualize seismic well ties and velocity models to facilitate decisions that positively impact profit and reduce operational risk. To learn more about CoViz 4D contact our team.

FURTHER READING

Seismic Reservoir Monitoring Through Visualization

A 3D view of a reservoir with seismic integrated with geologic models, well logs, and a planned wellpath. Data courtesy Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center and U.S. Department of Energy.An ideal design, development, and management plan for hydrocarbon asset...
Read More

Geomechanical Analysis: Better Understanding of Deformation Through Data Visualization

Vertical displacement and strain grids calculated using the CoViz 4D Geomechanics workflow. In the vertical displacement grid on the left, positive (orange) displacement in the overburden represents compaction (movement down toward the center of the earth) and the...
Read More

The Analysis of Active Geology of Oil and Gas Fields for Development

Accurate characterization of the geology of oil and gas fields is an essential aspect of successful field development. Identifying and avoiding or mitigating risks as early as possible reduces development costs. With the wealth of geologic and other subsurface data...
Read More

Using 3D Terrain Visualization Software for Multicomponent Scene Analysis

3D scene building, based on open-source digital terrain models, buildings, vegetation, powerlines, fences and satellite images can be integrated for visual communication and analysis functions for a multitude of purposes. CoViz 4D is extremely adept at quickly...
Read More

Site Selection for Geothermal Power Plants: Comprehensive Visualization of Geographical Data

With the increase in sustainable energy demand across the globe, there has also been an increase in interest in geothermal energy sources. Industries are increasingly seeking an interest in the exploration of potential geothermal sites for geothermal reserves....
Read More

Using Drilling Data Analytics to Improve Drilling Performance

The majority of active horizontal wells are monitored in silos with most visualization performed in 2D. In addition, plans are not often completed collaboratively which ultimately risks losing pay. CoViz 4D and IWD work together effectively to assure that mutual goals...
Read More

Seismic Reservoir Monitoring Through Visualization

Sep 16, 2021 | , ,

An ideal design, development, and management plan for hydrocarbon asset development comes from having a better understanding of  all known geological and petrophysical aspects of the subsurface. But given the dynamic nature of the reservoir and its attributes, petroleum professionals can encounter some complexities in the process of in-depth analysis.

Share on Social Media