Time-lapse rock physics inversion of thermal heavy oil production

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dc.contributor.advisorInnanen, Kristopher A.
dc.contributor.authorMutual, Evan Peter
dc.contributor.committeememberLawton, Don C.
dc.contributor.committeememberLauer, Rachel M.
dc.date2018-11
dc.date.accessioned2018-07-17T15:57:47Z
dc.date.available2018-07-17T15:57:47Z
dc.date.issued2018-07-12
dc.description.abstractTime-lapse (4D) seismic monitoring of thermal heavy oil production represents a simple, robust and cost-effective method of characterizing changes in reservoir conditions. Conventional 4D seismic monitoring techniques track changes in a reservoir by comparing differences in seismic amplitudes and traveltimes over calendar time. These amplitude differences offer insight into the spatial extent of production and injection effects, but the physical cause of the observed amplitude differences is ambiguous. In order to properly distinguish between the effects of heated oil, steam, pressure, and temperature more information must be extracted from the seismic data. In this study, I combine AVO analysis and rock physics modeling in a rock physics inversion to quantify petrophysical changes in the reservoir thereby offering a more complete description of subsurface conditions during SAGD operations. With the resulting estimates for change in steam and heated oil saturations, the differentiation between varied fluid responses is possible. The heterogeneity of the SAGD operation is clearly observed. Areas surrounding the western well pairs with little to no steam or heated oil present contrast significantly with the large changes observed along the well pairs to the east. This leads to opportunities for improved production efficiency through the identification of zones with significant steam baffles and barriers, which significantly increase steam and energy requirement and prioritizing production of more efficient zones. Heated oil maps can also aid in identifying the most efficient zones and help track the mobilized bitumen to ensure it is not escaping or situated beyond the reach of the production wells. Together, results of this kind give operators valuable feedback that helps reduce both costs and environmental footprint for SAGD operations.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMutual, E. P. (2018). Time-lapse rock physics inversion of thermal heavy oil production (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/32407en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/32407
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/107196
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.facultyScience
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.classificationGeophysicsen_US
dc.subject.classificationPhysicsen_US
dc.subject.classificationApplied Sciencesen_US
dc.titleTime-lapse rock physics inversion of thermal heavy oil production
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineGeoscience
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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