4D-SEISMIC

4D Definitions

Time-lapse (4D) seismic technology

Time-lapse 3D, or 4D, seismic

technology is the use of 3D seismic
surveys acquired at different times in the
productive life of a reservoir. The term
4D encompasses a broad workflow from
feasibility and design, to acquisition and
processing, to inversion and
interpretation, and finally to integration
with reservoir management, although a
4D project may span only a subset of the
workflow.

4D with zero time-lapse, meaning no

production-induced subsurface change,
is a repeatability study. The time-lapse
interval for production monitoring is
reservoir- and process-dependent, and
may vary considerably, from as short as
two weeks to monitor the pressure
change due to first oil, to many years in a
large, Middle East carbonate reservoir.
There is no general optimal time-lapse interval, so prediction of time-lapse changes at different times in the future is
an important part of 4D feasibility studies, making use of flow simulation and rock physics models.

For optimal results, 4D requires time-lapse logs, special core analysis, VSPs, pressure, and other data sources such
as multicomponent, geomechanical, gravimetric, and electromagnetic data, when available. These data serve to
constrain the inversion and interpretation of 4D surveys, just as they do for 3D surveys. It is possible to generate a 4D
result without this constraint, but that result will be more qualitative and rely more on model-based assumptions that
can degrade confidence in the result.

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4D Feasibility Study

The primary objective of 4D feasibility is to synthesize the seismic amplitude responses to variations in reservoir
conditions to determine:

• The type of 4D signal that the rock/fluid change will generate

• If the signal is detectable above the noise
• What is the most realistic 4D response
The synthesis may either be based on a zero-dimensional rock physics model, or based on 3D reservoir simulator
predictions of reservoir conditions. The initial step in the process is to build a rock physics model of the reservoir and
then investigate the uncertainty of the model to variations in reservoir parameters such as saturation and pressure.
Successful 4D studies aim to create increased production and significant cost savings due to better planning of
production and injection wells and increased understanding of reservoir characteristics.

Typically feasibility studies include the following steps:

Establish the reservoir objective that 4D technology must address to be of value to the asset
team
Collect, QC, and validate seismic and log data, including data volumes, attributes, horizon
surfaces, fault planes, well picks, petrophysical analyses, and others
Analysis of well logs
Seismic Well Tie Analysis and Wavelet Extraction
predicts the pre-stack acoustic response of a seismic trace to changes
Forward Property Modeling
in the rock physics model through the exact Zoepritz formulation or full waveform model.

Rock Physics and Fluid Substitution

Modeling
Seismic Response Modeling
Earth Model and Simulation-based Modeling
Establish Probability of Success

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Feasibilty study workflow

Rock Physics and Fluid Substitution Modeling

4D feasiblity study

Rock physics modeling

The degree of changes in seismic response to production within the reservoir are
highly dependant on the physical properties of the reservoir rocks. Accurate
modeling of these properties from existing data will allow consideration of their
effect on the 4D response. Modeled acoustic/elastic properties include Vp, Vs, bulk
density, bulk Poisson's ratio, and reflectivity, both at normal incidence and non-
vertical incidence. The rock physics model will allow variation in fluid saturation,
fluid properties, and reservoir pressure, allowing fluid substitution modeling to
represent realistic reservoir changes. Because many of the input parameters to rock
physics modeling are often not well known, this task should include a sensitivity
analysis, thus giving guidance toward what additional petrophysical data acquisition
may be desirable prior to 4D data analysis.

Fluid substitution modeling

Fluid substitution models can be used to assess the effect of different reservoir scenarios on the
4D response. Scenarios modeled will determine expectations of reservoir production changes.
Examples include, but are not limited to:

 Saturation change representing water influx from injection well or a natural

aquifer

 Pressure change in areas where reservoir pressure is not maintained by injection

and/or an aquifer

 Fluid property changes representing the release of solution gas as reservoir

pressure falls below the bubble point

 A combination of saturation, pressure, and fluid property changes as predicted

by simulation of reservoir production

 Changes in the overburden or reservoir physical rock properties brought about

by production induced geomechanical changes.

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Rock physics modeling

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Fluid substitution modeling

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WesternGeco > Technology > 4D Seismic Technology > Planning and Design > 4D Feasibility Study > Rock Physics and
Fluid Substitution

Rock Physics and Fluid Substitution Modeling

4D feasiblity study

Rock physics modeling

The degree of changes in seismic response to production within the reservoir are highly dependant on the physical
properties of the reservoir rocks. Accurate modeling of these properties from existing data will allow consideration of
their effect on the 4D response. Modeled acoustic/elastic properties include Vp, Vs, bulk density, bulk Poisson's ratio,
and reflectivity, both at normal incidence and non-vertical incidence. The rock physics model will allow variation in
fluid saturation, fluid properties, and reservoir pressure, allowing fluid substitution modeling to represent realistic
reservoir changes. Because many of the input parameters to rock physics modeling are often not well known, this
task should include a sensitivity analysis, thus giving guidance toward what additional petrophysical data acquisition
may be desirable prior to 4D data analysis.

Fluid substitution modeling

Fluid substitution models can be used to assess the effect of different reservoir scenarios on the 4D response.
Scenarios modeled will determine expectations of reservoir production changes. Examples include, but are not
limited to:

 Saturation change representing water influx from injection well or a natural aquifer
 Pressure change in areas where reservoir pressure is not maintained by injection and/or an aquifer
 Fluid property changes representing the release of solution gas as reservoir pressure falls below the bubble point
 A combination of saturation, pressure, and fluid property changes as predicted by simulation of reservoir
production
 Changes in the overburden or reservoir physical rock properties brought about by production induced
geomechanical changes.

Request More Information about Rock Physics and Fluid Substitution Modeling.
Email Us

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Rock physics modeling

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Fluid substitution modeling

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