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Monitoring of reservoir fluid moving along flow pathways in a producing oil field using passive seismic emissions

A fluid, time-monitoring technology, used in seismology, seismic signal processing, geophysical measurements, etc.

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-06-08
SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

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Problems solved by technology

[0023] None of the above references disclose the detection and monitoring of passive microseismic emissions to determine the type of fluid moving along a particular region of the reservoir

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  • Monitoring of reservoir fluid moving along flow pathways in a producing oil field using passive seismic emissions
  • Monitoring of reservoir fluid moving along flow pathways in a producing oil field using passive seismic emissions
  • Monitoring of reservoir fluid moving along flow pathways in a producing oil field using passive seismic emissions

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Embodiment Construction

[0045] The invention is particularly useful for continuously defining a map of preferential fluid movement directions (pathways) in a producing reservoir and for identifying the types of fluids moving along these preferential paths. Flow paths and the fluid phases moving along these paths between wells cannot be easily measured using conventional measurements in drilling. The methods and systems of the present invention provide orientation and distribution of preferential fluid pathways and identify fluid phases, distinguishing between oil or water moving along the pathways. Mapping of fluid pathways and identification of fluid types is useful for optimizing fluid injection and production operations and improving overall oil recovery. During monitoring, the detected passive microseismic emissions, which in some embodiments are recorded and analyzed in real time, can define fluid flow paths between wells in a producing field. Water flood front movement is often more complex, u...

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Abstract

A system of and method for determining whether a liquid moving in an oil-bearing reservoir rock formation is water or oil is provided. The oil-bearing rock formation includes at least one production well and at least one source of injected water during normal oil production. A preferential fluid pathway is identified. A baseline number of passive microseismic events is established. Passive microseismic events in the preferential fluid pathway are monitored during normal oil production to sense a number of microseismic events, and the sensed number of microseismic events are compared to the baseline number of passive microseismic events. The fluid causing the microseismic events is determined to be water if the sensed number of microseismic events approaches the baseline number of passive microseismic events per the predetermined unit, and if the baseline number of passive microseismic is measured during a time period when the water injection is greater than the rate of water injection during normal oil production.

Description

[0001] related application [0002] This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 032,794, filed February 29, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] The present invention relates to methods of monitoring reservoir rocks containing hydrocarbons, and in particular to methods and systems for using passive seismic emission to identify the type of liquids moving along a flow pathway of a producing oil field. Background technique [0004] Microseism in the reservoir rock matrix in producing fields is generally the result of pore pressure disturbances and geomechanical stress field relaxation due to fluid movement as reservoir fluids are produced and / or injected. Microseisms or microseisms are generated because the stress fields in the reservoir and fluid flow are anisotropic. Anisotropy generally results from heterogeneity in the reservoir rock. The presence of joints, bedding, faults and fractur...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): E21B49/00
CPCE21B49/008G01V1/30G01V2210/123
Inventor S·N·达斯古普塔S·阿尔-鲁瓦利
Owner SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO