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Southeast Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX)

Abstract


Proceedings of the 2007 South East Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX) Conference, 2007
Pages 1-2

Abstract: Reservoir Recovery Factor 40–50% ?! Time Lapse Seismic (4D) will pay back 10–20 times its cost even at $30 a barrel

Ian Jack1

Abstract

In the early days of 3D seismic (in the late 70's through to the early 90's) it was always difficult to justify using this "new technology" -- the industry tends to be conservative, and commercial case history successes attributed to 3D seismic technology were slow in being published. By the early 2000's, however, if proposing a 2D seismic survey, then during the approvals process one would expect to have to justify not acquiring 3D seismic data.

4D seismic has had a slightly faster take-up. We should ask ourselves why approximately 80% of all seismic work in the Previous HitNorthNext Hit Previous HitSeaNext Hit is shot and processed for time-lapse (4D) purposes — in fact for the major oil companies in the Previous HitNorthNext Hit Previous HitSeaNext Hit, 4D represents over 90% of their work program in that area.

We should also ask ourselves why this situation came to pass in the late 90's, even when the oil price was below $25 per barrel.

The answers should be no surprise — most of the reservoirs in the Previous HitNorthNext Hit Previous HitSeaNext Hit were in decline by the late 90's, and those people who were charged with maximizing the flow rates and/or the reservoir recovery factors began to use technologies such as 4D which was beginning to make a significant impact.

At about the same time, it gradually became apparent that 4D could probably make a greater contribution if applied early in the life of a Previous HitfieldNext Hit -- even extended well-tests produced useful 4D results over periods of just a few months, and these could show up some of the important architecture of the reservoir.

Commercial case histories for 4D appeared relatively quickly compared to 3D and assisted the take-up of the method. Several of these will be presented in detail, together with a review of the current state of the science including "life of Previous HitfieldTop" systems which are producing several "pictures" of the reservoir in a 12 month period, almost allowing a "movie" of the changes in the reservoir. The technology is evolving but its directions are clear and will be described in this paper.

Presented at: 2007 South East Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX) Conference, Singapore, 2007


Acknowledgments and Associated Footnotes

1 Ian Jack: Consultant; BP, retired

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