Abstract
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is becoming a more desirable method to monitor surface deformation, in particular, ground heave in the oilsands related to thermal SAGD operations. Devon had licensed data from TRE-Altamira using the RADARSAT-2 satellite, which collects roughly 9 usable images each year to calculate deformation. Surface deformation has been used to monitor pressure changes in conventional reservoirs and carbon sequestration and is primarily thought as a method to understand and monitor caprock integrity in oilsands production. Previous efforts (Granda et al, 2012) have shown that surface deformation can be correlated with steam injection rates. Others (James et al, 2012) have also shown that surface deformation can be used to map the steam chamber. However, there are discrepancies when surface deformation is used to infer steam chamber thickness. These differences can provide further insight into reservoir conformance, production, and quality.
Although surface deformation and seismic time delays are both results of thermal SAGD operations—Steam injection results in fluid substitution, thermal expansion, and increased pressure—are their measurements impacted differently, and how so? Surface deformation is driven by thermal expansion & pressure increases and seismic time delay by fluid substitution. This qualitative interpretation of these observations can grant us further insight into the quality of the reservoir we are producing, pad conformance and allow us to characterize different styles of low performing reservoirs. We may also be able to infer the degree of depletion by using the surface deformation growth curve. Understanding the potential surface deformation we will help us to mitigate risk against damaging current production infrastructure and facilities.
Biography
In his role as Technical Advisor – Geophysics, Dennis Ellison helps producers get more from their data by leveraging next generation technology. His career started in depth imaging of geologically complex land data and transitioned into Reservoir Characterization and Quantitative Interpretation, focusing on unconventional reservoir property prediction. Dennis actively volunteers with ENERGYminute, CSEG, and Scouts Canada. Earlier this year, ENERGYminute won the Community Engagement and Educational Outreach Award with the SPE – Calgary Section, and in 2017, he received awards from GeoConvention and the CSEG. He is a member of CSEG, SEG, SPE, EAGE, and APEGA.
