SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

	Interwell continuity logging technique

Summary

This project, sponsored by the Gas Technology Institute, showed the potential for using interwell seismic logging to evaluate reservoir continuity.  We demonstrated the transmission and detection of guided waves at interwell distances of more than 1/2 mile through low-velocity shales in a Gulf Coast gas field. We developed a theoretical basis for predicting the transmission and detection of guided waves and developed frequency domain processing techniques to evaluate the received guided waves.

Interwell continuity logging can be performed at a significantly lower cost than crosswell tomographic imaging because relatively few source and receiver stations are needed. While a full interwell image is not produced, continuity logging can provide connectivity information about producing formations. This information can be useful in evaluating reservoir compartmentalization, which greatly affects infill well locations and reservoir floods.

	This information can be useful in evaluating reservoir compartmentalization, which greatly affects infill well locations and reservoir floods.

Technology Transfer

Reports:

J. O. Parra, C. L. Hackert, and A. W. Gorody. "Evaluation of Interwell Seismic Logging Techniques Using Guided Waves for Gas Reservoir Continuity," final report GRI 99/0182, published by the Gas Technology Institute, Chicago, IL, July 1999.

Papers:

Parra, J. O., Hackert, C. L., and Gorody, A. W. "Detection of guided waves between gas wells for reservoir characterization," submitted to Geophysics (Aug. 1999).

Parra, J. O., Hackert, C. L., and Gorody, A. W. "Guided seismic waves for gas reservoir characterization: proof of concept," Gas Tips, Fall 1999, pp. 7–12.

Parra, J. O., Zook, B. J., Xu, P. and Brown, R. L., 1998, "Transmission and detection of guided seismic waves in attenuating media," Geophysics, 63, no. 04, 1190–1199.

Parra, J.O., Myer, L., Nihei, K., Korneev, V., and Gorody, A. "Guided Seismic Waves for Reservoir Characterization," Gas Tips, vol. 3, no. 3, 1997.

Parra, J.O., Zook, B.J., and Collier, H. A., 1998, "The Utilization of Interwell Seismic Logging for Formation Continuity at the Gypsy Test Site, Oklahoma," The Log Analyst, March–April, pp. 16–25.

Parra, J.O., Zook, B.J., and Collier, H.A., 1996, "Interwell Seismic Logging for Formation Continuity at the Gypsy Test Site, Oklahoma," Journal of Applied Geophysics, Vol. 35, pp. 45–62.

Parra, J.O., 1996, "Guided Seismic Waves in Layered Poroviscoelastic Media for Continuity Logging Applications," Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 44, pp. 403–425.

Presentations:

Parra, J. O., Hackert, C. L., Gorody, A. W., Howlett, D., and Melton, D. "Detection of guided waves between gas wells in Gulf Coast formations," poster presentation at 69th Ann. Internat. Mtg., Soc. Expl. Geophys., November 1–4, 1999, Houston, TX.

Parra, J. O., Gorody, A. W., Hackert, C. L., Howlett, D., and Melton, D. "Continuity logging experiments for reservoir characterization at the Stratton gas field, southeast Texas," poster presentation at 40th Annual SPWLA Conference, May 30–June 3, 1999, Oslo, Norway.

Parra, J. O. GRI Annual Project Review Meeting, 1997. [PPT, 7,855 kb]

Parra, J. O., and Collier, H. A. "Petrophysical Properties and Geology of Selected Intervals in the Frio Formation, Stratton Field for Modeling Interwell Seismic Responses," Transactions of the Society of Professional Well Log Analysts, 38th Annual Symposium, Houston, Texas 1997.

Parra, J. O., and Collier, H. A. "Petrophysical Properties and Geology of Selected Intervals in the Frio Formation, Stratton Field, South Texas, for Modeling Interwell Seismic Logging Responses," Annual Meeting of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, San Antonio, Texas, 1996.

Parra, J. O. "Full Waveform Analysis for Interwell Seismic Logging Applications," Society of Professional Well Log Analysts Topical Conference, Petrophysics 3-D and Reservoir Characterization, Taos, New Mexico, 1996.

Parra, J. O. "Status of the Present Interwell Seismic Logging Technology for Reservoir Imaging (currently developed at SwRI)" seminar presented to engineers at Western Atlas Logging Services Company, Houston, Texas, 1996.

Parra, J. O., and Zook, B. J. "Transmission and Detection of Guided Seismic Waves in Attenuating Media: Model Study," 1996 SEG Development and Production Forum, Vail, Colorado, 1996.

Parra, J. O., Zook, B. J., and Collier, H. A. "The Utilization of Guided Seismic Waves for Formation Continuity at the Gypsy Test Site in Oklahoma," 6th International Symposium on Borehole Geophysics, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1995.

Parra, J. O., and Zook, B. J. "Detectability of Guided Seismic Waves in the Presence of Attenuation: Model Study," 65th Ann. Internat. Mtg. SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 1995.

For more information about the evaluation of interwell seismic logging techniques capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Jorge O. Parra, Ph.D. at jparra@swri.org or (210) 522-3284.
 

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September 20, 2008