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4D Seismic in the Deepwater – Challenges and Rewards

 David H. Johnston ExxonMobil Exploration Company

 Time-lapse or 4D seismic data has proven value in reservoir management, increasing reserves and recovery by locating bypassed and undrained hydrocarbons and optimizing infill well locations and flood patterns. 4D seismic can also decrease operating costs by reducing uncertainty in the reservoir geologic model and flow simulation, optimizing completions, and minimizing the number of dry holes.  4D is simply the use of multiple seismic surveys shot over a producing field. Changes in the seismic response typically occur because of production-induced changes in saturation and pressure. Successful 4D projects have been carried out in a wide range of geographical areas, geological settings, and depletion scenarios.

 To maximize the value of a 4D seismic project, planning for 4D is a critical part of an overall field lifecycle strategy. In exploration, assets can be screened for potential 4D application. Early in development planning, 4D seismic models based on reservoir flow simulations and geologic models are used to estimate the magnitude and interpretability of the 4D response, evaluate optimal survey repeat times, and assess potential business impact. Once the field is under production, effective 4D project execution requires collaboration among asset team geoscientists, engineers, and field operations with geophysical acquisition and processing specialists.

ExxonMobil’s experience in West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico demonstrates that the deepwater production environment presents unique opportunities and challenges for 4D projects.  Issues range from the impact of surface facilities on data quality to contending with ongoing field operations. In addition, aggressive drilling schedules dictate a rapid turnaround of 4D data.  But these fields have high drilling and well intervention costs and 4D seismic may be the only available field-wide reservoir surveillance tool. This presentation shows how ExxonMobil uses 4D seismic technology in deepwater reservoir management and discusses some of the challenges faced in its application

1978:Massachusetts Institute of Technology, PhD in Geophysics – Thesis on The Attenuation of Seismic Waves in Dry and Saturated Rocks.

1973:Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BSc – Earth Science Experience:

1978-1979:Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Post-doctorial research

1979-2000:Exxon Production Research Co; Research Geophysicist

2000-2008:ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co; Research Geophysicist

2008-Present:ExxonMobil Exploration Co; Sr. Geophysical Advisor, 4D Seismic Applications

 

 Professional Interests:  

My interests include all aspects of reservoir characterization using seismic data. Building from a fundamental basis in rock physics, seismic data can provide strong inter-well constraints on static reservoir properties such as facies and porosity. More recently, through the use of time-lapse measurements, seismic data supplies information on dynamic reservoir properties such as saturation and pressure that can be used to evaluate reservoir connectivity and to update reservoir flow simulation models. These methods have been applied in a wide range of geographical areas, geological settings, and production scenarios.    

 

Publications and Awards:

Authored and co-authored over 25 external publications, numerous publications internal to ExxonMobil, and presented over 50 technical papers at conferences including AAPG, SEG, SPE, and OTC.

1981:Co-editor of Seismic Wave Attenuation, published by the SEG

1990:SEG Secretary/Treasurer 1992:Co-editor of Reservoir Geophysics, published by the SEG 1992-1993:SPE Distinguished Lecturer 1993:SEG Best Presentation Award

1999:SEG Distinguished Lecturer

2003:Geophysical Society of Houston Honorary Membership

2004:SEG Honorary Membership

2005:SEG Best Paper Award for The Leading Edge  

2008:AAPG Distinguished Lecturer  

 

Memberships:   ·      American Association of Petroleum Geologists ·        Society of Exploration Geophysicists ·        Society of Petroleum Engineers ·        American Geophysical Union