Seismic Reservoir Modeling

Seismic reservoir characterization aims to build 3-dimensional models of rock and fluid properties, including elastic and petrophysical variables, to describe and monitor the state of the subsurface for hydrocarbon exploration and production and for CO2 sequestration. Rock physics modeling and seismic wave propagation theory provide a set of physical equations to predict the seismic response of subsurface rocks based on their elastic and petrophysical properties. However, the rock and fluid properties are generally unknown and surface geophysical measurements are often the only available data to constrain reservoir models far away from well control. Therefore, reservoir properties are generally estimated from geophysical data as a solution of an inverse problem, by combining rock physics and seismic models with inverse theory and geostatistical methods, in the context of the geological modeling of the subsurface. A probabilistic approach to the inverse problem provides the probability distribution of rock and fluid properties given the measured geophysical data and allows quantifying the uncertainty of the predicted results. The reservoir characterization problem includes both discrete properties, such as facies or rock types, and continuous properties, such as porosity, mineral volumes, fluid saturations, seismic velocities and density. Seismic Reservoir Modeling: Theory, Examples and Algorithms presents the main concepts and methods of seismic reservoir characterization. The book presents an overview of rock physics models that link the petrophysical properties to the elastic properties in porous rocks and a review of the most common geostatistical methods to interpolate and simulate multiple realizations of subsurface properties conditioned on a limited number of direct and indirect measurements based on spatial correlation models. The core of the book focuses on Bayesian inverse methods for the prediction of elastic petrophysical properties from seismic data using analytical and numerical statistical methods. The authors present basic and advanced methodologies of the current state of the art in seismic reservoir characterization and illustrate them through expository examples as well as real data applications to hydrocarbon reservoirs and CO2 sequestration studies.

Introducing the physical basis, mathematical implementation, and geologic expression of modern volumetric attributes including coherence, dip/azimuth, curvature, amplitude gradients, seismic textures, and spectral decomposition, the authors demonstrate the importance of effective colour display and sensitivity to seismic acquisition and processing.

This book presents a geostatistical framework for data integration into subsurface Earth modeling. It offers extensive geostatistical background information, including detailed descriptions of the main geostatistical tools traditionally used in Earth related sciences to infer the spatial distribution of a given property of interest. This framework is then directly linked with applications in the oil and gas industry and how it can be used as the basis to simultaneously integrate geophysical data (e.g. seismic reflection data) and well-log data into reservoir modeling and characterization. All of the cutting-edge methodologies presented here are first approached from a theoretical point of view and then supplemented by sample applications from real case studies involving different geological scenarios and different challenges. The book offers a valuable resource for students who are interested in learning more about the fascinating world of geostatistics and reservoir modeling and characterization. It offers them a deeper understanding of the main geostatistical concepts and how geostatistics can be used to achieve better data integration and reservoir modeling.

The reservoir-engineering tutorial discusses issues and data critically important engineers. The geophysics tutorial has explanations of the tools and data in case studies. Then each chapter focuses on a phase of field life: exploration appraisal, development planning, and production optimization. The last chapter explores emerging technologies.

Reservoir Characterization II contains the proceedings of the Second International Reservoir Characterization Conference held in Dallas, Texas in June 1989. Contributors focus on the characterization of reservoir processes and cover topics ranging from surface roughness in porous media and reservoir characterization at the mesoscopic scale to shale clast heterogeneities and their effect on fluid flow, permeability patterns in fluvial sandstones, and reservoir management using 3-D seismic data. This book is organized into six sections encompassing 43 chapters. The first 20 chapters deal with reservoir characterization at the microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic scales. Topics include low-contrast resistivity sandstone formations; the use of centrifuge and computer tomography to quantify saturation distribution and capillary pressures; and cross-well seismology as a tool for reservoir geophysics. The chapters that follow deal with reservoir characterization at the megascopic scale; fractal heterogeneity of clastic reservoirs; heterogeneity and effective permeability of porous rocks; and drilling fluid design based on reservoir characterization. A chapter that outlines a procedure for estimating permeability anisotropy with a minipermeameter concludes the book. This book is a valuable resource for students and practitioners of petroleum engineering, geology and geological engineering, petroleum exploration, and geophysics.

Published in 2002, the first edition of Geostatistical Reservoir Modeling brought the practice of petroleum geostatistics into a coherent framework, focusing on tools, techniques, examples, and guidance. It emphasized the interaction between geophysicists, geologists, and engineers, and was received well by professionals, academics, and both graduate and undergraduate students. In this revised second edition, Deutsch collaborates with co-author Michael Pyrcz to provide an expanded (in coverage and format), full color illustrated, more comprehensive treatment of the subject with a full update on the latest tools, methods, practice, and research in the field of petroleum Geostatistics. Key geostatistical concepts such as integration of geologic data and concepts, scale considerations, and uncertainty models receive greater attention, and new comprehensive sections are provided on preliminary geological modeling concepts, data inventory, conceptual model, problem formulation, large scale modeling, multiple point-based simulation and event-based modeling. Geostatistical methods are extensively illustrated through enhanced schematics, work flows and examples with discussion on method capabilities and selection. For example, this expanded second edition includes extensive discussion on the process of moving from an inventory of data and concepts through conceptual model to problem formulation to solve practical reservoir problems. A greater number of examples are included, with a set of practical geostatistical studies developed to illustrate the steps from data analysis and cleaning to post-processing, and ranking. New methods, which have developed in the field since the publication of the first edition, are discussed, such as models for integration of diverse data sources, multiple point-based simulation, event-based simulation, spatial bootstrap and methods to summarize geostatistical realizations.