Innovative Applications of Satellite Interferometry in the Oil&Gas Industry A. Ferretti (1), G. Falorni (3), F. Novali (1), F. Rocca (2), A. Rucci (2), A. Tamburini (1) (1) Tele-Rilevamento Europa - TRE (2) Politecnico di Milano (3) TRE Canada Inc. ESA-ESRIN Worshop, 14-15 Sept. 2010 Copyright - Tele-Rilevamento Europa - 2004
Background Surface deformation measurements are lately gaining increasing attention within the reservoir engineer community, which is searching for new monitoring tools to complement seismic surveys. These monitoring technologies are relatively low in cost and their information content adds significant value, if properly interpreted and integrated with more conventional data. In particular, satellite radar data can provide high-quality, remotely sensed data about surface deformation. The use of radar sensors mounted on board Earth-orbiting satellites started about two decades ago. Over time, these early algorithms have been significantly upgraded and are much more powerful, today. 2
The Basic Idea 1 st acquisition 2 nd acquisition Δt = 8/11/24/35 days R1 R2 Area affected by surface deformation Detection of possible range variations ΔR 3
Why interferometry? R1 R2 With InSAR displacement is measured using the wavelength R 1 = 5.66 cm D R R 2 DR = c Df Df L band = 23.5 cm C band = 5.6 cm X band = 3.1 cm 4
Time Multi-interferogram techniques Satellite images are analysed using a multi image approach Images are acquired each time the satellite passes over the same area of ground As interferograms are acquired, they are stacked Consistent radar targets (PS/DS) are identified in the data Individual displacement time-series is calculated for each measurement point Time-series (PS) Stack of interferograms 5
Accuracy (PSInSAR data) Typical values @ < 1 km from the reference point >40 images ERS and ENVISAT satellites (C-band) Displacement (LOS) Average Displacement Rate Single Measurement Precision (1s) <1 mm/yr 5 mm Positioning E - W N - S Height Precision (1s) 6 m 2 m 1,5 m 6
Are InSAR analyses operational? Yes! Whole Country Mapping: ESA data >15k scenes processed <1.5 years of processing >15 million ground points identified 7
Scalable data Oil field From national mapping to single structures 8
Synoptic Table Advantages Limitations Regular updates over large areas. Cost-effective. Historical archives available High PS density (up to 10,000 PS/km 2 ) Fast data processing / low user interaction High accuracy (1-2 mm) Data easily imported into GIS Vegetated and forested areas prevent any PSInSAR data processing using natural PS. Reflectivity variations (e.g. snow, heavy rain) Temporal sampling limited by satellite repeat-cycles Only slow deformation can be measured (<10 cm/yr in LOS) Full 3D displacement vectors cannot be estimated (2D yes) 9
Satellite Radar Sensors Sentinel-1 A Sentinel-1 B 10
C-band (SB) vs X-band: an example 130 1,200 PS/km 2 PS/km 2 RADARSAT S3 TERRASAR-X SM 11
Why are InSAR Data Useful? In a nutshell, InSAR data: Map the temporal evolution of ground displacements (time-lapse analysis) Enable a wide-area understanding of ground subsidence/uplift Provide users with the ability to quantify historical ground movement Allow oil&gas companies to regularly monitor production areas for environmental monitoring and risk mitigation (e.g. case failure, etc.) -10mm 0 +10mm Oil field deformation: California, USA Allow oil&gas companies to develop better reservoir models, by calibrating model parameters using surface deformation data 12
Why are InSAR Data Useful? (2/2) The ability to map the subsidence or uplift patterns, using satellite data, powerfully complements ground-based techniques and enables measurement in areas where access is difficult or expensive. Observation of the spatial patterns of vertical displacement can provide insight into the structural geology of a reservoir by highlighting the location of active faults or fractures. This information can be integrated with other types of data as input to reservoir models and can assist in designing recovery strategies. 13
Examples 14
Subsidence Analysis Coastal Areas 15
50 Oil Field Average Deformation Rate (LOS) AOI: 120 Kmq More than 200,000 PS identified mm/yr Wells -50 Radarsat-1 data
50 Oil Field Close Up mm/anno Wells -50 Radarsat data
spostamento verticale (mm) A Analysis of faults and fractures sez1-v-soglia3-mm5 20 0 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000-20 -40-60 -80-100 -120-140 -160 progressiva (m) A D20050108 D20050128 D20050217 D20050309 D20050329 D20050418 D20050508 D20050528 D20050617 D20050707 D20050727 D20050816 D20050905 D20050925 D20051015 D20051104 D20051124 D20051214 D20060103 D20060123 D20060212 D20060304 D20060324 D20060413 D20060503 D20060523 D20060612 D20060702 D20060722 D20060811 D20060831 D20060920 D20061010 18
2D velocity gradient vs. fault map Monitoring horizontal and vertical surface deformation over a hydrocarbon reservoir by PSInSAR First Break, volume 28, May 2010 19
CO2 Sequestration - In Salah, Algeria In Salah gas storage is JIP of Sonatrach, BP and Statoil Hydro Field produces gas with up to 10% CO 2 1 million tons CO 2 captured from gas and injected annually ~ 3 million tons CO 2 injected by end of 2008 20
Time lapse analysis of surface displacement ~25 km - 10 Displacement along LOS [mm] +10
What we learned (CCS projects) Due to the complexity of CO2 movement within the subsurface, and the requirement to ensure that it does not migrate towards the surface, there is a need to monitor the injected fluid. Satellite-based surveillance can be more cost-effective, more frequent and less invasive than other geophysical monitoring techniques. The PSInSAR results have proven that satellite based observations can be used to infer information about the CO2 plumes and even the permeability of the reservoir (Vasco et al., 2008), as well as the identification of fault reactivation. 22
Underground Gas Storage - Modelling Injected/extracted volume Surface displacement 23
Blockages/Difficulties Satellite tasking can be challenging with dual-use (military/civilian) data sources. The more the number of data sources, the better. Estimation of full 3D deformation fields is still challenging, even when combining 4 data-stacks from different acquisition geometries. Leftlooking sensors could play a role to get 3D measurements. Apart from environmental monitoring, there is still a lot of work to be done for designing standard, operational procedures that could be used to translate surface deformation data into reservoir parameters and optimization strategies. There is a need of joint research projects among radar specialists, geophysicists, geologists and petroleum engineers. 24
Conclusions Advantages of InSAR data: high precision; quantitative and reliable info; fast data processing; regular updates; cost-effective. Limitations: vegetated areas, snow coverage artificial reflectors; not 3D measurements Benefits for the oil&gas sector: assessment of the environmental impact of pumping activities. reservoir monitoring. geophysical inversion (pressure/permeability) synergy with seismic surveys More and more satellite data are becoming available and weekly monitoring is becoming feasible. SAR measurements in synergy with GPS are becoming a standard monitoring tool for surface deformation monitoring.
Bibliographic References Klemm H., I. Quseimi, F. Novali, A. Ferretti, A. Tamburini: Monitoring horizontal and vertical surface deformation over a hydrocarbon reservoir by PSInSAR First Break, Vol. 28, May 2010, p. 29-37. Vasco D. W., A. Rucci, A. Ferretti, F. Novali, R. C. Bissell, P.S. Ringrose, A. S. Mathieson, and I. W. Wright: Satellite-based measurements of surface deformation reveal fluid flow associated with the geological storage of carbon dioxide Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 37, L03303, 2010, doi:10.1029/2009gl041544. Vasco D.W., A. Ferretti, and F. Novali: Estimating permeability from quasi-static deformation: Temporal variations and arrival-time inversion Geophysics, Vol. 73(6), Nov.-Dec 2008, p. O37 O52. Tamburini A., M. Bianchi, C. Giannico, F. Novali: Retrieving surface deformation by PSInSAR technology: a powerful tool in reservoir monitoring International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2009.12.009, 2010. Bell J. W., F. Amelung, A. Ferretti, M. Bianchi, F. Novali: Permanent scatterer InSAR reveals seasonal and long-term acquifer-system response to groundwater pumping and artificial recharge Water Resources Research, Vol. 44, February 2008, p. 1-18. Castelletto N., M. Ferronato, G. Gambolati, C. Janna, P. Teatini, D. Marzorati, E. Cairo, D. Colombo, A. Ferretti, A. Bagliani, S. Mantica, 3D geomechanics in UGS projects. A comprehensive study in northern Italy Proc. of the 44th US Rock Mechanics Symposium, Salt Lake City, June 2010. 26
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