Borehole methods for controlled source electromagnetic exploration
Borehole methods for controlled source electromagnetic exploration
The Controlled Source ElectroMagnetic (CSEM) method has been developed over the
past two decades, to provide information on oceanic crustal structure. The stark contrast
between the low resistivity of rock structure saturated with salt water, compared to the high
resistivity of oil, has meant that the method is increasingly being adopted by the hydrocarbon
industry at the exploration stage. During initial assessment, and subsequent development of
oil and gas fields, wells are routinely drilled for a variety of purposes. The boreholes provide a
possible means of placing either EMsources or receivers within or beneath the target reservoir.
This in turn presents the opportunity of applying CSEM methods, using a combination of
seafloor and borehole sources and receivers to improve the characterisation and monitoring
of the reservoir. In this thesis, forward modelling is used to test out the various survey
configurations, in terms of the improvement Borehole CSEM (BCSEM) affords the appraisal
and monitoring of hydrocarbon reserves.
The results from 1D modelling have shown that the use of downhole instruments (either
source or receivers) increased the amplitude anomalies associated with target layers when
compared to conventional CSEM. The edge detection capabilities of BCSEM were tested
and it was found that a single downhole receiver and a towed seafloor source produced a
significant change in the amplitude of the electric field as the source moved over the edge of
the modelled reservoir. The method also returned promising results for 3D bodies, showing
sensitivity to small structures that are below the detection threshold for conventional CSEM.
There is evidence to support that BCSEM could prove to be a useful 4D tool in monitoring
reservoir changes during production. The modelling of a depleting anticline reservoir showed
that the anomalies associated with the depletion are at potentially detectable levels.
Maxey, Anna Catherine
45da2db0-7489-472c-b933-520a5938ae14
February 2009
Maxey, Anna Catherine
45da2db0-7489-472c-b933-520a5938ae14
Maxey, Anna Catherine
(2009)
Borehole methods for controlled source electromagnetic exploration.
University of Southampton, Faculty of Engineering Science and Mathematics, School of Ocean and Earth Science, Doctoral Thesis, 208pp.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The Controlled Source ElectroMagnetic (CSEM) method has been developed over the
past two decades, to provide information on oceanic crustal structure. The stark contrast
between the low resistivity of rock structure saturated with salt water, compared to the high
resistivity of oil, has meant that the method is increasingly being adopted by the hydrocarbon
industry at the exploration stage. During initial assessment, and subsequent development of
oil and gas fields, wells are routinely drilled for a variety of purposes. The boreholes provide a
possible means of placing either EMsources or receivers within or beneath the target reservoir.
This in turn presents the opportunity of applying CSEM methods, using a combination of
seafloor and borehole sources and receivers to improve the characterisation and monitoring
of the reservoir. In this thesis, forward modelling is used to test out the various survey
configurations, in terms of the improvement Borehole CSEM (BCSEM) affords the appraisal
and monitoring of hydrocarbon reserves.
The results from 1D modelling have shown that the use of downhole instruments (either
source or receivers) increased the amplitude anomalies associated with target layers when
compared to conventional CSEM. The edge detection capabilities of BCSEM were tested
and it was found that a single downhole receiver and a towed seafloor source produced a
significant change in the amplitude of the electric field as the source moved over the edge of
the modelled reservoir. The method also returned promising results for 3D bodies, showing
sensitivity to small structures that are below the detection threshold for conventional CSEM.
There is evidence to support that BCSEM could prove to be a useful 4D tool in monitoring
reservoir changes during production. The modelling of a depleting anticline reservoir showed
that the anomalies associated with the depletion are at potentially detectable levels.
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Published date: February 2009
Organisations:
University of Southampton
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 69036
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/69036
PURE UUID: 7ab11ff1-cab7-49a9-b4cc-e3dc61843157
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Date deposited: 15 Oct 2009
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 19:16
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Author:
Anna Catherine Maxey
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