Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology
Volume 49, Number 11, November 2010, pp. 49-60

Summary

Reservoir dilat(at)ions, which are induced by a variety of subsurface injection operations, propagate to the surrounding formations and extend up to the ground surface, resulting in surface deformations. The surface deformations can be measured using various technologies and can be inverted to infer reservoir dilations (volume change distribution). This paper discusses the mathematical aspects of the inverse process in detail and investigates factors affecting the accuracy of the inverse solution through a parametric study. Based on results of the parametric study, the volume change distribution in the lateral direction can be estimated with both high accuracy and high resolution by applying the Tikhonov regularization technique. The volume change distribution in the vertical direction can also be resolved to a certain extent by providing further information regarding the desired solution in terms of an initial estimate. Strategies to improve accuracy of the inverse solution in the lateral as well as in the vertical directions are also discussed.

© 2010. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

• Original manuscript received: 30 May 2008
• Meeting paper published: 18 June 2008
• Revised manuscript received: 30 May 2010
• Manuscript approved: 2 June 2010
• Published online: 1 November 2010
• Version of record: 1 November 2010