Geomechanical Interpretation of Surface Deformation and Microseismicity Associated with SAGD Steam Injection (Best of AAPG)

摘要

Optimizing steam injections is an important factor in enhanced recovery in heavy oil reservoirs, as well as other EOR injections. Steam injection results in significant geomechanical changes, including pore pressures, thermal stresses and expansion, and significant constitutive property changes. These changes result in deformation that can be used to track the steam migration. Surface uplift associated with the steam movement can be used to image the underground strains associated with the injection. The presence of microearthquake or microseisms can also be used to infer that fracture movement and resulting permeability enhancements play a role in steam movement. Together the surface and seismic deformations can be used to assess the geomechanical state of the rockmass and potentially validate the results of a reservoir flow simulator linked with a geomechanical model.