Quantitative 4-D seismic analysis yields "engineering data" that asset teams can use for reservoir management decisions. Historically, subsurface exploration specialists have strived to predict lithology and fluid content from seismic data prior to drilling, but many times Mother Nature has fooled them with a dry hole when the drill bit finally penetrates the target level. Once a field has been discovered and developed, the reservoir development specialists have a significant advantage over the explorationist by having available rock and fluid property data measured at wells to integrate into the reservoir model. When calibrated with production data, 4-D seismic can yield pressure and saturation changes in units of pounds per square inch and saturation percent with measures of uncertainty. Such information can be used as input into reservoir simulators to forecast future performance as well as for the direct identification of areas of bypassed pay and isolated fault blocks.
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