US 2006/0038570 A1 · System and method for hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring using controlled-source electromagnetic fields

Abstract

The system and method for real-time monitoring of a hydrocarbon reservoir (4) during extraction include an electro-magnetic source assembly (16) for transmitting a first plurality of electromagnetic fields. A plurality of seafloor antennae (30a-30d) is distributed over an area of the seafloor (8) corresponding to the reservoir (4), where each antenna (30a-30d) comprises a receiver electrode array (30a-30d) adapted for receiving a second plurality of electromagnetic fields and generating signals corresponding to the detected fields. A data logging processor receives the signals over time and stores data corresponding to the signals. Different combinations of the receiver electrode are used in combination with transmitter antennae for measuring vertical, radial and/or azimuthal fields. Transmission and detection of the fields can be performed continuously or at timed intervals during hydrocarbon extraction to estimate the rate and efficiency of extraction.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A system for real-time monitoring of changes in a sub-seafloor hydrocarbon reservoir over an interval of time during which there may be hydrocarbon extraction, comprising:

a controlled source electromagnetic transmitter comprising at least one transmitting antenna for transmitting electromagnetic energy on a plurality occasions over the interval;
a plurality of seafloor antennae distributed on the seafloor over an area corresponding to the reservoir, wherein each seafloor antenna comprises a receiver electrode array each providing a signal responsive to energy from the transmitter on each of the occasions;
at least one data logging process for receiving on each occasion the signal from each of the antennae, the signal characterizing, in part, impedance of the reservoir, and for causing storage, for each occasion, of at least one parameter related to the signals received from the antennae;
a clocking device for associating a time with respect to the at least one parameter stored;
and
an optional comparison process for identifying changes over time in the at least one parameter.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring using controlled-source electromagnetic fields

Life of this patent

System and method for hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring using controlled-source electromagnetic fields

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29