Estimation of depletion or injection induced reservoir stresses using time-lapse sonic data in cased holes
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsBikash K. Sinha, Ergun Simsek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation including collecting baseline and subsequent sonic data. Either open or cased hole Stoneley and cross dipole dispersions are calculated using the baseline and subsequent sonic data, the minimum and maximum horizontal stress magnitudes are calculated using the calculating dispersions, a pressure is calculated and hydrocarbons are recovered.
Claims22
A method for monitoring reservoir stresses in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- collecting baseline sonic data for the formation using a sonic logging tool before a project on the formation is performed;
- collecting subsequent sonic data for the formation using a sonic logging tool after collecting the baseline sonic data and after the project on the formation has been performed, wherein the project comprises at least one of (i) recovering hydrocarbons from the formation and (ii) injecting fluid into the formation;
- calculating Stoneley and cross dipole dispersions using the baseline sonic data and subsequent sonic data;
- estimating changes in minimum and maximum horizontal stress magnitudes in the formation for the project using the calculated dispersions;
- and
- determining a pressure for maintaining integrity of the formation using the changes in minimum and maximum horizontal stress magnitudes.
A method for monitoring reservoir stresses in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- collecting baseline sonic data in a borehole traversing the formation using a sonic logging tool;
- collecting subsequent sonic data in the borehole using a sonic logging tool after collecting baseline sonic data and after recovering hydrocarbons from the formation;
- calculating Stoneley and cross dipole dispersions using the baseline sonic data and subsequent sonic data;
- estimating (i) maximum and minimum horizontal stresses in the formation before recovering hydrocarbons and (ii) maximum and minimum horizontal stresses in the formation after recovering hydrocarbons using the calculated dispersions;
- and
- determining a pressure for maintaining integrity of the formation using (i) the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses in the formation before recovering hydrocarbons and (ii) the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses in the formation after recovering hydrocarbons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.