1887
Volume 60, Issue 2
  • E-ISSN: 1365-2478

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This article addresses the question whether time‐lapse seismic reflection techniques can be used to follow and quantify the effects of solution salt mining. Specifically, the production of magnesium salts as mined in the north of the Netherlands is considered. The use of seismic time‐lapse techniques to follow such a production has not previously been investigated. For hydrocarbon production and CO storage, time‐lapse seismics are used to look at reservoir changes mainly caused by pressure and saturation changes in large reservoirs, while for solution mining salt is produced from caverns with a limited lateral extent, with much smaller production volumes and a fluid (brine) replacing a solid (magnesium salt).

In our approach we start from the present situation of the mine and then study three different production scenarios, representing salt production both in vertical and lateral directions of the mine. The present situation and future scenarios have been transformed into subsurface models that were input to an elastic finite‐difference scheme to create synthetic seismic data. These data have been analysed and processed up to migrated seismic images, such that time‐lapse analyses of intermediate and final results could be done.

From the analyses, it is found that both vertical and lateral production is visible well above the detection threshold in difference data, both at pre‐imaging and post‐imaging stages. In quantitative terms, an additional production of the mine of 6 m causes time‐shifts in the order of 2 ms (pre‐imaging) and 4 ms (post‐imaging) and amplitude changes of above 20% in the imaged sections. A laterally oriented production causes even larger amplitude changes at the edge of the cavern due to replacement of solid magnesium salt with brine introducing a large seismic contrast. Overall, our pre‐imaging and post‐imaging time‐lapse analysis indicates that the effects of solution salt mining can be observed and quantified on seismic data. The effects seem large enough to be observable in real seismic data containing noise.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2478.2011.00979.x
2011-08-01
2024-03-28
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. AngelovP.V.2009. 4D seismic reservoir characterization, integrated with geo‐mechanical modeling . PhD thesis, Delft University of Technology.
  2. ArtsR., EikenO., ChadwickA., ZweigelP., van der MeerL. and ZinsznerB.2004. Monitoring of CO2 injected at Sleipner using time‐lapse seismic data. Energy29, 1383–1392.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. CalvertR.2005. Insights and Methods for 4D Reservoir Monitoring and Characterization. EAGE/SEG Distinguished Instructor Short Course No. 8. SEG. ISBN 1560800860.
  4. CastagnaJ.P., BatzleM.L. and EastwoodR.L.1985. Relationships between compressional‐wave and shear‐wave velocities in clastic silicate rocks. Geophysics50, 571–581.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. DrijkoningenG.G., BrouwerJ., KooijmanJ., SteenbergenG., DostB. and HuijgenA.2006. 4C seismic monitoring on land in the Netherlands – Results for acquisition design. 68th EAGE meeting, Vienna , Austria , Expanded Abstracts, P291.
  6. GelukM.2005. Stratigraphy and tectonics of Permo‐Triassic basins in the Netherlands and surrounding areas . PhD thesis, Utrecht University.
  7. HatchellP.J. and BourneS.2005. Rock under strain: Strain‐induced time‐lapse time shifts are observed for depleting reservoirs. The Leading Edge24, 1222–1225.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. JeremicM.L.1994. Rock Mechanics in Salt Mining . A.A.Balkema . ISBN 9054101032.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. KraghE. and ChristieP.2002. Seismic repeatability, normalized rms and predictability. The Leading Edge21, 640–647.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. LandrøM.2001. Discrimination between pressure and fluid saturation changes from time‐lapse seismic data. Geophysics66, 836–844.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. SchisseleE., ForguesE., EchappéJ., MeunierJ., PellegarsO. de and HubansC.2009. Seismic repeatability – Is there a limit? 71st EAGE meeting, Amsterdam , the Netherlands , Expanded Abstracts, V021.
  12. UraiJ.L., SchléderZ., SpiersC.J. and KuklaP.A.2008. Flow and transport properties of salt rocks. In: Dynamics of Complex Intracontinental Basins , The Central European Basin System (eds R.Littke , U.Bayer , D.Gajewski and S.Nelskamp ), pp. 277–290. Springer . ISBN 3540850847.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Van DalfsenW., DoornenbalJ.C., DortlandS. and GunninkJ.L.2006. A comprehensive seismic velocity model for the Netherlands based on lithostratigraphic layers. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences85, 277–292.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. VirieuxJ.1986. P‐SV wave propagation in heterogeneous media: Velocity‐stress finite difference method. Geophysics51, 889–890.
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2478.2011.00979.x
Loading
/content/journals/10.1111/j.1365-2478.2011.00979.x
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): Modelling; Monitoring; Numerical study; Seismics; Time‐lapse

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error