Leveraging hydrocarbon expansion signals in time-lapse seismic data for brownfield development and near-field exploration

• DOI: 10.1190/tle44010015.1
• Publication Date: 2025-01-02T17:27:15Z
• Authors: Chen Bao; Kanglin Wang; Jonathan Brain
• Keywords: Caprock

Time-lapse seismic data play a key role in hydrocarbon field monitoring and infill opportunity development. In several deepwater hydrocarbon-producing reservoirs, time-lapse softening changes have been observed at the oil-water contact. Here, we refer to this as contact softening. Contact occurs when acoustically softer hydrocarbons above invade replace stiffer brine pore space below This typically pressure depletion from production elsewhere is transmitted through shared aquifer, causing expansion of an unproduced zone. It shown that strength extent such signals are controlled by updip fluid volume, rock compressibility, amount transmitted. Such relationship enables qualitative quantitative assessment characterization reservoirs. some cases, it can be used estimate range for which has applications typing. The application could lead identification brownfield development near-field exploration.