Time-lapse seismic activities and future plans in Kuwait

Strategic planning for developing a hydrocarbon reservoir means "decision m aking under risk", and the process of decision making in principle is based on a manipulation of a given reservoir model. Pure deterministic knowledge of a reservoir is currently unattainable, so we have to accept uncertainti es in the results of the different disciplines in their attempt to describe the detailed properties of a reservoir. Time-lapse 3D seismic (4D) is a to ol to reduce uncertainties in determining fluid flow properties of a reserv oir. Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has recognized the potential of 4D. Since 1996, KO C has been conducting repeatability rests, petrophysical modeling studies, and 4D pilot surveys on key KOC onshore oilfields that contain carbonate an d elastic reservoirs. The 4D pilot surveys were conducted in four fields an d comprise up to four time lapse surveys over a period of up to two years. The other studies covered five fields. Consequently, KOC is one of the most experienced users of onshore 4D. The results, to date, of these activities in both carbonate and elastic res ervoirs are very encouraging. Consequently, KOC plans to enhance the evalua tion of the currently available data and to extend such studies to other re servoirs and fields. Studies have also been initiated with the ultimate objective of establishin g the economic feasibility of optimizing the drilling of injection and in-f ill production wells by replacing geometric pattern drilling with drilling based on fluid flow gradient maps derived from 4D seismic. In the current o il industry low product price environment, 4D can only be justified when it produces an economic benefit by reducing operational cost and/or optimizin g the fields' hydrocarbon recovery.