Linking oil production to surface subsidence from satellite radar interferometry

Land subsidence over the Belridge and Lost Hills oil fields, Southern Calif ornia, was measured using spaceborne interferometric synthetic aperture rad ar(InSAR). During the 105-day period between 11/5/95 and 2/17/96, the subsi dence in the center of the Lost Hills field reached 15 cm. We assume that t his surface subsidence resulted from the vertical shrinkage of the reservoi r, which in turn was due to oil production and the resulting pore pressure drop. We model this mechanical effect using an elastic deformation theoreti cal solution with input constants taken from relevant experiments. The mode led surface deformation matches the InSAR measured values. This result indi cates that it is possible, in principle, to monitor hydrocarbon production using satellite-based measurements of earth deformation.