T his second part of an article about a large 3D VSP survey in Abu Dhabi describes the interpretation effort which quantifies the value that a 3D VSP seismic image can bring when supplementing even a 640-fold, highresolution surface seismic volume.It is understood that for recovery to be optimized and bypassed resources to be minimized, especially in later stages of field production, more accurate models of a reservoir's architecture and characteristics are needed. This first 3D VSP survey in Abu Dhabi characterized details of the reservoir that could not be derived from surface data or well-log data alone. The higher-quality, higher-resolution images made it possible to map detailed stratigraphy and important but previously unknown faults. The improved structural map and updated geologic model were verified by wells drilled inside the 3D VSP image areas. The effect of receiver array length and source effort on VSP qualityTo better understand the value in acquiring 3D VSP data with long borehole receiver arrays, processing tests using a conventional 12-level receiver configuration were conducted by using a subset of the 126-level VSP data. Using the same statics, velocity model, and other relevant processing parameters developed for the 126-level array data, a 3D VSP image was produced with data from only 12 geophone levels. Figure 1 compares VSP common depth point (VCDP) gathers at different offsets between the 12-and 126-level data. At an offset of 400 m, both the 12-and 126-level gathers show well organized energy from primary events. Good VSP images up to 400 m away from the well should be possible with both data sets. At the longer offset of 700 m, there does not appear to be any indication of primary events on the 12-level gather. However, due to higher fold, primary events are clearly visible on the 126-level gather. This result suggests the reason; in 12-level walkaway VSPs, it is difficult to image distances greater than 500 m from the wellbore, even though offsets up to 4 km

Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) undertook a two-well 3D VSP pilot project in 2007. Because it was acquired concurrently with a high-resolution wide-azimuth surface seismic survey, it was at the time the largest 3D VSP ever recorded. The project consisted of four main parts: acquisition, processing, interpretation, and quantifying value. In part 1 of this paper the acquisition and processing of the 3D VSP is described with an emphasis on the lessons learned. Significant advances in processing are described that demonstrate how larger 3D VSP images with better amplitudes and structural preservation can be produced. In part 2, the results of the 3D VSP interpretation and economic evaluation effort are described and illustrate different ways that a VSP image can help characterize a hydrocarbon reservoir.

The field under study is structurally and stratigraphically complex, which increases the uncertainties associated with field development. To optimize reservoir characterization using seismic data, seismic inversion (Deterministic, Stochastic and Simultaneous) was planned to be performed using the 3D seismic data covering the field. Given that well log data provide constraints and calibration in the inversion workflow, their quality has a direct impact on the robustness of inversion results. This paper focuses on corrections made to sonic and density log data to make them suitable for seismic inversion.Sonic and density logs have shallow depths of investigation and are affected by borehole irregularity and filtrate invasion. Errors due to borehole irregularity in the section overlying the reservoir impact two key stages of the inversion process: wavelet extraction using well-seismic ties, and construction of the low frequency or a priori model. Invasion within the reservoir impacts the accuracy of porosities obtained from seismic impedance data. Typically porosity estimation is done using a regression relationship between porosity and acoustic impedance derived from well log measurements. The log impedance data (both velocity and density) are affected by saturation changes related to filtrate invasion which must be corrected for, to obtain a reliable porosity-impedance relationship.A robust and practical workflow to address log quality issues begins with log data quality QC: identifying zones with missing logs or borehole affected log readings. Shear sonic logs are unavailable for many wells, which limits their use for Simultaneous inversion, and for invasion correction using a rock physics model. We constructed shear sonic logs from compressional sonic logs using a rigorous, iterative process. Gassmann's equation was then used to correct for filtrate invasion effects. Invasion effects were found to change impedance values within reservoir intervals by as much as12 %, which has implications for 4-D seismic monitoring of the reservoir.

Abu Dhabi's thick Lower Cretaceous carbonate reservoirs experience injection water overriding oil. The water is held above the oil by negative capillary pressure until a horizontal borehole placed at the reservoir base creates a small pressure drawdown. This causes the water above to slump unpredictably towards the horizontal producer, increasing water cut and eventually killing the well under natural lift after a moderate amount of oil production. Water slumping is difficult to forecast using the reservoir model. This paper showcases the successful deployment of an ultra-deep electromagnetic directional resistivity (UDDE) instrument to map injection water movement. The UDDE instrument selected for the 6-in. horizontal hole was a 4¾-in. OD multifrequency tool with configurable transmitter-to-receiver spacings. Pre-well modeling using hybrid deterministic 1D resistivity inversions was conducted for the candidate well to investigate the resistivity tool's ability to identify water slumping at distances 60-100 ft TVD above the planned well trajectory. The inversions aided the selection of optimum operating frequencies, transmitter-to-receiver spacings and BHA configuration. During operations, multiple 1D and 3D inversions were run in the cloud real time during drilling to provide simultaneous deep and shallow resistivity inversions for early identification of the water fronts and structural changes, and near wellbore changes to geosteer and maximize reservoir contact in the complex layered reservoir. Real-time 1D and 3D deep inversion results indicated the resistivity tool had a depth of reliable waterflood detection of more than 80 ft. While drilling, an interpreted subseismic fault was encountered which appeared to influence how water moved in the reservoir. Water slumped closest through the sub-seismic fault towards the well path. Past the fault, the waterfront receded upwards away from the well bore. The data proved useful for updating the static model, providing a snapshot of water flood areas, reservoir tops and faults with throw, helping to optimize the completion design to defer water production and enhance oil production. Furthermore, it captured resistivities of target, underlying and overlying reservoirs to integrate with other geology and geophysics data for better reservoir and fluid characterization near the drilled area. The positive results of this case study encouraged field-wide implementation of this technology for waterflood mapping. The information provided allowed petroleum engineers to adjust the completion design to delay water breakthrough. This proactive approach to waterflood field management improves cumulative oil production and recovery factors according to mechanistic models which have been built and tested.

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