How do you monitor and manage the performance and decline of stratigraphic traps over time?

1 Seismic monitoring

One of the most important ways to monitor stratigraphic traps is to use seismic data, which can reveal changes in fluid saturation, pressure, and structure over time. Seismic monitoring can help you identify bypassed pay zones, water breakthrough, compartmentalization, and reservoir connectivity. You can use different types of seismic techniques, such as 4D seismic, time-lapse seismic, or passive seismic, depending on your objectives and data availability.

2 Production analysis

Another way to monitor stratigraphic traps is to analyze the production data from the wells, such as flow rates, pressure, water cut, gas-oil ratio, and recovery factor. Production analysis can help you evaluate the reservoir performance, identify trends and anomalies, and optimize the well operations. You can use different types of production analysis methods, such as decline curve analysis, material balance analysis, or rate transient analysis, depending on your data quality and reservoir characteristics.

3 Reservoir simulation

A third way to monitor stratigraphic traps is to use reservoir simulation models, which can integrate the geological, geophysical, and production data to predict the future behavior of the reservoir. Reservoir simulation can help you understand the reservoir dynamics, test different scenarios and strategies, and optimize the recovery and economics. You can use different types of reservoir simulation models, such as black-oil models, compositional models, or dual-porosity models, depending on your reservoir complexity and fluid properties.

4 Surveillance planning

A fourth way to monitor stratigraphic traps is to plan and execute a surveillance program, which can include data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. Surveillance planning can help you define the objectives, scope, budget, and schedule of the surveillance activities, as well as the data quality and frequency requirements. You can use different types of surveillance planning tools, such as decision analysis, risk analysis, or value of information analysis, depending on your uncertainty and decision criteria.

5 Intervention design

A fifth way to monitor stratigraphic traps is to design and implement interventions, which can include well workovers, stimulations, recompletions, or infill drilling. Intervention design can help you improve the well productivity, enhance the reservoir performance, and extend the field life. You can use different types of intervention design tools, such as nodal analysis, fracture design, or well placement optimization, depending on your intervention objectives and constraints.

6 Performance evaluation

A sixth way to monitor stratigraphic traps is to evaluate the performance and decline of the reservoir, the wells, and the field, using key performance indicators (KPIs), such as ultimate recovery, recovery factor, net present value, or return on investment. Performance evaluation can help you measure the results and outcomes of the monitoring and management activities, as well as identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. You can use different types of performance evaluation tools, such as benchmarking, gap analysis, or value driver analysis, depending on your performance targets and standards.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?