Impact of high resolution radar imagery on reservoir monitoring

Abstract

Surface deformation monitoring provides unique data for observing and measuring the performance of producing hydrocarbon reservoirs, for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). To this end, radar interferometry (InSAR), particularly multi-interferogram Persistent Scatterer (PS) techniques, such as PSInSAR™, are innovative, valuable and cost-effective tools. Depending on reservoir characteristics and depth, oil or gas production can induce surface subsidence or, in the cases of EOR and CCS, ground heave, potentially triggering fault reactivation and in some cases threatening well integrity. Mapping the surface effects of fault reactivation, due to either fluid extraction or injection, usually requires the availability of hundreds of measurement points per square km with millimeter-level precision, which is time consuming and expensive to obtain using traditional monitoring techniques, but can be readily obtained with InSAR data. Moreover, advanced InSAR techniques developed in the last decade are capable of providing millimeter precision, comparable to optical leveling, and a high spatial density of displacement measurements over long periods of time, without the need for installing equipment or otherwise accessing the study area. Until recently, a limitation to the application of InSAR was the relatively long revisiting time (24 or 35 days) of the previous generation of C-band satellites (ERS1-2, Envisat, Radarsat). However, a new generation of X-band radar satellites (TerraSAR-X and the COSMO-SkyMed constellation), which have been operational since 2008, are providing significant improvements. TerraSAR-X has a repeat cycle of 11 days, while the joint use of two sensors of the COSMO-SkyMed constellation have an effective repeat cycle of just 8 days. With the launch of the fourth satellite of the constellation, in 2010, COSMO-SkyMed will have an effective revisiting time of just 4 days, allowing “near real-time” applications. Indeed, by combining two acquisition geometries (e.g. data acquired along ascending and descending orbits), it will be possible, on average, to have a new scene over the area of interest every other day. Additional advantages of the new X-band satellites are: A higher sensitivity to target displacement and a higher spatial resolution (the density of measurement points can be increased by an order of magnitude, possibly exceeding 2,500 PS/km2). In this paper, we present some examples of the application of X-band SAR data to reservoir monitoring. Special attention will be given to CCS projects where InSAR data could become a “standard” monitoring tool. The paper will highlight the technical features of the new sensors, the possible synergy between TerraSAR-X and COSMOSkyMed data, as well as the importance of a careful analysis of atmospheric disturbances affecting SAR data covering the area of interest, in order to retrieve high quality displacement data. Finally, some conclusions will be drawn supporting recommendations about future CCS monitoring programs.