今後の物理探査技術予測

Abstract

The advancement of geophysical technology has been based on the development of data acquisition system, computer technology, and data processing/analysis algorithms. The role of geophysics in the upstream division of oil and gas industry has been expanding. Geophysics is now used not only for exploration but also for exploitation, development, and production monitoring. Reservoir monitoring is a technology to monitor the movement of hydrocarbon through production. A typical technique to detect the hydrocarbon movement is comparing two 3 D seismic volumes acquired with certain time interval. Geophysical techniques for monitoring require very high accuracy in all aspects. Instrumented Oil Field is an advanced form of monitoring and its purpose is real-time reservoir management. It consists of permanently deployed sensors and so called smart well with remotely-controllable choke and valve for each reservoir. Results of geophysical data analysis are utilized to control the flow/injection rate to optimize the production. These technologies are so far monopolized by major oil companies, but they will probably be available and feasible for small fields of non-major oil companies in the future. Geophysical techniques to meet the severe requirements for monitoring will contribute to the improvement of geophysical applications to other stages such as exploration stage.