Time-lapse 3D VSP using permanent receivers in a flowing well in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

The vision of smart wells permanently instrumented with geophones has existed for some time. Such installations would enable opportunities for frequent reservoir monitoring, high-resolution 3D VSP imaging, and illumination of difficult areas. For many subsalt fields, 3D VSPs acquired in such wells may be the best option to illuminate and monitor reservoirs without the need to stop production or enter a well. However, this technology is not yet widely applied, nor perhaps proven.